2018 Audi A5 Coupe & Cabriolet Design, Interior, Test Drive – US Spec
The 2018 A5 and S5 Cabriolet models mirror the coupe’s breakthrough design language, featuring a wider, flatter Singleframe® grille and longer, lower hood lines that highlight the powerful engines of the new A5 family vehicles. The precise wave-design shoulder line is more pronounced than previous generations and wider wheel arches provide design cues to the vehicle’s quattro® DNA. Three-dimensional LED taillights with dynamic turn signals offer a distinctly powerful look and emphasize vehicle width.
The refined interior of the A5 and S5 Cabriolet, with seating for up to four standard, includes greater attention to detail through functional refinements and additional driver-focused technologies. A three-dimensional decorative inlay trim with climate control integration spans from the door panels across the dashboard and adds breadth and lightness. The available 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen® sound system with 3D sound and two subwoofers offers both an acoustic and visual highlight in the interior.
Similar to the Coupe and Sportback models, the A5 Cabriolet comes equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmission that produces 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and sprints from 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds, an improvement of 0.6 seconds compared to the previous generation.
The S5 Cabriolet is equipped with a re-engineered 3.0-liter TFSI® V6 engine to produce an impressive 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque between 1370 – 4500 rpm, and sprints from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, half a second faster than its predecessor. The S5 is also newly equipped with an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission that is well suited for the low-end torque of the new 3.0-liter turbocharged engine.
Both variants of the Cabriolet come standard-equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive, offering enhanced agility through a self-locking center differential, with a basic ratio of 40:60 front to rear, and wheel-selective torque control.
A redesigned front five-link suspension with lightweight construction offers greater steering precision and excellent handling through optimized steering-rack placement direct at wheel centers. Suspension tuning enhancements have also improved through the wider track and longer wheelbase. Available dynamic steering (S5 models only) offers a variable steering ratio that adjusts based on vehicle speed and the Audi drive select setting.