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Audi A4

Audi A4 Cabriolet

When it came to designing a new four-seat convertible, Audi started with a clean sheet of paper. The marque has always been a popular choice for sun-lovers, with the TT and older 80-based Cabriolet being soft-top favourites.

By Richard Williamson

May 2002

When it came to designing a new four-seat convertible, Audi started with a clean sheet of paper. The marque has always been a popular choice for sun-lovers, with the TT and older 80-based Cabriolet being soft-top favourites.

Now the latter's replacement is here at last in the shape of the A4 Cabrio, which is set to challenge the current four-seater class-leaders from Saab, BMW and Mercedes. On UK sale from 1 July, Audi says the initial production run of cars has already been sold.

Built on the A4 saloon platform by specialist coachbuilder Karmann, the Cabriolet has all-new panels with a touch of TT-esque roundness to them.

The A4's floorpan has created a spacious interior, so that rear seat passengers now enjoy a decent amount of room for shoulders and knees. Safety equipment is light years ahead of the old model's, too, with beefier sills and A-pillars, double rear bulkhead, multiple airbags and twin pop-up rollover bars.

But what about the roof itself? The good news is that you don't have to leave your seat to convert to open-top motoring. Hit a button and the electro-hydraulic operation tucks the three-layer canopy into a boot pocket in less than 30 seconds. Scratch-resistant glass has replaced the old plastic rear screen, and with the roof up the car's profile is stylish and free of ugly ridges. When the top's down, an optional foldaway wind deflector slots across the rear seats to minimise buffeting. Thanks to its race car wind tunnel development, the A4 Cabriolet also has a super-slippery drag coefficient.

There's a choice of two V6 petrol engines to begin with ί¿½ the 170bhp 2.4-litre unit is more suited to motorway cruising, while the 220bhp 3.0-litre version is a better bet for involving performance. A 2.5-litre TDI oil-burner, due towards the end of the year, is a cabrio first in the UK, while a 1.8-litre petrol turbo is a possibility, too. The five-speed manual transmission is standard, but Audi is the first manufacturer to offer a CVT-multitronic automatic for a soft-top. In practice, this system is well suited to the 3.0-litre engine, otherwise it's a better bet to stick with manual shifts.

Perhaps the Cabriolet's strongest suit is its superb dynamics, both on standard or sports suspension settings. More than twice as stiff as the older model, there is virtually no vibration or scuttle-shake felt through the steering column, even over poor road surfaces. In addition, the ride quality is excellent and the steering remarkably accurate.

As well as bringing increased style to the convertible market, the A4 Cabriolet costs less than all its rivals and is likely to retain more of its value over three years. Come rain or shine, Audi is clearly on to a winner.

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FIRST OPINION

    Audi is celebrating 100 years of open-top motoring and its latest convertible is a worthy landmark. Thanks to its predecessor's enduring appeal, the new- comer has a strong fan base to build on and is a much improved package. It's roomier in the front and back, better built, and has more refined dynamics. It also offers greater value than rivals.
 

AT A GLANCE

    Audi A4 Cabriolet on sale in the UK from 1 July
    Priced from �24,670; available in SE and Sport trims
    Only cabrio in Britain offered with a CVT multitronic automatic
     
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