Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro

They’re on a roll at Audi! Believe it or not, the company could be giving its stunning Cross Cabriolet quattro the green light for production.

Auto Express can reveal that the amazing concept, which debuted at last week’s Los Angeles Motor Show, looks set to hit the roads as a drop-top version of the forthcoming Q5 SUV. It follows hot on the heels of the metroproject quattro, which previews the firm’s new A1 city car.

Brit Steve Lewis is design chief for Audi USA, which created the Cross Cabriolet. Speaking at the event, he said: “Such a vehicle has been talked about within Audi for quite some time, because nobody else has ever produced a cabriolet SUV before.

“If there is sufficient demand for around 5,000 units a year, this model could go into limited production, and arrive in showrooms around 2010.”
We revealed the incredible drop-top in Issue 987, and if the convert­ible does get the go-ahead, it is likely to be assembled with the help of coachbuilder Karmann.

The specialist firm is responsible for the Cross Cabriolet’s neat soft-top. Its design follows Audi’s pledge to continue shunning folding metal hard-tops for its convertibles, in favour of traditional fabric hoods. However, the roof isn’t the only feature on the off-roader that could find its way to the showroom. The German brand is also considering making its bright metallic Copper Sunrise paintjob available to customers as an optional extra.

A conventional five-door hatchback Q5 will debut late next year, before UK sales start in 2009 – a year before the unique cabrio version. Prices have yet to be released, but the new Audi will go head-to-head with established premium SUV rivals such as the Land Rover Freelander and BMW X3.