Audi A3 Cabriolet
Audi’s third convertible (after A4 and TT) will arrive in the UK next April, with the choice of four engines - two petrol and two diesel – and a starting price around the £20,000 mark. It sits on the same chassis as the A3 – they share the same 2578mm wheelbase – and borrows most of the hatches chassis, steering and suspension set-up. The ragtop’s chassis has been pumped up with reinforcement to counter the loss of torsional rigidity. It might be late in the A3’s life, but the only real rival – BMW’s new 1-series convertible also arrives next year. Well-heeled housewives rejoice.
The convertible gets a new face – which will also debut on the face lifted A3 hatchback, due out next year – dominated by Audi’s signature trapezoidal grille and flanked by some high-tech headlamps. The bi-Xenon units house the LED daylight running lights and what Audi calls a ‘chrome vapor-coated wing-shaped contour’ whose looks alter with the dipped, head and main beam functions. The dart-shaped rear lights – familiar to new A4 and A5 drivers – use fiber optic rod technology for enhanced illumination.
To ensure the roofless A3 doesn't flop around corners, almost half of the car’s sheet metal is made from high-strength steel, while the roof frame and integral roll-over hoops incorporate hot-formed steels to boost torsional rigidity, helped by bolstered side sills and additional front and rear reinforcements. There's no word on kerb weights yet, but don't expect the Audi to be anything other than heavy.
Buyers can chose between either a semi-automatic job, or a fully automated one-touch system. You need to opt for the Sport model to get the fully automated roof system, and you’ll also get better looking 17inch alloys, sports suspension and a decent amount of standard gear. The fabric roof, complete with heated glass rear screen drops away in just nine seconds and can be operated at up to 18mph. It folds away flat to leave the A3’s line uninterrupted from A-pillar to tail.
Audi’s engineers have modified the A3’s rear packaging – at 4238mm, it’s shorter than the five-door A3 Sportback (4286mm) but longer than the existing 3-door A3 (4214mm). The cabin architecture is largely carried over from the A3 hatch, and there's a range of open-air options including heated seats throughout, a wind deflector. Because the folded hood occupies less space than a folding metal roof, the rear bench hasn’t been moved forward, but boot space over the A3 hatch drops from 350 to 260litres. Flipping the split rear seats forward boosts this to 647litres. There will be a choice of three hood colors – black, blue and red – 15 paint jobs and 16, 17 and 18inch alloy wheels.
The entry-level 1.9TDI develops 105bhp and 185lb ft of torque accelerating through its five-speed manual gearbox to 60mph in a leisurely 12.3second sprint and onto a 115mph top speed. The bigger 2.0-liter TDI delivers 140bhp and 245lb ft of torque, hitting 60mph in 9.9seconds and posting a 126mph top speed.
Audi’s new 1.8-liter TFSI blown petrol unit produces 160bhp and 185lb ft for an 8.3second sprint to 60mph and a 135mph top speed. The flagship 2.0-liter TFSI engine kicks out 200bhp and 207lb ft, hitting 60mph in 7.3 seconds and topping out at 143mph. Both petrol engine and the 2.0-liter TDI motor come with the option of double-clutch or manual six-cog transmissions.
