Audi RS 5 Cabriolet 2013 Review - International

Audi RS 5 Cabriolet

Take the high-revving V8 power of the RS 5 Coupe then strip the roof away to reveal a stunning four-seat convertible and you have in a nutshell the essence of the RS 5 Cabriolet.

Of course some of the fragilities associated with convertible construction are going to be exposed when attempting such an exercise, and in the RS 5 Cabriolet these are quite evident. There’s a little scuttle shake evident over coarse roads, or when you’re really getting stuck into corners, and the propensity for road noise to intrude into the cabin with the roof in place is unfortunately obvious.

The additional bracing required to keep the chassis taut has taken its toll too and, with 200kg of extra mass onboard, the RS 5 Cabriolet feels podgy -- but not to the point where it impacts heavily on handling.

Nor is there any noticeable effect on braking or straight-line speed, although the RS 5 Cabriolet is a little slower than its hard-top sibling, accelerating to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds (versus 4.6).

Indeed, the RS 5 Cab is a fast, flowing and fetching piece of machinery that combines the sportiness associated with the RS name in an open-top package that typifies Audi’s perfectionist attention to detail.

At the heart of the matter is Audi’s gloriously free-revving direct-injected 4.2-litre V8. The normally aspirated unit requires a few revs to really raise an eyebrow, but once in its stride, is impressively capable and aurally intoxicating.

Developing 331kW at no less than 8250rpm and 430Nm between 4000 and 6000rpm, the 4.2 FSI engine is less shove-in-the-back than the force-fed mills found elsewhere in Audi’s line-up, but in cabriolet form that makes a lot of sense.

With power like this, the RS 5 Cabriolet feels quick without being brutal. It’s a car that is as much about lifestyle as it is about speed, and though it’s indisputably fast it is never unsettling for those along for the ride.

The seven-speed S tronic (dual-clutch) transmission is cultured yet quick, and even in dynamic mode works smoothly in co-operation with quattro permanent all-wheel drive and seamless torque vectoring to provide formidable cornering grip and relentless straight-line traction.

Riding 20mm lower than its derivative model (the A5 Cabriolet) the RS 5 Cabriolet remains compliant enough to be comfortable, and with hydromechanical adaptive damping is flexible enough for a variety of applications.

Of course, the firmer set-up was right at home on the tight, winding alpine roads on which we sampled the RS 5, but it remained compliant enough to prevent passengers being shaken from their seats. On (optional) 20-inch rubber, this is all the more impressive.

Inside each front wheel are 365mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs grabbed by Lamborghini Gallardo-sourced eight-pot callipers. Out back, 324mm rotors are arrested by single-piston floating callipers. If you’re keen to splash some cash, carbon ceramic stoppers are also available.

The electro-assisted steering is typical of most in Audi’s portfolio in being well assisted but light on feel. The rack is reasonably quick, however, and the level of assistance does vary with speed, though we say not enough.

And though we’re sure that buyers of the RS 5 Cabriolet will enjoy rattling off those facts and figures to their well-heeled friends, the reality is that they’re probably more interested in utilising the folding soft-top (which does its thing in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 50km/h) or fitting a weekend’s worth of luggage into the 380-litre boot (this shrinks by 60 litres with the roof down).

The RS 5 Cabriolet is entirely liveable inside the cabin, too, with accommodation for four real-sized adults. Of course, rear-seat passengers will get a little windswept at the speeds this sporty soft-top is capable of reaching, but they will at least have time to enjoy sumptuous leather seats.

Audi’s newest RS model is beginning to show its age in some facets of dash design and equipment levels, though we’re sure that there’s enough kit here to keep most owners happy.

Without listing the entire itinerary, the RS 5 Cabriolet includes highlights such as LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth telephony, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with paddle shifters, fine chrome and polished black trim highlights, tri-zone climate-control and eight-speaker audio.

Our tip is to upgrade the base system in favour of the 12-speaker, 505-Watt Bang & Olufsen package -- it’s a cracker!

The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet has been on sale in its home market since April. It will finally make its way into local showrooms later this month (October 2013). Audi Australia has yet to announce pricing for the sporting soft-top, but expect a mild premium over that of the RS 5 Coupe, which retails from $161,900 (plus ORCs).