Audi RS5 Cabriolet revealed

The wraps have come off Audi's stove hot, V8-powered, 331kW all-wheel drive convertible sports car, which will make its public debut at next month's Paris Motor Show.

Despite more than 50 orders for the $161,900 Audi RS5 Coupe in Australia, Audi has not confirmed the RS5 Cabriolet's local release. The official line is that the RS5 Cabriolet is being "evaluated for possible introduction into the Australian market."

Almost identical visually and mechanically to its RS5 coupe cousin, save for the lack of a metal roof, the four-seat Cabriolet instead features a powered cloth cover that opens in 15 seconds flat, and closes a little slower - 17 seconds - at the touch of a button. The roof can be opened at speeds of up to 50km/h so that even if the traffic lights change from red to green mid operation, the roof can finish its business, so to speak. Heated seats are standard and it also gets a wind deflector.

Audi claims the folding roof "hardly affects the size of the spacious luggage compartment", eating up 60 litres of the boot's total 380 litres of cargo space. Adding practicality are foldable rear seats.

Ingolstadt's legendary naturally aspirated, direct injected 4.2-litre V8 returns for active duty, outputting a healthy 331kW at a screaming 8250rpm, with 430Nm arriving at 4000rpm. The long-stroke engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission with traditional shift lever and steering wheel paddle shifters, and the car has a top speed of 250km/h, which can be extended to 280km/h on request.

Acceleration times are seriously quick at 4.9 seconds for the 0-100km/h but that's still almost half a second slower than the RS5 coupe's 4.5 seconds. The Audi RS5 Cabriolet's slower acceleration owes to the extra weight it carries (metal reinforcements in the floor and A-pillars replace the rigidity a metal roof provides) but Audi has not yet revealed how much heavier it is. Fuel efficiency is rated at 10.9L/100km.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system provides a point of difference to the BMW M3 Convertible, designed to improve cornering and accelerative grip. One of the key features of the AWD system is the RS5 Cabrio's crown-gear centre differential, which can distribute torque rapidly between the front and rear axles -- a maximum of 85 per cent to the rear and 70 per cent to the front axle. There is also an optional sport differential, which "actively distributes power between the rear wheels via two superposition gears" says Audi. Simply put, it reduces oversteer and understeer at the car's cornering limit.

Like the coupe, the RS5 Cabrio has an increased track and a wide body kit with flared wheel arches, and rides lower than the other A5 models upon which it's based, giving it an aggressive stance.

Aluminium door mirrors, windscreen frame, and window frames distinguish the RS5 Cabrio from lesser drop tops in the range, as do new diffused LED lights front and rear, larger air intakes, a bigger rear diffuser, plus a matte carbon fibre boot lid spoiler and a pair of trademark 'RS' oval exhaust pipes. Inside the RS5 Cabriolet's cabin, leather/Alcantara combination upholstery proliferates and a flat-bottom steering wheel and carbon fibre trim accents also stand out.

Audi Australia's Corporate Communications Executive, Shaun Cleary, told motoring.com.au that the 280km/h convertible is being "closely looked at" for Australia but that it's too early to confirm the vehicle for local consumption.

"We have to build a business case for the model," Mr Cleary said. "RS5 Coupe has been very popular here, at last count there were already 50 orders for that car. We're definitely looking at bringing it [RS5 Cabriolet] to Australia but no decision has been made yet."

It is understood that the RS5's local release could be decided by year's end.

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