Audi Introduces a new A5 and S5 Cabriolet

With warmer days ahead after a sometimes-brutal winter, Canadian motorists will soon be longing to feel the wind in their hair as they head down the road.

And Audi is now offering its new 2018 A5 and S5 Cabriolet’s on our shores, models that round out the A5 family.

The four-seat drop top features a newly developed chassis and an acoustic soft top that opens and closes even when moving at speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour.

The top opens in 15 seconds and closes in 18 seconds, and it is available in four colours: black, gray, brown or red. For the car’s exterior, buyers will have a choice of 16 colours.

For the moment, there is only one engine choice on the A5, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI engine that delivers 252 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with Audi’s S-Tronic seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Audi says a second engine option is coming later in 2017, a base 2.0L four-cylinder that will have an output of 190 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque.

The German automaker says both engines have 17 per cent more output while also reducing fuel consumption.

Front-wheel drive is standard, while quattro permanent all-wheel drive are available as options.

The S5 comes with more than 100 extra HP thanks to the turbocharged 3.0L V6. It is rated at 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox.

The S5 is standard with quattro all-wheel drive, and receives a newly developed S Sport suspension, with five-link suspensions in the front and back.

The S5 is also slightly longer than the A5 (19 millimetres), and gets unique sporty design elements on the exterior.

Pricing for the A5 starts at $66,300 Cdn, while the S5 will run you $77,490.