Belfast Audi Press releases in detail

12/3/2008

Prices now confirmed for new premium compact cabriolet which will reach the UK in time for summer.

• Standard, Sport and S line versions of first-ever Audi compact cabriolet now open for UK order with OTR prices ranging from £20,750 to £27,060 – first deliveries begin in May 2008

• Initially available with two petrol and two TDI engines – 1.8T FSI 160PS, 2.0T FSI 200PS, 1.9 TDI 105PS, 2.0 TDI 140PS

The ideal antidote to the winter blues – the new Audi A3 Cabriolet – can be ordered in Audi Centres from this week. The brand’s first premium compact class ’open top’ will be available in standard, Sport and S line trim with OTR prices ranging from £20,750 to £27,060, with deliveries to begin in May.

The guiding principle behind the latest Audi soft top was finding the best possible balance between the ‘fun factor’ of a roadster and the day-to-day usability of a fixed-roof premium class car. As a result, the A3 Cabriolet not only converts to open-top mode and back rapidly, but also accommodates four passengers comfortably while retaining impressive luggage capacity that expands thanks to the standard split/fold rear seat.

Parts of the A3 and A3 Sportback’s strong, responsive TFSI petrol and TDI diesel engines also feature in the new Cabriolet, including the 160PS 1.8T FSI petrol, the 200PS 2.0T FSI petrol, the 105PS 1.9 TDI and the 140PS 2.0 TDI with common rail piezo fuel injection. These are combined with either a five or six-speed manual gearbox, depending on version or the option, for all models except the 1.9 TDI, which features the acclaimed S tronic twin-clutch transmission.

Standard versions of the A3 Cabriolet will boast a generous equipment list that includes 16-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, powered windows and mirrors, a Chorus radio with single CD drive and semi-automatic hood operation. The hood is attached to and released from the windscreen rail manually, but retracts and raises at the touch of a button.

On top of this, the Sport specification – costing an additional £1,850 – combines features such as larger 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, sports seats with fully automatic hood operation and a wind deflector. The hood also incorporates additional acoustic insulation, maximising the potential for enjoyment of the upgraded Concert radio.

The new S line specification for the A3 Cabriolet supplements the Sport equipment list externally with larger 18-inch, 7 twin-spoke alloy wheels and S line body styling including exclusive front and rear bumper design. Inside, it adds extras such as leather and Sprint cloth combination upholstery embossed with the S line insignia, an S line multifunction sports steering wheel with paddle shift controls (where automatic transmission is specified), a perforated leather gear knob, and matt brushed aluminium inlays. S line specification carries a premium of £1,550 over the price of a Sport model.

Open-top motoring in just nine seconds
The hood incorporates a large, heated glass rear window, with fully automatic operation in Sport and S line versions, which can be lowered in just nine seconds or raised in 11 seconds while driving at speeds of up to 19mph. At 85mph, the A3 Cabriolet Sport and A3 Cabriolet S line, with extra acoustic insulation, register an increase in cabin noise of just 1dB (A).

When lowered, the hood folds into a Z-pattern which takes up a minimum amount of space. The header – a rigid section at the roof’s front edge – comes to rest on top, flush with the body. The folded hood is set down in a compact sheet steel compartment that is separate from the boot and therefore doesn’t impair luggage capacity.

Because the luggage space is unaffected by the retracted hood, the rear bench seat hasn’t been moved further forward. This leaves ample leg room at the rear, thanks in part to the generous wheelbase of 2,578 mm. The split/folding rear seat – a standard feature across the range – boosts load capacity from 260 litres to a maximum of 674 litres.

The relatively light roof also ensures that the A3 Cabriolet handles with the same impressive agility that has been a key factor in the consistent popularity of the A3 range since its 2003 launch. Sophisticated McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension, and electromechanical power steering guarantee excellent response and a compliant ride in standard models. Sports suspension, lowered by 15mm, is reserved exclusively for Sport and S line versions, giving an even greater degree of tautness and precision.