Audi A4 Cabriolet

Open-top cars enjoy a long tradition at Audi, from the very first cabriolet – a Horch 4-5hp dating back to 1901 – right through to sensational sports models like the NSU Wankel Spider, winner of the 1966 GT Rally world championship. After a break of 25 years, the original Audi Cabriolet continued this tradition. Over 72,000 customers worldwide opted for the car between the time in went into production in 1991 and the end of its lifespan in 2000 – the year the TT Roadster quattro first took the limelight.

The original Audi Cabriolet was based on the Audi 80 and had a 2.3- litre five-cylinder engine developing 133bhp. The range was gradually extended to four engine versions, headed by a 2.8-litre petrol V6 and including a 1.9-litre four cylinder 90bhp TDI, a new departure in this class but one which captured over 20pc of its market share for a few years.

The car’s lasting appeal is rfeflected in the rate at which it lured customers away from other brands. In 1998, its eighth year on the market, the four-seater convertible still managed to attract 59pc of its buyers away from rivals. When the last Cabriolet left the production line in July 2000, a special success story came to an end or so it was thought.

Now there is a new Audi open-top. Arriving almost exactly a decade after the UK debut of the much-loved original, the new A4 Cabriolet will initially be powered by two sophisticated V6 petrol engines shares by the A4 saloon and Avant – a 2.4-litre with 170bhp and a 3.0- litre with 220bhp. Both will be available allied to standard or Sport trim with on-the-road prices ranging from pounds 24,670 for the 2.4 to pounds 28,220 for the 3.0 Sport.

The most important target group for the new A4 rag-top is the 30- 39 year old age group. Lured by the car’s design, customers will include both two-car families and singles or young couples without children. Freelancers or self-employed people account for 60pc of sales in the UK, according to Audi research. One thing in common with all is a higher than average income.
Women will account for around 25pc of sales and more than two thirds will own other cars.

Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, remote contgrol central locking activating an alarm with interior protection, climate control, a leather four-spoke multifunction steering wheel and a Concert stereo with single CD player.

An automatic roll-over protection system adds to an extensive list of safety features.
Sport versions get five-spoke alloys with low-profile tyres, sports suspension, sports leather steering wheel and sports seats with electric lumbar support.

The car’s suspension system, which has already won praise in the saloon and Avant, has been lowered and tuned to give a more sporting bias.

With their even firmer damper settings, this sharper and more agile feel is emphasised even more strongly in the Sport models.

With a wheelbase extended by 100mm over the original, the new Cabriolet is a true four-seater which also has class-leading luggage capacity.

An electro-hydraulically operated hood with a heated glass rear window is fitted as standard.

Like the saloon and Avant whose DNA it shares, the cabriolet is much more practical than its predecessor, offering four-seat capability and class leading luggage capacity. Rear seat passengers are still quite tightly packed in and the boot, although bigger than before, is still by no means huge.

Inside the cabin, there is a striking redesigned console, incorporating round air vents with aluminium surrounds which helps distinguish this car from its saloon and Avant stablemates.
An electro-hydraulically operated hood with heated glass rear window can be opened or closed at the touch of a button in seconds.

The A4 Cabrio is one of the best built and most solid cars in its class. Even over the roughest of roads, there is not a hint of rattle and shake – a problem that often spoils soft-top cars.
If you still haven’t decided whether to wait for the car to start arriving in greater numbers, it comfortably undercuts most of the opposition on price.

It was well past midnight and a deluge had left the Pennine foothills sparkling, the headlights picking out deep emerald circles as the Cabrio progressed sure-footedly along twisty, half-flooded roads.

It had been a toss up – stay under cover, rather than tempt another downpour – or risk it and savour a few last hours of fresh- air motoring “over the tops” before the test car returned to its Milton Keynes base.

No wonder Audi used up its UK 2002 allocation of the classic open- topper well before it even went on sale this summer. The German company had warned almost a year ago that pre-sale orders were “brisk” and that anyone wanting to reserve one of the elegant cabrios for Christmas would have to be pretty sharp off the mark. Trouble is, I’m not sure which Christmas it was referring to as Audi it is still struggling to meet unexpected demand.

Audi designers have created a magical monocoque which looks fantastic from any angle, roof up or down, though its topless form is obviously the more striking.

The V6 170bhp unit provides some sparkling performance, not exactly riveting, but sufficient to open the adrenaline valves. The best thing about the engine is that it is beautifully smooth: it feels balanced and alert and engenders confidence as well the good- feel factor. Its BMW equivalent may have the 0-60mph edge on the 2.4- litre, but the Audi can still provide a spirited and highly satisfactory drive.

The new cabrio sits much lower on the Tarmac than its predecessor and this, together with much greater rigidity – Audi claim a whacking 112pc increased stiffness – all makes for a much more stable and compliant animal without sacrificing the thrills. A Sport pack (an extra pounds 750) made the test car even more enjoyable without surrendering comfort.
It literally sticks to the road like glue and handles exceptionally well – on the roughest terra firma, keeping its head on spaghetti routes, even in a deluge!

The cabrio is a highly desirable car and availability permitting, yes, I would like one in my Christmas stocking.

Engine: 2393cc V6 168bhp@6000rpm 170lb/ ft@3200rpm Performance: Top speed: 139mph 0-60: 9.7secs Economy: Town: 20.5/ out of town: 38.2/ mixed: 29.1mpg Insurance: Group 15 Price: pounds 25,370 in Sport trim.