We review the Audi RS5 Cabriolet (2013) from price to economy and all its features
THE RS5 Cabriolet is a new X-rated version of their normally sleek and graceful four-seater soft-top.
It’s like going from serene Proclaimers to the wild Prodigy.
Whack down the right foot and the RS5 is wind-in-the-hair-raising hitting 62mph in a shade under five seconds.
It is achieved with the most satisfying deep grumble and burble of the 4.2litre V8 engine — and is delivered so quickly through the seven-speed auto gearbox and four-wheel-drive.
The chassis has also been lowered by 20mm compared to the standard A5 and it just gives this RS so much grip.
It’s certainly all-action. The chassis struggles to cope with the 444bhp potent power the second you challenge it with heavy acceleration.
The heavier suspension also means a rougher experience, and on our abysmal road surfaces this can mean a bit of a pogo-stick ride.
But just one look at the RS5 in the driveway puts you in the mood.
It oozes meaness including 19in forged alloys, flared wheelarches, a fixed carbon-finish rear spoiler and large oval tailpipes.
The vinyl roof helps keep boot space fairly decent for half a dozen shopping bags. Impressively, with roof down and the wind deflector up, turbulence is all but eliminated, leaving you free to enjoy the V8’s Brian Blessed burble.
More Motors
Put the triple-layered roof back up in 17 seconds and at speeds of up to 31mph and the Cabriolet becomes almost as serene as a steel-top coupé.
The cabin is top-class. Quality finishing touches include leather sports seats and a neat three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel with gearshift paddles.
The most direct rival right now for this RS5 is the BMW M3 Convertible which is more than £7k cheaper. That makes this RS5 a whopping £68,960 and not cheap to run with 26mpg.
But with £70k to burn, would you buy an RS5 cab over a Jag F-Type or even a Porsche 911?
This is a phenomenal and beautiful piece of kit. But given the choice for that money, you’d need to be a big Audi fan to buy it.