Glisse

Was able to test drive the new S5 Cabriolet this weekend.

I am not a huge fan of cabriolets in general, but my wife is. I find the extra weight and loss of torsional rigidity a high price to pay for some wind in the hair.

But it seems to me that all the major benefits of the new B9 models on the MLB Evo platform are at their most obvious with the cabriolet. The lighter weight and greater stiffness of the chassis, which allows a better front suspension setup and steering improvements, make the new cabriolet a big step up from the B8. Much more agile, yet much more refined.

The S5 Cabriolet I drove had a similar spec to my S5 Sportback. Dynamic steering, Sport diff, S adaptive suspension, 19" wheels. Only difference was tyres - I am still on my winter tyres, Cab was on summers (which are the better tyre for current weather conditions). So it was interesting to compare driving feel.

I think Audi have done a great job setting up the suspension for the S5 Cab - noticeably softer than my S5 Sportback, in either Dynamic or Comfort modes. felt just right for the chassis stiffness. I even liked the engine more than previously - the greater torque delivery of the new turbocharged V6 is a more obvious benefit with the heavier cabriolet. So I didn't miss the more instant response / directly connected feel of the supercharged engine with S tronic so much. The whole package seemed perfectly balanced.

For anyone interested in Cabriolets, this is certainly one to shortlist and drive when possible.

saw1

Thanks for the review! Looking forward to driving one here in the states when they arrive.