When we first sampled the 2009 Audi S5 Coupe with its 4.2-liter V8 engine, we entranced. But the powers that be in Ingolstadt decided to lop off the top and, at the same time, do a little downsizing under the hood. Were they a bit premature with the emasculation, or was it a case of just what the doctor ordered?
To better suit the droptop’s mission as a boulevardier, Audi decided to make the powertrain change – yet the S5 will carry over with its V8 for at least the near future.
What is it?
A topless, high performance version of the S5 coupe, it replaces the S4 cabriolet model by growing a bit and taking a more distinctive style of its own when compared to the standard A4 sedan. The S5 Cabriolet features many updated accouterments including a new MMI system, but it eschews use of the hardtop convertible roof used over at the BMW camp in favor of a triple-layer cloth top.
What’s it up against?
Purchasers looking for a personal sport convertible are probably shopping the S5 against the Infiniti G37 C, the BMW M3 convertible and the Lexus IS 350 C. Of these four, only the S5 features an all-wheel-drive powertrain.
Any breakthroughs?
Start with Audi ’s supercharged V6 power in place of the normally aspirated V8 used in the coupe. The S5 gets the same basic powertrain you’ll find under the hood of the A6 3.0T (yes, it uses a T and not an S despite the presence of a supercharger).
A seven-speed automatic transmission to lay down the power to the quattro all-wheel-drive system is another new piece, as is Audi’s Navigation Plus system with MMI interface and joystick button.
Oh, did we mention that the ragtop drops in a mere 15 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph?
How does it look?
A little bit coke bottle-ish in profile, the S5 Cabriolet a swoopy, topless two-door that has a confident look about it, and looks better with the top down rather than up. Think of a guy who wears a hairpiece. You glance at him and just know that he would look better if he doffed the rug and just shaved his head to be done with it.
The front end of the S5 has the by-now familiar Audi grille and the very sexy LED daylight running lights in the headlight assemblies. The rear end is well sorted and uses negative space as seen by a black lower valance to taper the exhaust tips into. LED taillights finish off the visual cues and looked amazingly good when contrasted with the Sprint Blue Pearl effect paint that our test model was swathed in.
It’s hard to find much to complain about with regards to the S5′s shape; pleasingly proportionate if a little conservative, it will look as good in 20 years as it does today.
And on the inside?
Still at the top of the interior design food chain, Audi has made sure the S5 Cabriolet has progressed forward. Start with leather-upholstered, S5-branded sport seats, which offer power adjustments for both driver and passenger. They left us relaxed after long stints behind the wheel. The same can’t be said of the rear seats: our rear seat occupants commented on the upright position of the seatbacks and claimed that most rear seat riders would only be able to stay there for a short while. Triple-zone climate control keeps the interior cool throughout, while Sirius Satellite Radio keeps the occupants entertained during an al-fresco cruise down the strip. The new 3D navigation system offers renderings of downtown areas in major metropolitan cities, showing notable points of interest as well as many buildings modeled in three dimensions.
On the downside of the interior, users of radar detectors will become annoyed with the false triggering of their devices from the Audi Side and Backup Assist sensors. On the open road it is not so much of a problem, but when passing other cars, the sensors do their part to let you know of surrounding vehicles. While we are discussing annoyances, our test vehicle had lots of wind noise that lived in the vicinity of the S5’s A-pillars even when the top was raised. At high speed, it managed to render the car’s Bluetooth system unusable, as people we were trying to call could not understand us over the ambient wind noise. During low speed drives about town, the Bluetooth worked as expected.
But does it go?
With a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 that offers nearly linear acceleration versus the lag that would naturally occur with a turbocharged model, the S5 scoots. Featuring supercharging with twin intercoolers and direct injection, it offers the best of available options for increased performance. By the numbers, the engine makes 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft .of torque from 2,900 to 5,300 rpm. For comparison, the S5 hardtop’s 4.2-liter V8 makes 354-horsepower and also dials in with 325 lb-ft. of twist. The V8 makes a glorious growl, while the V6 is a bit more subdued. Yet the six-cylinder’s ultra-smooth and torquey nature fits well with its droptop status. You won’t get as much a thrill winding it through the gears, but you’ll appreciate the predictable response.
The V6 is mated to Audi’s S-Tronic seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. We are already huge fans of double clutch slushboxes and this one does not disappoint. Added to this is the Audi quattro system with optional sport differential. Operating the two rear tires, it allows for the outside wheel to be overdriven to turn the car in quicker, eliminating understeer.
Audi Drive Select offers the driver control over the speed sensitive power steering response, shock stiffness, and transmission shift points and it makes a noticeable difference, unlike so many early user-tunable systems. Drivers can dial in their choice of steering, shock and transmission settings – stiff steering with a soft suspension and fast shifts, light steering with a firm suspension and soft shifts, etc.
The third generation MMI system offers the driver an option of mixing and matching the various controls in a preset accessible through the MMI controller.
Despite the S5 Cabriolet being topless, it was still a rigid riding vehicle that offered nothing in the way of discernible chassis flex or torsional instability. This is probably the result of the car’s curb weight of a positively portly 4,310-pounds. Despite this heftiness, the S5 Cab manages to turn in 0-60 times of 5.2 seconds. Top speed is electronically governed to 155-mph. EPA mileage estimates are 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with a 20 mpg average, which is exactly what we observed.
Why you would buy it:
You enjoy your driving, like your dining, to be al-fresco, so why not do it in one of the sexiest German drop-tops in the marketplace?
Why you wouldn’t:
You think the S5 Coupe is sexier still and you think a V8 is necessary for a performance car.
Leftlane’s bottom line:
With the A5/S5 and A4 sharing the same platform, the outgoing S4 Cabriolet suddenly became redundant. Audi noticed this as well, and decide to opt for the better looking of the two sisters as their topless cruiser.
With a few little tweaks, Audi has made a fine choice for a very fast, very capable and very fun-to-drive low-flying missile. And we didn’t even miss the coupe’s V8.
2010 Audi S5 S-Tronic Cabriolet base price, $58,250. AS tested, $70,100
Sprint Blue Pearl paint, $475; Prestige package, $5,700; Audi Drive Select, $3,950; Driver Assist Package, $900; Destination, $825.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
