Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Robert Kah
If you want a high performance convertible from a German automaker, you're not exactly wanting for choice. There's the BMW Z4 35is with 340 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque, the sexy Mercedes-Benz SLK roadster and of course Audi's own TT RS cabriolet. But all these cars have one huge flaw: they're not all that practical.
Thankfully, Audi knew there was a solution, compromising on looks to deliver a larger sports convertible that still fits in the compact class. You're looking at the first ever S3 Cabriolet, the latest and probably the last member of the S3 family.
Like its hatchback and sedan brothers, the S3 drop-top makes use of a 2-liter TFSI engine with 300 PS 5,500 rpm and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque between 1,800 and 5,500 rpm.
It's a very powerful engine, but going from sedan to two-door convertible has added a lot of weight to the chassis. The1,620 kilogram (3,571 lbs) takes 0 to 62 mph stride in 5.4 seconds, a lot slower than its brothers.
Adding 150 kilograms to the weight of what is essentially a sportscar sounds like a very bad idea. But for €48,500 (in Germany) you do get one room for four adults, a very sexy interior with plush seats and a large boot.
Moving on to the convertible part of the S3, this comes in the form of a multi-layer fabric top that folds and raises in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). The luggage capacity remains decent, with the A3 Cabriolet offering 285 liters (cubic feet) or 245 liters (cubic feet) with the roof stowed. That's about as much as you get on a supermini and you can also put skis and snowboards through a hatch that opens into the cabin.
With the new BMW M4 convertible poised to be one amazing car, it's hard to get that excited about the S3 model, especially due to the weight. But being the price that it is and with the Audi S badge backing it up, it should be a decent car.
Like its hatchback and sedan brothers, the S3 drop-top makes use of a 2-liter TFSI engine with 300 PS 5,500 rpm and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque between 1,800 and 5,500 rpm.
It's a very powerful engine, but going from sedan to two-door convertible has added a lot of weight to the chassis. The1,620 kilogram (3,571 lbs) takes 0 to 62 mph stride in 5.4 seconds, a lot slower than its brothers.
Adding 150 kilograms to the weight of what is essentially a sportscar sounds like a very bad idea. But for €48,500 (in Germany) you do get one room for four adults, a very sexy interior with plush seats and a large boot.
Moving on to the convertible part of the S3, this comes in the form of a multi-layer fabric top that folds and raises in 18 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph). The luggage capacity remains decent, with the A3 Cabriolet offering 285 liters (cubic feet) or 245 liters (cubic feet) with the roof stowed. That's about as much as you get on a supermini and you can also put skis and snowboards through a hatch that opens into the cabin.
With the new BMW M4 convertible poised to be one amazing car, it's hard to get that excited about the S3 model, especially due to the weight. But being the price that it is and with the Audi S badge backing it up, it should be a decent car.
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