The German automaker Audi is
German luxury automaker Audi is often praised for its stylish vehicles, and its convertible models are no exception. Though the Audi A8 sedan is the company's flagship vehicle, and the company is best known for its sedans and touring vehicles, Audi's convertibles have received plenty of positive attention as well, especially the A5 and S5 models. There are currently five Cabriolet/Roadster convertible vehicles in the Audi lineup.
The 2012 Audi A5 Cabrio... (full review continues below)
The German automaker Audi is
German luxury automaker Audi is often praised for its stylish vehicles, and its convertible models are no exception. Though the Audi A8 sedan is the company's flagship vehicle, and the company is best known for its sedans and touring vehicles, Audi's convertibles have received plenty of positive attention as well, especially the A5 and S5 models. There are currently five Cabriolet/Roadster convertible vehicles in the Audi lineup.
The 2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet (Convertible) has a starting MSRP of $42,450 and a 2.0-liter L4 engine that creates 211 horsepower. The A5 gets 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, and stepped in as the Audi A4's replacement in 2007. Since that time, the A5 coupe has been faring well. It has three trims levels available: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige, and is also available in a coupe variant. Bluetooth, a sunroof, and leather seats are just a few standard features you'll find on the A5, which competes with the Infiniti G37 and the Nissan 370Z.
The Audi R8 Spyder Cabriolet convertible is a supercar made for daily driving with the top down. For the 2012 year, the R8 Cabriolet has a starting MSRP of $127,700 (quite a bit than the coupe) and a base 4.2-liter V8 engine, which produces 420 horsepower. The R8 is Audi's flagship coupe (based on the Audi A8) and has Lamborghini Gallardo roots, and its convertible brother is possibly even more impressive. The R8 is also available in GT model variant, which provides more power, but has limited production. The Cabriolet version competes with the Maserati GranTurismo.
The 2012 Audi S5 3.0 T Convertible comes in around $59,300 at and is also available in a coupe variant. It first debuted as a replacement for the Audi S4 lineup of coupes and convertibles when they were discontinued several years ago. The S5 competes with the BMWZ4 and the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class and achieves 17 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
The Audi TT Roadster convertible is the current lineup's most inexpensive ride, coming in at a starting price around $41k. The TT Coupe is the base model for a larger range of sporty vehicles, which is comprised of the Audi TTS and the newly reintroduced (for 2012) Audi TT RS. The Roadster's main competitors include the Nissan 370Z and the Chevrolet Camaro .The TT is offered as a hard-top or a convertible that seats two, and gets a respectable 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The engine was tweaked in the TT for this model year, and the vehicle now produces 211 horsepower with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine. Standard features include automatic climate control, Bluetooth capability, and auto-dimming mirrors.
The Audi TTS Roadster comes in at a slightly higher price than the standard TT with a starting MSRP at $50k, but it provides a higher level of sportiness and luxury due to its increased price. The TTS features an in-line DOHC, 265 horsepower 4-cylinder in-line engine. The 2012 TT Roadster competes with the Porsche Boxster and the Infiniti G37.