Audi Cabriolet in much demand

21 December 2001: The new generation Audi Cabriolet comes almost exactly a decade after the debut of the much-loved original in 1992, but Europe-wide demand is extraordinarily strong, with, for example, the total UK allocation for 2002 already presold, even three months before it is due to be launched there.

The car will initially be powered by two V6 petrol engines shared by the A4 saloon and Avant - a 2.4-litre with 170bhp and a 3.0-litre with 220bhp. Both these engines will be available allied to standard or Sport trim.

Standard equipment includes 16-inch ‘5-arm Aero’ alloy wheels with 205/55 R16 tyres, while Sport versions gain 17-inch ‘5-spoke star’ alloy wheels with 235/45 R17 tyres, a sports suspension, a sports leather steering wheel and sports seats with electric lumbar support.

Its four-link front and trapezoidal-link rear suspension has been both lowered and tuned specifically to give a more sporting bias. There's been an increase in body rigidity of 112 per cent compared with the outgoing Cabriolet.

The new Cabriolet offers genuine four seat capability and class-leading luggage capacity thanks to a wheelbase which has been extended by 100mm compared with the original.

Inside there's a new centre console design, incorporating round air vents with aluminium surrounds, which helps to distinguish the soft-top Audi from its A4 saloon and Avant stablemates. An electro-hydraulically operated hood with a heated glass rear window is fitted as standard equipment.