Editor’s note: What follows is preliminary information on the Audi A3 Cabriolet. Check back later for full details.
The A3 Cabriolet wears a soft-top with power up and down operation. Audi says the top opens or closes via the electrohydraulic mechanism in less than 18 seconds at speeds up to 31 mph. The top folds into three layers and rests in a tray when retracted. Cargo space is 10.1 cubic feet when the top is down, which is more than the Volkswagen Eos and Mini Convertible.
Without a hardtop, Audi shields occupants in rollover collisions with active rollover protection. Two plates spring upward from the body when a rollover is detected. Perhaps most intriguing is the A3’s availability of all-wheel drive with the convertible platform. All-wheel-drive convertibles are rare and a combination our readers have asked about in the past.
