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Audi A4 Cabriolet

As the emotionally charged spearhead of a sporty model series, the Audi A4 Cabriolet is dynamic, exclusive and of a superb technical standard; its equipment specification covers every conceivable requirement.

Supreme power development is a common feature of all five engine versions ... Supreme power development is a common feature of all five engine versions

An attractive entry-level engine has now been added to the A4 Cabriolet range. The 2.0-litre 4-cylinder inline version is available from September in combination with a 5-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. The 2.0-litre engine develops 96 kW (130 bhp) of power from a swept volume of 1,984 cm3 and generates a torque of 195 Newton-meters.

The A4 Cabriolet 2.0 accomplishes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds. Its top speed is 208 km/h. The 2.0-litre petrol engine in the A4 Cabriolet covers 100 kilometers on an impressively thrifty 8.6 liters of premium-grade fuel (overall value), and complies with the strict EU4 emission limits into the bargain.

The Audi A4 Cabriolet  The Concept This four-seated convertible, which is 4.57 meters long and 1.77 meters wide, has an electro-hydraulically operated hood with a heated glass rear window as standard. Outstanding acoustic insulation and excellent suitability for winter conditions are typical characteristics of the Audi Cabriolet hood.  

Another aspect that can be taken for granted is the outstanding material quality and finish of the interior. The sporty but elegant interior design, perfectly matched to the dynamic styling of the exterior, produces a harmonious overall impression.  Maximum agility and therefore undiluted driving pleasure are also guaranteed by the car‘s lightweight aluminum suspension, based on the much-praised axle design of the new A4 generation. 

The decidedly dynamic performance is complemented by the high torsional rigidity of the Cabriolet body. The most important consequence of this characteristic is a level of vibrational comfort that makes the A4 Cabriolet the benchmark in its class.  The car‘s safety also benefits from the body‘s rigid structure. An active roll-over protection system provides additional safety if the car overturns. In this case, two protective bars, controlled by sensors, are triggered behind the rear passengers within milliseconds. Together with the extremely rigid windscreen frame, they help to preserve survival space for all occupants if the car turns over.

The new Audi navigation ­system plus with DVD drive permits virtually unlimited navigation throughout Western Europe. As well as navigation DVDs, the drive can be used to play audio and MP3 CDs. Its operating principle follows the same clear logic as the Audi MMI, familiar from the A8 and A6. The integrated FM double tuner ensures excellent radio reception, convenient station selection and allows dynamic navigation via the Traffic Message Channel TMC, even when listening to other stations.

Engines and transmissions

Supreme power development is a common feature of all five engine versions – four petrol and one TDI engine – available for the Audi A4 Cabriolet. All engines satisfy the EU4 emission standard.

Petrol engines The three-liter six-cylinder unit develops 162 kW (220 bhp). It accelerates the A4 Cabriolet from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and enables it to reach a top speed of 243 km/h. Another V6 engine is offered with a capacity of 2.4 liters. 125 kW (170 bhp) ensure vigorous pulling power in all situations and outstanding smoothness – a characteristic that makes it an extremely pleasant partner for open-top driving.

The four-cylinder turbo engine of the Audi A4 Cabriolet 1.8 T develops an output of 120 kW (163 bhp). This version is also impressive for its outstanding dynamism and comfortable ride: with a 5-speed manual gearbox it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.4 (multitronic: 9.3) seconds and reaches a top speed of 226 (multitronic: 219) km/h.
The four-seated Audi A4 Cabriolet quattro is the only car of its kind worldwide to offer permanent four-wheel drive.

The quattro driveline underlines the status of the A4 Cabriolet as the sportiest all-rounder in its class. It is available in conjunction with both the powerful three-liter V6 and the high-torque 1.8 T turbo engine.

Both quattro versions are equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox; the 3.0 can also be ordered with a 5-speed tiptronic. At the same time, permanent four-wheel drive makes the A4 Cabriolet the ideal all-season vehicle. Engine power can be safely converted into forward propulsion in all road and weather conditions.  

TDI engine Audi offers a third, overtly sporty six-cylinder version in the form of the A4 Cabriolet 2.5 TDI. 120 kW (163 bhp) and a hefty torque of 350 Nm in a range from 1,500 to 3,000 rpm ensure power in all situations. This car, which is fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox, takes just 9.7 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h and does not reach its top speed until 225 km/h.

In conjunction with the V6 TDI, the Audi A4 Cabriolet introduces a brand new dimension to transmission technology, unique in the convertible segment, with its continuously variable automatic transmission, the multitronic. This transmission offers the dynamic qualities of a manual gearbox and surpasses the comfort of a conventional automatic. It is therefore possible either to cruise along smoothly – a manner of driving preferred by convertible drivers – or to adopt a distinctly dynamic style.

The TDI‘s proverbial economy means a saving in terms of fuel consumption that is unrivalled in this class: it consumes an average of just 7.2 liters of diesel over 100 kilometers – whether equipped with the manual gearbox or multitronic.  Model history The Audi A4 Cabriolet was launched in April 2002. More than 72,600 of this model have been built to date (as at 31.07.2004). Over 71,000 of its successful predecessor were produced between 1989 and 2000. The most popular engine versions of the current Audi A4 Cabriolet are the 120 kW 1.8 T, followed by the six-cylinder TDI.

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