If you love open-top driving and if you're looking for a fun convertible sports car, Audi has something planned for you on December 11. Yes, it's the A3 Cabriolet that was showcased at the Auto Expo at the start of this year. The automaker will put the car on sale in the coming month.
The A3 Cabriolet is a two-door, four-seater vehicle with a retractable roof top based on the hard top A3 sedan. The car looks sportier than the currently sold sedan featuring the soft fabric roof that is stretched over a lightweight kinematic mechanism made of magnesium steel. The top can open or close electro-hydraulically at the press of a button, in less than 18 seconds, at speeds of up to 50kmph.
While the cabin is equipped with most of the features from the A3 sedan, the company might offer optional features setting it apart from the sedan. In terms of exterior appearance, apart from the open top, the two doors and new design for the alloys differentiate the car from the A3 sedan.
The Audi A3 Cabriolet, in the international markets, is available in two petrol and one diesel engine option. The 1.4-litre TFSI engine produces 140bhp of power and the 1.8-litre TFSI mill churns out 180bhp of power. The former does the 0kmph to 100kmph sprint in 9.1 seconds, while the latter takes just 7.8 seconds. Both these engines come mated to a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission. The diesel variant is powered by the 2.0-litre TDI motor that delivers 150bhp of power and does the 0-100kmph sprint in 8.9 seconds.
Expected to be priced in the range of Rs 45 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, the A3 Cabriolet will serve as a niche segment in our country. At present there are few convertibles in our country that offer such great topless fun. With the introduction of this cabriolet, consumers in India will have another option to enjoy driving with the roof down in style.
