The next car to arrive to the Audi’s RS-range is the Audi RS 5 Cabriolet. The new cabriolet comes with a lightweight textile roof that opens in 15 seconds and closes in 17 seconds fully automatically at a press of a button. The roof can be used even when driving at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet is powered by a high-revving, naturally aspirated V8 engine with FSI direct injection. From its displacement of 4163cc, the engine delivers 450 hp at 8250rpm. The maximum torque is 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) between 4000 and 6000rpm. The Audi RS 5 Cabriolet rockets from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. The car’s top speed is limited to 250 km/h. At customer request, Audi can boost this to 280 km/h. The 4.2-litre V8 has a combined fuel consumption of 10.9 l/100 km (21.58 US mpg).
The RS 5 Cabriolet comes with the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmissions. The transmission offers D or S shift programs. There is also possibility to shift manually with the gearshift lever or the paddles on the steering wheel. The Launch Control function is a useful drive-off assistant for the race course. It enables an optimal start by letting out the clutch at an ideal drive-off engine speed. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system gives the RS 5 Cabriolet a decisive advantage in traction and stability. Its technological centerpiece, the crown-gear center differential, is lightweight and compact. In normal driving operation, it distributes torque between the front and rear axles at a 40:60 ratio; if necessary, it can direct up to 70 percent to the front or a maximum of 85 percent to the rear. As an option, Audi can install a sport differential that actively distributes power between the rear wheels via two superposition gears. A perfect supplement to the quattro drivetrain, it presses the RS 5 Cabriolet into the curve at the handling limits, counteracting any tendency to oversteer or understeer right from the outset.
