With the introduction of the new S3 Cabrio, Audi adds a new member to its 3 Series range, which includes anything from three and five-door hatchbacks, a sedan, and a crossover. The Audi S3 Cabrio, set for debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, offers alfresco motoring in a neat and compact package.
Being an S model, the Audi S3 Cabrio comes with a meaty engine that delivers superb performance. It’s a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-pot, developing in this case 300 horsepower and 380 nm of torque. Quattro system and a six-speed S tronic transmission are standard issue.
The compact Cabrio accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and tops 250 km/h (limited). It returns 7.1 liters / 100 km (about 40 imp mpg), which is pretty impressive given the performance it delivers and the eight of the thing (1,620 kg).
There are some question marks above the S3 Cabrio’s refinement as an open-top car, but that’s the compromise you make with all cabrios in which wind buffeting may become an issue at high speed. The S3 is one of the most premium cars in this segment though, featuring stuff like 19-inch wheels, Nappa leather and Alcantara trimming, and high-end technology features.
Audi S3 Cabrio goes on sale in Europe in the summer of 2014, starting from 48,500 Euros.
