Fridae

Would it be wrong to suggest that to derive a convertible from an existing model: the more expensive the donor vehicle is, lesser alterations are required?

A Bentley Continental GTC is very much a Continental GT without a roof. Even the Mercedes Benz CLK which is no longer in production is not much different from the coupe it was based on.
 
Inversely, we could consider the great lengths Peugeot (207 CC) and Renault (Megane CC) have gone to packaging retractable hard-tops: just to lift the image of their convertibles above their donors which are clearly bread and butter models.

Audi seems to think otherwise. Choosing to stick to a simple and cheaper fabric arrangement as it is lighter, easier to package and provides a roomier boot than an unwieldy, space-inefficient and heavy metal roof. Or perhaps Audi knows that the car is not going to be around for that long (the donor, the A3 hatchback debuted back in 2003).

Either way, the end result is that the Audi A3 Cabriolet is a mere 120 kg heavier than the equivalent A3 hatch. In contrast, Volkswagen Eos with multiple, elegantly folding metal panels gains 218 kg over a Golf GTi and you’ll see there are advantages here.

The elegant looking A3 Cabriolet is powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged four. Performance is delivered in a linear fashion from peak torque way down at 1500rpm to peak power right up at 6200rpm. Armed with Audi’s S-tronic (dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox) 0 to 100 km/h is in a respectable 8.0 secs. By contrast, rival BMW 120i convertible needs 10.0sec.

Another surprise was how quickly the A3 Cabriolet can be hustled down windy roads. By the standards of convertibles it is almost a precision instrument. The handling finesse does ruin the ride quality by a very small margin.

There is a fine balance of decent body control and small-bump compliance around town. The softly sprung A3 Cabriolet feels composed and precise at all speeds: easily the most comfortable and capable variant from the A3 family.
 
The A3 Cabriolet interior is a typical Audi quality item. With the exception of the slightly dated dials and a missing sat-nav screen, the six year-old cabin has borne the years remarkably well.

While many competitors offered rear seats that are practically vertical and simply a torture for even the shortest of trips. It was pleasing to find that the Audi A3 Cabriolet has decent leg and head room for adults at the rear.

The only areas worthy of genuine criticism is that the boot lid is short and presents a tiny aperture through which to load items into the 260-litre boot and the integral head restraint system or commonly known as roll-over protection bars impair rear vision rather badly. 

The latest cabriolet from Audi is a fun, cleverly conceived and fluently executed drop-top with an impressive engine and surprising practicality. Priced within whiskers of rivals like the BMW 120i convertible and the Mini Cooper S Cabrio, the arrival of the Audi A3 Cabriolet has certainly spiced things up for sun-seeking happy drivers. 

Engine	1,798 cc 4-cylinder in-line turbocharged petrol
Transmission	7-speed dual-clutch transmission (S-tronic)
Wheels Driven	Front
Max. Power	160 hp@ 5000-6200 rpm
Max. Torque	250 Nm@ 1500-4200 rpm
0-100 km/h	8.0 secs
Top speed	218 km/h
Fuel Economy	10.6 litres per 100 km
CO2 Emissions	180 g/km
Dimensions (L x W x H)	4,238 mm X 1,765 mm X 1,424 mm
Price with COE*	S$157,300