Early Look: 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet

SANTA MONICA, California — Audi already has convertible versions of its A4 and TT coupes, so it's not exactly a stretch to assume a drop-top version of the new Audi A5 coupe will be coming down the pipeline. A natural for going cabriolet, expect to see Audi chopping the top on both the A5 and sporty S5 trims.

Unlike the 2009 Infiniti G37 convertible, the new A5 and S5 cabriolets are expected to use a folding soft top instead of a more complicated and heavier retractable hardtop. Both the current A4 cabriolet and new TT roadster use similar soft-top mechanisms.

Powertrain options for the A5 and S5 convertibles will likely remain the same as the coupe offerings. For the A5, that means a 265-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 with a six-speed manual transmission or Audi's manually shiftable Tiptronic six-speed automatic. The S5 convertible would share the coupe's beefy 354-hp 4.2-liter direct-injected V8 with the same tranny options.

With the A5 coupe starting life as a 2008 model, expect to see the A5/S5 convertible arrive next spring as a 2009.

What this means to you: Already one of the best-looking coupes on the road, the Audi A5/S5 should make for an equally stunning convertible. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor