Discuss...

I'm almost certain it will be a softtop.
A3 Convertible due later this year in Europe, will also have a soft top.
I think german magazines already showed grafics of A5 Convertible with softtop

Anyway, I think there is no use of a hardtop if there is a Coupe already.
The hardtop also adds weight and thus moves the central point of gravity upwards.

Cheers,

Richard

A5 convertible will be softtop as mentioned in the dutch article found in the message below. (Also on this forum)<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/a5/msgs/133.phtml">http://forums.audiworld.com/a5/msgs/133.phtml</a</li></ul>

hardtop convertibles are becoming de rigueur in this market segment. The BMW 335i is a hard-top convertible that competes with the A5, and though the CLK is soft-top, MB's other convertibles are hard-tops, as is Lexus's. Audi currently has no hardtop convertible to offer, whereas they already have the TT soft-top. With AWD, a hard-top convertible makes a lot of sense for Audi's lineup. VW already has the EOS, so there is the possibility of some technology sharing.

Just like Rolls Royce or Bentley amongst others would only use. As long as hardtops keep deforming the original design that was intended (maybe somehow that will stop one day), clean-lined, pure brands such as Audi will not make them. At least I hope so. It would surprise me very much. I don't think they will ever let it get in the way of a good clean design.

Honestly it doesn't look that great does it. With all the seperate segments showing, that hump towards the back. It doesn't flow as it should. And I suppose that's fine for a lot of car makers ... they shouldn't all be the same.

Mercedes started it with SLK and IMO that one still works best. Anyway, they don't apply it to other cars in their line up either.

It's a common misconception, though. As far as modern convertible HTs go, it was Mitsubishi with the 3000GT Spyder (and a price tag of &gt;$60,000 in 1995).

I just hate that SLK steals all the credit when, in all likelihood, they "borrowed" the design from Mitsubishi/ASC

http://www.3000gtspyder.com/

I didn't know that. I have to add though that Mitsubishi isn't a well known brand here. I don't even know of a dealer.

SLK was presented in 1996, the 3000GT Spyder in 1995? They couldn't have "borrowed" it than as it takes several years to develop a car. But you're right for pointing it out. Thank you for the information. I guess it's one of the laws of marketing that not the actual first one, but the first one in people's minds is what lives on as being "the first".

car. They didn't even sell them in Japan because the second half of the conversion process took place in California at ASC's shop. It doesn't get a lot of recognition, partly due to that reason.

I thought the SLK came out in 1997? Maybe I'm wrong. In any case, cheers!

I think it would be a mistake to have a soft-top on A5 convertible. Wow what a miss would that be. All major players are switching to hard-tops. Why? It's simple, they offer for more money both convertible but also a coupe looking car, soft top just doesn't look nice at all not to mention with hard-top, less noise, nicer exterior styling and slightly increased safety.

I'm hoping that the a5 conv. will be hard-top considering that VW started using hard-tops as well.

I'm still waiting for official news on this, but if they release an A5 conv. with soft-top, I'll be getting BMW 335-twin-turbo hard-top.

I talked to a german representative at my local Audi dealership here in North Scottsdale and he told me that A5 will be a hard-top. So I'm not certain who to trust, magazines or an Audi representative.