Audi A4 cabrio here in midsummer

11 February 2002: It is for any manufacturer who produces a cabriolet a niche product. But there’s an image factor involved. John Hayes of Audi in Ireland describes the cabrio buyers as ‘an influential segment’. Dave Smith of MG talks of soft-tops as being ‘iconic’.

So, Audi will have their new A4 cabriolet here in May or June. And it won’t be cheap. A vague ‘below 52,000 euros’ will be entry level, and the model availability in Ireland will top out at around 55,000 euros.

Two petrol and one oil-burner will power the car here: 2.4- and 3-litre V6s for the former and a 2.5 TDI as the latter. It is an acknowledgment of the arrival of the diesel as a sporty option that we see one in a cabrio.

(I could be wrong, but I think it might be a first?)

Anyway, the new A4 cab on a longer wheelbase provides more room to it four full-size passengers. Knees won’t knock as much, nor will shoulders rub uncomfortably. If all four want to bring their luggage, though, they’ll have to keep the top up for a full 315 litres of space (against 246 litres with the roof folded).

Putting up that roof won’t be difficult to do, though - it is an electro/hydraulic operation that guarantees no knuckle-crunching. And operating it in any direction is only a 30-second affair.

Given that only one car so far has attained a 5-star rating in the ENCAP crash tests - the Renault Laguna II - it might surprise people to realise that the A4 Cabriolet rates four stars, as many as most other saloons in the segment.

Well, an active roll-over system, and a lot of other safety features mostly achronymical have helped it gain that particular status. We’ll give more details when we get to drive the car after it gets here.

Meantime, if you’re ‘influential’, it is something to consider ordering.

February 2002