AUDI S5 Cabriolet Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Shortly after introducing the refreshed version of the A5 lineup, the German automaker also updated the S versions, and among them was the S5 Cabriolet.

While the Coupe and the Sportback were the most sought-after versions of the S5 lineup, their ragtop sibling was the one that turned more heads on the streets. Audi knew that, and its engineering team worked hard to make the vehicle almost as rigid as its coupe stablemate. In addition, the designers created a soft top that gave the car the same appeal when its canopy was closed as when it was open. For the 2020 model year, the S5 Cabriolet came with significant upgrades on the exterior that made it more aggressive, and it also had a fresh interior that targeted the technology package.

At the front, the 2020 Audi S5 Cabriolet came with new standard LED headlights, with an option for Matrix LEDs. In addition, the grille between them was broader, emphasizing the car’s width. The wrapped-around plastic bumper below them was also updated. It received a redesigned apron that featured new side scoops housing the fog lamps and the parking sensors. In addition, they had a narrow vertical slit that created an air curtain around the bodywork to lower the drag coefficient.

From its profile, the car boasted its fluid, sculptured lines that waved above the front and rear fenders. However, these looked carved deeper than before, and the same went for the lower sculptured areas on the door panels. The 2020 Audi S5 Cabriolet also featured redesigned side sills that lowered the ground effect. At the back, the redesigned LED taillights were available with dynamic turn signal lamps stretched from the rear quarter panels onto the trunk’s lid. Underneath the bumper, the car had the same oval-shaped quad exhaust system decorated with chromed tips.

Inside, there were a few significant updates on the 2020 Audi S5 Cabriolet. The dashboard sported a pair of horizontal lines that visually connected the vents. They made the vehicle look wider. In addition, atop the center stack, Audi installed a new 10.3-inch display for the MIB3 infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At the same time, the driver fronted a 12.3-inch HD Audi Virtual Cockpit screen with an HD resolution of 1280x720. Like on the previous version, the car featured a pair of high-bolstered front seats, with an option for bucket seats that sported the S5 logo embroidered on their seatbacks. Unfortunately, those seated in the back still lacked enough legroom for long distances because the split-folding (50/50) bench seat had to be pushed forward to make room for the canopy’s electromechanical system.

Under the hood, there were no significant differences between the 2020 Audi S5 Cabriolet and its predecessor, introduced in 2016. It featured a three-liter turbocharged V6 engine paired with a standard eight-speed automatic (with torque converter) gearbox that sent the power in all corners.

Audi introduced the second generation of the A5 lineup in 2016 and waited until 2017 to reveal the S5 lineup, which included the five-door (Sportback), the coupe, and the convertible versions.

Competing against the better-known M3/M4 lineup wasn’t easy for Audi, but at least it kept the model’s nameplate and used the same S letter for the performance versions of the A5. Furthermore, the addition of the open-top version, which could really carry four adults on board, was considered a massive advantage by the four-ringed automaker. For the second generation of the nameplate, it used the same platform as the four-door/station-wagon sibling, the A4. As a result, it benefited from many advanced systems that helped customers decide if the car was worth the trouble of spending a steep price on it. And it was worth it. Starting with 2017, all versions of the S5 shared the same engine, while before that, the two-door versions had a turbocharged V6, while a naturally-aspirated V8 powered the four and five-door versions.

Even if the car’s platform remained the same, Audi considered and convinced its customers that it was an entirely new generation in the same way that it did with the A4 B8 and B9, respectively. Nevertheless, the 2017 S5 Cabriolet looked slightly different than its predecessor. It featured a bolder front fascia with an emphasis on the single-frame grille that sported chromed vertical slats. Moreover, the U.S. models didn’t have the horizontal bar that supported the license plate. In addition, the sharp-looking headlights sported LED daytime running lights inside them, while the lower side scoops from the apron housed the fog lamps. Furthermore, the hood showed new creases on it and was made out of aluminum to help with the weight distribution. From its profile, the Cabriolet revealed its rag-top roof that could disappear in 15 seconds at the touch of a button, at speeds of up to 31 MPH (50 kph). Like any other S product, the car boasted silver door mirror caps and A-pillars. From behind, the four oval exhausts flanked the rear diffuser, and they were not fake.

The cabin boasted a high level of luxury with leather-wrapped seats and door cards. Moreover, Audi offered the option for tall front seatbacks with integrated headrests embroidered with the S5 logo. In front of the driver, Audi installed a 12.3” digital instrument cluster known as the Audi virtual cockpit, which could show not just the speedometer and tachometer but also data from the infotainment system, including the map for the navigation unit. Furthermore, an 8.3” touchscreen for the infotainment system sat atop the center stack in a free-floating position. In the back, the automaker installed a bench for two passengers, separated by a center console with two cup holders.

Under the skin, the S5 Cabriolet featured a twin-scroll turbocharged V6 that sent 349 HP (353 PS) in all corners via an eight-speed automatic (torque-converter) gearbox. The all-wheel-drive system sent up to 40% of the torque to the front axle and 60% to the rear one to create an RWD-biased feeling for the driver, even though the mass distribution was not exactly ideal.

Audi refreshed the A5 lineup for the 2012 model year, and along with the rest of the range, it also brought significant improvements to the S5 Convertible version that challenged sports cars and GT vehicles alike.

After the German car manufacturer introduced the S5 in its lineup in 2007, customers were delighted to see that they could get the car with an open-top bodywork. It didn’t matter that it was heavier and couldn’t match the cornering performance of its coupe stablemate. Then, in 2012, the four-ring brand launched the refreshed version of the A5 lineup, and that change also affected the S5 versions, regardless of their bodywork shapes. The 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet received a few updates on the exterior and the interior. However, the German car manufacturer considered that the open-top version of the S5 didn’t need any significant improvements under the hood, so it kept the same supercharged three-liter V6 powerplant as the one for the 2009 model year.

The 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet came with a revised front fascia that featured redesigned headlights. They had an angular design and integrated the LED daytime running lights that encircled the headlamps. Between them, the automaker installed the singleframe grille with a hexagonal shape adorned by chromed surroundings and twin horizontal slats. Lower, on the apron, the car manufacturer placed a set of side scoops that housed the fog lamps.

The 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet had several specific design elements that made it stand apart from its stablemates. Its hood sported a raised center section, like a power bulge, flanked by two sculptured lines. They visually connected the singleframe grille with the silver-painted A-pillars, which were unique to the open-top version of the S5. The curved lines on the sides and the 18-inch light alloy wheels created a dynamic look for the vehicle. Finally, at the back, Audi introduced new taillights for the car, featuring tiny reversing lights. Under the bumper, the sporty convertible boasted quad oval exhausts adorned by chromed tips that flanked a silver diffuser.

As a premium automaker, the four-ring brand created a luxurious ambiance for those who dug deeper into their pockets to get a 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet instead of any other convertible from the same brand. Along with the updated version, the car received a new infotainment system featuring a seven-inch color display placed atop the center stack. It could be controlled via a new interface with fewer buttons. Fronting the driver was a binocular-styled instrument panel featuring large dials for the speedometer and the tachometer. They flanked a new monochrome LCD that showed data from the car’s onboard computer. The high-bolstered front seats provided excellent side support, and they were available with a ventilation system that blew warm air into their occupants’ necks. In addition, when the rear bench seat wasn’t occupied, customers could manually install a wind-blocker mesh that improved the ride quality with the rag-top folded down.

Even though the four-ring brand was reckoned for its turbocharged gasoline engines ever since the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, the 2012 Audi S5 Cabriolet was motivated by a supercharged three-liter V6 powerhouse. It developed 333 PS (329 hp) that it sent in all corners via a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox. Along with the refreshed version, the automaker improved the all-wheel-drive that featured a mechanical center differential.

With two fewer cylinders and a ragtop over the passenger area, the 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet increased the number of desirable vehicles made by the German car manufacturer from Ingolstadt.

While customers were thrilled about the 4.2-liter V8 engine on the Audi S5 Coupe, those craving an open-top vehicle had to rely on a different powerplant under the hoods of the 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet. The car manufacturer decided to make that switch in order to reduce weight and still provide similar performance as the convertible’s coupe stablemate. After all, the ragtop version was just half a second slower on the 0 to 100 kph (0-62 mph) acceleration time. However, since the car targeted customers looking for a more glamorous vehicle, it came with more expensive features that justified the increased price tag.

At the front, the 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet inherited all the parts and pieces from its coupe sibling. The rectangular headlights were bi-Xenon and integrated pearl-like LEDs for the daytime running lights. Below, on the wrapped-around plastic bumper, the automaker installed a pair of side scoops adorned by three horizontal slats that housed the round fog lamps. The massive, singleframe grille specific to the brand dominated the center of the front fascia. It sported the same seven vertical slats and had the tiny red and silver S5 badges on the right side.

Up to the A-pillars, the 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet had the same body panels as its coupe sibling. Unlike that, it showed the V6T chromed badges placed behind the front wheel arches, just below the silver A-pillars. The aerodynamic side sills reduced the ground effect, which could alter the car’s behavior at high speeds. Audi provided the car with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, albeit with a different design than those fitted on the coupe version, featuring seven double-slat spokes instead of five. To make the A5 Cabriolet look sleeker, Audi didn’t put any posts above the vehicle’s waistline besides the A-pillars. The only parts that stuck out were the headrests for the front and rear seats. Behind the cabin, the short deck had a slightly descending line. At the back, like its coupe sibling, the open-top version of the S5 boasted a set of quad exhausts that peaked under the rear bumper, integrated into a broad diffuser that was available in either body or contrasting color.

Since convertibles were more expensive than coupes, the four-ring brand from Ingolstadt tried to lure its customers with better onboard amenities than on the regular coupe. As a result, the 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet featured standard S sport seats with Silk Nappa upholstery and electric adjustments, with an option for heating. Atop the center stack, the automaker placed the seven-inch display for the infotainment system, which could be controlled via dedicated buttons placed on the center console. In the back, the split-folding (50/50) bench seat was installed slightly forward compared to the one from the coupe to make room for the power-retractable canopy. The entire power ragtop assembly could uncover the car in 15 seconds and cover it back in 17 seconds while driving at speeds of up to 50 kph (31 mph).

Unlike its coupe sibling, the 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet didn’t have a V8 under the hood paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Instead, it was motivated by a three-liter supercharged V6 powerhouse that developed 333 PS (329 hp), married with a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) S-Tronic gearbox. However, it retained the quattro all-wheel-drive system featuring a Torsen center differential, ensuring customers maximum grip on all weather conditions.