2003 Audi A4 Cabriolet

Fortified with variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust side, the V-6 in the A4 3.0 makes 220 horses and 221 lb.-ft. of torque.

Granted, profiling is a big part of any convertible experience. But the A4 Cabrio is no slouch when it comes time to get serious about driving. Fortified with variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust side, the V-6 in the A4 3.0 makes 220 horses and 221 lb.-ft. of torque—and 90 percent or more of that latter figure is present from 2,200-5,200 rpm. It's hard to imagine a better partner for this motivator than Audi's superb multitronic CVT. By nature, this stepless transmission perpetually keeps the engine in the heart of its powerband. For those times that demand an even higher level of sporting precision, a quick flick of the gear lever turns the multitronic into a "virtual" 6-speed, capable of delivering near instantaneous but remarkably smooth gear changes on demand. The factory estimates the match-up will produce 0-60 mph times of 7.5 seconds, a claim experience leads us to believe is close to spot-on. Halting this alluring Audi are some fairly robust 4-wheel disc binders. While the stopping systems on both versions of the car are fortified with ABS, Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution, V-6 A4s have the added benefit of even larger front/rear rotors.


The new Cabriolet shares its aluminum-intensive chassis hardware with the rest of its A4 kin. Up front, struts work in concert with Audi's slick split-wishbone control arms while the rear uses the house trapezoidal multilink setup. This well-sorted formula also includes a coil spring and gas pressure shock at each corner trimmed by anti-roll bars at each end. Like other A4s, it also benefits from the guiding hand of Electronic Stability Program, which more aggressive pilots can switch off at the touch of a button on the dash. Standard shoes are 215/55VR16s on 16x7.0-inch cast alloy wheels, but our car wore the optional 235/45VR17 upgrade on 7.5-inch wide rims. Opt for the Sport Package—a $750 high-value combo buy#151;and the suspension tune tautens by 30 percent while the tire rating rises to Y, especially good news for those planning to cruise at sustained speeds in excess of 186 mph.


Even with its baseline underpinnings in place, the A4 Cabriolet displays a solid sporting flair as it tackles the twisties. The higher-grip footwear on our tester did impart a bit more tracking prowess, but when pressing hard into tighter corners did evoke the inevitable understeer, a well-timed moment of drop throttle would slip the tail around predictably and bring its nose back on line without missing a beat.


Far more than just a fair weather friend, the new A4 Cabriolet makes a strong case for itself as both a solid daily driver and a classy leisure-time sol soaker. Deftly balancing practicality and pure fun, this accommodating Audi should find more than enough customers to snap up the 7,000+ units currently slated for sale here in 2003. (www.audiusa.com)