2017 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolets revealed.

Soft-top Cabriolet completes the second-generation A5 line-up with similar drivetrains to the Coupe and Sportback variants. Australian introduction slated for before the end of 2017. 

Following the unveiling of the two-door Coupe and the five-door Sportback earlier this year, Audi has rounded off the second-generation A5 range with its third and final instalment with the Cabriolet. 

Though without a fixed roof, the Cabriolet maintains much of the two-door Coupe's futuristic styling, wearing the same signature design cues such as its crisp 'wave-shaped' shoulder line and angular Singleframe grille. A neat design feature on the Cabriolet is the integration of the third-brake light into the trim strip surround of the roof compartment cover.

Shape and styling aside, the Cabriolet is also similar in size to the Coupe, measuring in at 4,673mm in length, 47mm longer than its predecessor. Rather intriguing is its 2,765mm wheelbase, which is a mere millimetre longer than the Coupe's. The Cabriolet also shares the same five-link front and rear suspension setup as the Coupe.

Thanks to its larger dimensions, with a 14mm longer wheelbase and the fitment of compact rear seats, Audi says the Cabriolet offers more room for all occupants, with shoulder room in the front expanding by 26mm and rear knee room growing by 18mm, compared to its predecessor.

The new Cabriolet has lost up to 40kg over its predecessor, with the front-wheel drive 2.0TDI variant tipping the scales at 1,690kg.

As for the soft top, the Cabriolet now comes with a new one-touch opening function that allows the driver to fold the soft top away in 15 seconds - or raise in 18 seconds - at speeds of up to 50km/h, which are similar parameters for the soft top operation of it predecessor. With the roof up, the Cabriolet boasts a luggage capacity of 380-litres, while it rear seat boast a 50-50 split-folding feature to allow for plus-sized luggage.

Like the Coupe and Sportback, Audi's engineers had also managed to lop some weight off the Cabriolet with a mix of different materials and the application of geometric lightweight designs. By their estimates the new Cabriolet has lost up to 40kg over its predecessor, with the front-wheel drive 2.0TDI variant tipping the scales at 1,690kg. Comparatively that is still a significant difference in weight over the Coupe's lightest member, the 2.0TFSI, with a curb weight of 1,390kg. Despite the weight shedding exercise, engineers have managed to increase the torsional rigidity of its body by 40 per cent over its predecessor's.

2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet.

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2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet.

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2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet.

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2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet.

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2017 Audi A5 Cabriolet.

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As for drivetrain choices, the A5 Cabriolet will also feature the same engine line-up internationally as the A5 Sportback, with two petrol and three diesel options. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged TFSI petrol mill will come in two guises with power outputs of 140kW/320Nm and 185kW/370Nm. Likewise the 3-litre turbocharged V6 TDI diesel unit will be available in 160kW/400Nm and 210kW/620Nm states of tune, whereas the sole 2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged TDI diesel variant on offer will make do a power output of 140kW/400Nm.

Audi says that these new engines are able to produce up to 17 per cent more power than its predecessors, while boasting as much as a 22 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency.

With the exception of the 210kW 3.0-litre TDI diesel, these engines can be paired to a six-speed manual, seven-speed dual-clutch or an eight-speed torque converter automatic, and Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The 210kW V6 diesel on the other hand comes paired to the eight-speed automatic and quattro system as standard.

Besides looks and powertrain offerings, the Cabriolet also inherits the A5 range's extensive list of features and luxuries.

Sitting atop the range is the S5 Cabriolet which sports the S5's newly developed 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 TFSI petrol powerplant, producing 260kW - 15kW more than the supercharged V6 unit in the previous S5. Paired with an eight-speed automatic with power sent to all four wheels via a quattro all-wheel drive system, the S5 is able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds, 0.4 seconds off the mark from the two-door Coupe, while top speed is electronically pegged to Europe's de facto limit of 250km/h.

Besides looks and powertrain offerings, the Cabriolet also inherits the A5 range's extensive list of features and luxuries. The cabin can be specified with a wide range of options such as the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit digital instrument display, head-up display system, an 8.3-inch multimedia system with the MMI navigation plus system and MMI touch controller, an LTE module that provides access to Audi connect online services, Audi smartphone interface, ambient lighting with 30 adjustable colours, and a 19-speaker 755W Bang & Olufsen sound system.

As for convenience features, the Cabriolet comes fitted with seat-belt microphones that deliver improved voice recognition quality even with the hood open to operate the voice command feature as standard. Its boot on the other hand comes equipped with remote opening, and as an optional extra, it can be specified with a gesture control that opens the tailgate upon the wave of a foot underneath the rear bumper.

According to Audi the A5 Cabriolet boasts up to 30 driver assistance systems, some of which are able to deliver a certain level of autonomous driving. The Cabriolet can be equipped with adaptive cruise control Stop&Go including traffic jam assist, which assumes the task of braking and accelerating at speeds of up to 65km/h. Also available for the Cabriolet is a collision avoidance assist feature which uses the adaptive cruise control system, front camera, and radar sensors, to determine an appropriate evasive manoeuvre.

Other driver assistance systems that are available on the A5 Cabriolet include turn assist, park assist, rear cross traffic assist, exit warning, camera-based recognition of traffic signs, Audi active lane assist, and Audi side assist.

Safety aside, the A5 Cabriolet's predictive efficiency assistant uses GPS data from the car's immediate surroundings to recommend a specific driving advice to help the driver save on fuel.

The A5 and S5 Cabriolet will be introduced here at the tail end of 2017, with the Coupe set to make its debut early next year and followed by the five-door Sportback in the middle of the year.

Exact specifications, pricing, and powertrain options for Australia-bound models will be confirmed closer to its official introduction.

Would you prefer the A5 Cabriolet over a Mercedes or a BMW? Tell us what you think in the comments below.