MIMS 2008 a model for every niche

Let’s start at the baby of the range, the new A3 Cabrio, which is a dedicated four-seat soft top to rival BMWs newly-launched 1 Series Convertible.

It certainly punches above its weight. Audi has followed sister company VW and its Golf/Passat based Eos in choosing strong turbocharged engines for heavier drop-top convertibles. While an entry-level 1.6-litre manual will probably struggle, the 1.8 TFSI auto and 2.0 TFSI manual and auto are well suited to this style of car – and its buyer demographic.

The soft-top, which claims to fold away completely in just nine seconds, is available in either a semi-automatic or a soundproofed fully-automatic version.

This saves on boot space, which is a reasonable 260L, or can open up to 674 litres with a unique 50:50 fold down rear seat arrangement – rare for a Cabrio, let alone one of this size.

The A3 Cabrio should start below $60K, and 120 cars will arrive after July, landing around the same time as a top-shelf TT Cabrio and Coupe

The TTS sees the first S-line performance variant in the iconic TT Coupe’s 10 year history. The drivetrain is essentially an uprated S3 combo: AWD quattro matched to a DSG transmission and Audi’s effective 2.0-litre turbo powerplant.

Audi is claiming 200kW, but in the past models like the S3 had four kilowatts knocked off to ensure reliability in our higher temperatures.

The S-Line sprints from 0-100km/h in 5.2secs in the coupe, 0.2secs more in the cabrio.

Low profile rubber and 18-inch alloys look bottom-clenchingly firm, but standard magnetic dampers may alleviate some of the shockwaves felt when travelling on our potholed roads.

This is an issue which will hopefully be addressed across Audi’s big seller, the A4. The 2008 A4 sedan range is on sale from today, and steps into showrooms in April.

It boasts a completely new platform and suspension setup first seen here in the A5 and S5, and was developed to alleviate the overly firm ride and reactive handling of the previous generation (particularly the more sporty cars on thinner rubber - fine on the German autobahn, but not on Aussie roads).

The base A4 is a 1.8 TFSI starting at $50,900, a 2.0 TDI DSG costs $54,900; and the top-spec 3.2 FSI quattro tiptronic tips the scales at $88,500. A 2.7-litre TDI diesel at $67,900 will arrive in June, and S-Line and RS line variants will hopefully follow soon after.

Which brings us to the ultimate RS car, and flagship of Audi’s Melbourne show line-up.

The second-gen RS6 Avant will retain the hyper wagon’s reputation as the ultimate Q-car, or wolf in sheep’s clothing. Despite its back end suggesting that family take priority, the kiddies certainly take a back seat to its 426kW/650Nm twin-turboed V10. It will sprint from one end of the school car park to the other in 4.6secs, and muscle in to the supercar club with a $259,000 price tag.

And finally, the Cross Coupe Concept showed off another possible niche-filler for Audi’s future. It runs a four cylinder TDI engine, which claims just 5.9L/100km, and a full folding cloth sunroof lightens the load of the ‘compact’ four-seater.