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Audi RS5 cabriolet car review – who says you can’t mix business with pleasure?

The Audi RS5 Cabriolet is a bit of a beast. Fast, loud, but acceptably business-like with the hood up.
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22 April 2013

Audi RS5 cabriolet
The sound is somewhere between a howl and a wail – you’ll never want to put the hood up

Audi RS5 Cabriolet

What is it

The Audi engineers back at the firm’s quattro GmbH Neckarsulm factory base have been flexing their go-faster know-how again, this time on the Audi A5 cabriolet, turning it into a hand-crafted Audi RS5 Cabriolet.

At the heart of the RS5 Cabriolet is a hand-built 4.2-litre V8 engine that makes a sensational growly hard-edged wail that just begs for the hood to be down and for you to be driving through a tunnel.

It is an aural delight.

It is also fast, walloping 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds (almost as fast at the R8 sports coupe with which it shares its engine).

So it’s a seriously fast car you can drive with the hood down – and you’ll be one of very few for the £68,985 you’ll pay for an RS5 Cabriolet. Just 100 models are coming in each year. So exclusivity is guaranteed.

 

Audi RS5 cabriolet
Very fast, and very exclusive – only 100 will be sold in the UK each year

What’s hot

  • The V8 engine makes a glorious noise
  • It’s fearsomely fast – thankfully it has exceptional brakes to stop it, too
  • And there’s quattro four-wheel drive to help you keep it all on the road and make the most of the V8’s 450PS output
  • The fabric hood can be raised and lowered while on the move at up to 31mph
  • And with our dithering British climate, you won’t get wet: the automatic hood lowering takes 15 seconds; auto raising 17 seconds
  • You won’t get cold with the hood down either – there’s head-level heating
  • RS package includes 19 inch 10-spoke alloys and 20mm lowered suspension
  • Optional Sports Package (£2250) adds niceties such as sports exhaust, 20 inch alloys, dynamic steering, and Dynamic Ride Control, saving £2915 on specifying the items individually
  • Sports seats are brilliantly comfortable…

 

Audi RS5 Cabriolet
Quite sensible inside – but the Nappa leather seats don’t come cheap…

What’s not

  • …but unfortunately those sports seats, with fine Nappa leather, cost an extra £1753
  • Frequent visits to the fuel filling station with 26.4mpg (but with an engine like that, don’t expect to get near it!)
  • Top rate company car tax
  • High running costs
  • Pot holes with those eye-catching 20 inch alloy wheels

 

Audi RS5 cabriolet
If you’re not worried about the running costs, why not?

Business Car Manager Road Test Verdict

The sound from the RS5 Cabriolet’s V8 engine is something to be treasured – a noise to be repeated again and again and again…

The car is beautifully built, and wonderfully executed. If very niche.

So if you are successfully self-employed, and want to spoil yourself in a stand out business car, then this really is a very good way to do just that.

 

Audi RS5 cabriolet
The hood goes up in 17 seconds, and it can be lowered on the move

The Low Down…

Doors and body style 2-door cabriolet
Engine/gearbox  4.2 V8 petrol/7speed S tronic auto
CO2 Emissions  249g/km
Economy  26.4mpg
Power/torque  450PS/430Nm
0-62mph/top speed  4.9 secs/155mph
Insurance group  45

…and what it costs

P11D Value  £68,985
Monthly business rental (ex VAT)  £1148 (3yrs/30,000 miles)
Road tax (VED)  Band L
Company Car Tax Bands 2013/14 to 2015/16  35%, 35%, 37%
Benefit in kind 2013/14 to 2015/16  £23,832, £23,832, £25,193
Annual/Monthly fuel benefit (20%)  £1477/£123
Annual/Monthly fuel benefit (40%)  £2594/£216
Annual/monthly company car tax (20%)  £4766/£397
Annual/monthly company car tax (40%)  £9533/£794
Figures correct at time of posting 
For latest figures Use our company car tax calculator

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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