Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept (2007): first official pictures

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

14 November 2007 09:00

Ah, the new Audi A3 convertible…

Not quite. It certainly looks like a drop-top A3, and although that car’s on the way, this is the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro. Now trying say that really fast.

This two-door, four-seat cabriolet previews Audi’s Q5, and perhaps more significantly, will make its debut at the LA Auto Show today using diesel power.

But don’t worry, Audi hasn’t forgotten that all concept cars must feature some irrelevance, so it's given this cabrio whopping 380mm ceramic front discs.

Nope. The Cross Coupe quattro – shown in Shanghai earlier this year – previews the even smaller Q3 which will face off against the BMW X1 when it goes on sale in 2010.

Today's LA star is Audi’s tease for their medium-sized 4x4, the Q5, and it’s definitely a tease. While Audi’s three concept cars this year (Q7 V12 TDI, Cross Coupe quattro, and Metroproject quattro) will make in production almost unchanged, this Cross Cabriolet is another matter.

At least when BMW previewed its X3 with the xActivity concept (inset) it had the decency to leave the B-, C-, and D-pillars in place, and just cut a few holes in the roof instead.

Judging by our spy video the car is nearly production ready, so expect it at Geneva 2008 or the Beijing Motor show shortly afterwards.

For those of you that care about the concept’s folding roof though, Audi says the fabric hood will disappear in a ‘spectacularly brief 17 seconds’. Refinement might not be all that great though, as the Cross Cabriolet comes with an intercom system and four individual microphones so the passengers can easily communicate, or be proper back seat drivers.

By Ben Pulman