New 2014 Audi A3 Cabriolet revealed ahead of Frankfurt

The new 2014 Audi A3 Cabriolet (pictured) arrives in the UK next spring.

The new Audi A3 Cabriolet has been revealed, and it’s bigger, lighter and better looking than before. Based on the underpinnings of the new A3 Saloon, rather than the A3 hatch as before, means the new A3 Cabriolet has better proportions, a bigger boot, more room and yet weighs in at around 50kg less than the old model.

Just as you would expect, the new A3 Cabrio gets a soft top which can be opened or closed on the move – and in less than 18 seconds – but it now stows away cleanly in a tray in the new, bigger boot. The rollover hoops have gone too, to be replaced with spring-loaded bars that only appear if you need them (which hopefully you never will).

The soft top comes finished in black, grey and brown – with a liner in black or silver – and if you want to dig in to the options list you can you can opt for a wind deflector and head-level heating to make it all a bit cosier with the hood down.

When the A3 Cabriolet arrives in Audi’s showrooms you will initially get the choice of the 138bhp 1.4 TSI, 178bhp 1.8 TSI or 161bhp TDI, but Audi will be adding more engines to the range including the frugal 109bhp 1.6 TDI. There will also be an S3 Cabriolet with the 296bhp 2.0 litre TFSI from the S3 which will also get quattro 4WD.

The new Audi A3 Cabriolet debuts this week at Frankfurt, goes on sale in October with first A3 Cabrios arriving in the UK in time for spring 2014. Price haven’t been announced yet, but we’re guessing they’ll start around £26,000.

By Cars UK