Audi S4 Quattro Cabriolet

Audi S4 Quattro Cabriolet - Not so fast. Over at the Audi store sits The Answer: the new S4 cabriolet—a $56,270, 340-hp V-8–powered convertible that has none of the usual sports-car impracticalities, not to mention four seats to placate whatsername and all the goodies.

The S4 is the latest in Audi’s expansive A4 line. At the bottom is the $25,970 A4 sedan that’s powered by a turbocharged 170-hp four-cylinder engine. Until this S4 cabriolet debuted, the top model was the S4 sedan (the “S” prefix denotes the hot-rod model), a $48,070 four-door with a 340-hp V-8 and standard six-speed manual transmission. In between, there are three body styles—sedan, wagon, and convertible—and a variety of engines and transmissions. The Quattro four-wheel-drive system is available or standard on all models.

The transformation from sedan to convertible has, however, added 309 power-sapping pounds to the 3864-pound sedan. There’s a multitude of guilty parties, but the main culprits are the steel body reinforcements that must attend a convertible and the heavy, motor-operated softtop. There’s also a pair of protective steel hoops that automatically extend from the rear bulkhead if sensors detect an accident.

There are two direct competitors to the S4 cab: the $57,295 BMW M3 convertible and the $81,970 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG cabriolet. We’ve only tested the quicker Bimmer, which gets to 60 in 5.1 seconds and turns the quarter in 13.7 seconds at 104 mph.

What’s neat about four-wheel drive—other than its all-weather traction—is how smoothly and transparently it transfers engine power to the road. Even when hooked to the powerful and responsive V-8, there’s never a hint of wheelspin, never any drama when pulling into traffic, and little doubt you’ll make it up your driveway on that snowy night. Since the system is always engaged, there are no buttons to push or levers to throw.

Then there’s the handling. It’s not quite as lively as what we remember from the sedan, probably due to the weight gain, but the cabrio is fairly nimble and wonderfully secure. Around the skidpad, the cabriolet pulled 0.86 g, a tick better than the sedan’s 0.85. Although we never found a way to upset this chassis, the suspension is on the stiff side, and over rough roads it has a tendency to induce some body quivers.

Perhaps the best part is the little switch on the center console that calls the top to action. In 23 seconds, a series of motors and hydraulic actuators first drop the windows a half-inch, unlock the top from the windshield frame, raise the hard boot, fold the top into the well, and then finally lower the boot. The three-layer cloth top does a commendable job of keeping the interior quiet, and when it’s lowered, wind buffeting isn’t really an issue, especially with the optional wind blocker that’s bundled in the $875 Premium package.

There are a lot of clever details that you’d expect in a $56,000 car but aren’t always there. For example, the catches where the top attaches are located atop the header, so you don’t have to look at them when the top is down.

As for those handy rear seats, they’re smaller than those in the sedan by eight cubic feet (31 total) and aren’t large enough to comfortably fit adults. But the kids will love going along, and there are two sets of anchor points for infant and toddler seats. So go ahead and bring the kids. After all, isn’t that the joy of parenthood?