I 'm just trying to mess with Klier's psychology and now you ruined my plan...

I think it depends on price, size of the vehicle and styling. Sometimes a hardtop works and in other instances it would be a nightmare. Jaguar for instance doesn't have the budget and luckily for them their highly-stylized roots gives them an out for not going for a hardtop on the XK, as it would ruin the "look" of the car. Or so let them tell it.

On the Phantom DHC obviously a hardtop would have been the size of a small tent and it would likely be nightmare to store when folded. The rear-deck would look like a something on an aircraft carrier! Same thing with the Azure and MB Ocean Drive.

Cars like the SL, SLK, Volvo C70, VW Eos were conceived as hardtop convertibles so they look the part and the packaging can be/was considered from the start.

Then you have others that like in between, like the 3-Series 2-doors which may or may not have been drawn up from the start with a convertible in mind, but adapts to such a configuration well, even with the hardtop. Because of the size (not too big, not too small) the hardtop can mimic the shape of the coupe's roofline without killing the proportions.

Don't ask me why Audi hasn't done it yet. Personally it doesn't matter one way or the other to me.

One thing I'm certain of though is that if the basic chassis design and styling of the 2-door from which the convertible variant is to be derived from isn't set up for a hardtop convertible, it will be hell trying to adapt a hardtop to it later. Too much cost and complexity for most automakers nowadays I think. You either design it from the start that way or not. Jaguar stands out as the one in my mind that will never jump on the hardtop bandwagon because of cost (they have no money, probably not enough to even farm the whole thing out) and they aren't going to ugly up a car like the XK for the sake of function. Form rules for them and thank god for that, I wouldn't have it any other way!

M

In my opinion Audi should always use the soft top variant for its cabrios. It looks so much better and is lighter and more economical. Soft top outway the benefits of a hard top.

I'm really looking forward to this car as think it will be bigger than current A3 to close gap between soon ending A4 Cabrio and its A5 cabrio replacement. Just hope Audi have not rushed its development to compete with BMW who seem slightly ahead in there range of 1 series derivatives

Audi won't use folding hard tops, in any models. They said so themselves.

And I am glad that they won't.

I'm interested in the variants of the A3 Audi will make in the Future. The 1 series is becoming more and more popular threatening A3 sales especially with the recent introduction of the 1 series 3 door hatchback and soon to be released cabrio and coupe. I'm extremely interested in what Audi will fight back with. There will also be space available in Audi model line up with the A4 cabrio being replaced by the bigger and more expensive A5 cabrio. With the new A4 becoming bigger also it seems like a perfect opportunity to capitalise on this market segment.

Engine variants seem to be more important these days also in particular diesel is really growing in European markets as well as US. New BMW 2.0L diesel with 205hp and 400Nm(?) of torque is astounding. I hope Audi engineers have something interesting in the diesel pipe line

What do you think Yannis?

Audi A3 Convertible to be unveiled next year
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Audi will launch next year a - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER version of the A3. It will compete with the next 1-Series Convertible and the next generation Mini Cooper Convertible.
Claus Haverkamp, Head of Body Structure Development at Audi, revealed: "The next open-roof model in our plans is the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Cabriolet, which will go on sale in 2008."
The A3 Convertible will feature an electric folding canvas roof and will probably be unveiled at the Geneva - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Show next March.
It will be powered by the same FSI petrol and TDI - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER used by the A3 hatchback range. Entry-level models are likely to get a 1.6 FSI unit, with the line-up topped by a 3.2-litre V6. There’s good news for performance fans, too. A flagship 2.0-litre turbocharged S3 drop-top will appear towards 2009, boasting the same quattro four-wheel-drive system as its hard-top brother.
In the UK the 2008 A3 Convertible will be priced starting £18,500.
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Should its rear looks like the coupe or sportback? I buy sportback more~



Absly agree. BMW is awesome in building diesels. Audi should do something about it. Though the 2.0 TDI can have quite a good 170ps, really a little behind.

For convertibles, I think A3 Cab is not going to compete with A4/5 Cab. On the other hand, A4 Cab should be discontinued once A5 Cab is in production. They really contradict each other.

And, no doubt both A3/4 will be enlarged.

It seems to me that Audi is doing a drop 1, add 2 thing here. The A4 Cabrio is going away, being replaced with cheaper (A3 Cabrio) and more expensive alternatives (A5), IMO. Its called standing upstream with a larger net in other words, or something like that.

M

Audi have brought to light a new 2.0L diesel engine they've developed with very similar power to the BMW 2.0L diesel if not the same. This was proposed for the new Crossover concept but hopefully will debut in new A4

What this is, is direct response to the incoming BMW 1er Coupe and Cabrio .
They are also implementing the same strategy as BMW - How the 3er Cabrio is now the Mid-range cabrio model - which is what the A5 will be . And the A3Cabrio will be aimed at the BMW 1er Cabrio which now becomes BMW's entry cabrio.

And they should respond , rumours going the rounds is that the incoming Mercedes C-Klasse Coupe will get a Cabrio model as one was developed for the previous generation but axed on cost grounds.

But the hype surrounding the incoming BMW 1er models has really pysched people up in, Germany, UK and other key markets in europe nearly every BMW partner has an order or a few and serious customer interest in these upcoming models.

Just this week we have had news that on the strength of the Hans J Stuck pictures published last week has brought a lot of interest in regarding these models. Small cars are becoming the in-thing again due to environmental concerns , fuel economy etc.

I have heard rumours that Audi might even offer a Coupe A3 to challenge the small BMW and Mercedes models. But I suppose that this suggestion might be wide off the mark along the lines of Porsche are developing a cabrio version of the Cayman....