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Audi reveals S3 Cabriolet ahead of Geneva debut

It used to be if you wanted an Audi S3, your choices in bodystyle came down to hatchback or... hatchback. That is, in markets where the model was offered at all. But Audi has been expanding the A3 global family upon which the S3 is based, and it intends to offer the performance-minded derivative as a three-door hatch, five-door hatch, four-door sedan and - with the introduction of the version you see here - a two-door convertible.
Set to be presented in public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show early next month, the new Audi S3 Cabriolet packs the same 2.0-liter turbo four as its fixed-roof counterparts - all 290 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of it - but ditches the extra doors and the tin top in favor of the two-door cabriolet bodystyle of the A3 Cabriolet.
The added weight of the folding fabric roof mechanism and the extra body reinforcement required means that the S3 cabrio takes half a second more to reach 62 miles per hour from a standstill than it would take the sedan version, clocking the run at 5.4 seconds instead of 4.9. This, despite more generous use of magnesium, aluminum and high-strength steel in its construction. Top speed, as is the German custom, remains pinned at 155 mph.

Audi S3 Cabriolet is a topless two-door temptress

Now that we've driven the Audi S3, we're pretty eager for it go on sale in the United States. And while we won't get the Sportback version, there's a teeny tiny chance that Audi may grace us with this new Cabriolet version that makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week.
That certainly wouldn't be a shame, considering the topless S3 packs the same 290 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque as the sedan, all of which comes from a turbocharged, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine. That folding roof mechanism adds a bit of weight to the S3 package, and thus, reaching that ever-so-special 62 miles per hour takes an extra half a second - 5.4 compared to 4.9 with the S3 sedan.
Looks-wise, we dig the aggressive little S3, though the chrome wheels of the show car are kind of throwing us off. Swap out a set of standard alloys, and we'll be good to go. Have a look in the gallery above to see the topless Audi for yourself.

Next-gen Audi A5 shows its heavily camouflaged face

The new Audi A4 is set to launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, so it shouldn't come as too big of a surprise that an updated A5 is on the way, as well. Our spies just caught the coupe testing for the first time while wearing heavy camouflage from nose to tail. Despite the concealment, some details are possible to make out, especially when comparing the two-door design to the previously spied A4. Audi is further differentiating the designs, and the A5's front end is significantly changed based on these photos. The headlights appear larger and more acutely angled than the narrower units on the sedan. Also, the lower bumper gets square intakes at each corner and the shape creates an additional opening in the center for the coupe. In profile, it's easy to notice the quicker sloping roof and smaller side windows. Only the rear end of the two models seem to share many significant cues. The new A5 reportedly rides on the same MLB Evo platform as the upcoming A4 to shed around 200 pounds. The two models might not launch at the same time, though, and the coupe could join the lineup somewhat later. S5 and RS5 variants are expected to join the range further down the line, too.