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A solid, stylish, and spirited performer, 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet offers a choice
of two power plants, a turbocharged 2.0 Liter 200hp 4-banger or a 255hp 3.1
Liter V6. The Cabriolet can run with front-wheel drive or Quattro, and comes in
three trim levels, the 2.0T, the 3.2T, and the S Line. The 2008 Cab exterior
design is a carryover from 2007.
The interior of the A4 Cabriolet is smartly appointed with wood or metal trim,
comfortable seating for four, and easy to read instrumentation. Visibility is
good, even with the top up, and the cabin is comfortable with dual-zone climate
control. In spite of the soft top, the A4 Cabriolet is surprisingly quiet, top
up or down. There is only the sound of the engine when it approached shifting
velocity.
Audi has made accommodations to the A4 that seem to solve many of the safety
issues inherent with convertibles: side impact airbags to offer head protection,
rear-seat side impact airbags, reinforced pillars, and two roll beams that
project upward from behind the passenger's heads in the event of a rollover.
Keeping the A4 shiny side up and facing forward are the jobs of the stability
system, including brake force augmentation. For parking assistance, the new
reverse gear assist alerts the driver if objects are in the car's path to the
rear. A feature from concept cars of long ago, headlights that turn in the
direction of the vehicle's path are available on the 2008 A4.
Following up on the safety issue, Audi rated favorably in crash tests performed
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In frontal crash tests,
the 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet rated 4 stars. Other testing is currently going on.
In the effort to maximize fuel efficiency, the 2008 Audi A4 Cabriolet has
achieved 15mpg city, 25mpg highway in its 3.2 series, and 21mpg city and 31mpg
highway in its 2.0T models. |
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