5 Stunningly Sexy Convertibles For A Valentine's Day Getaway

Want to impress the ladies? Of course, and these cars will do the job.
Today’s the day where you’re supposed to impress her the most. Sometimes a box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses just won't do. After all, chances are that’s what you bought her last year. And the year before that. We want to help you do better this year and in the future with this list of five super sexy convertibles ideal for a night out on the town or a weekend getaway. Can’t afford to buy any of these? Hey, there are exotic car rental agencies out there for this very purpose. She deserves more than plain old flowers and chocolate.
This one is a no-brainer. You can’t go wrong if you pull into the drive behind the wheel of the new Aston Martin DB11 Volante. We happen to be of the belief this convertible was designed for occasions/holidays such as today. Not only do you get the privilege of driving a 500-hp rolling work of art, but you’ll be making quite a statement as well. She’ll know you went the extra mile for her and that matters. What if she’s not into cars, let alone British-built grand tourers like this? Have no worries because the DB11 is the perfect introduction. Tip: if you need a bit of privacy, the top requires just 16 seconds to close and can be remotely operated from the key.
You’re going to want the one and only Jaguar F-Type convertible if your Valentine doesn’t mind causing a scene when out in public. By that we mean the sexy Jag’s loud exhaust system, particularly when that 5.0-liter supercharged V8 is under the hood. She knows cars well enough, but is not necessarily an expert. Important thing is that she knows what a Jaguar signifies and will be proud of you for being aware of that. A Jaguar is all about emotions and the F-Type convertible is perhaps the most emotional of the current lineup. See, you’re in touch with your emotions. She digs that.
It’s a Ferrari. Enough said. No matter who you are, a mere mention of the name Ferrari automatically places you higher. The brand new Ferrari Portofino could be extremely hard to obtain at the moment given the fact it hasn’t even officially gone on sale. But if you’re connected to the powers that be in Maranello, Italy, you might, just might, manage to pull off receiving an early build show car for the night or, better yet, the weekend ahead. The Portofino, like its California and California T predecessors, is intended to attract new buyers to the iconic brand, specifically women. This is a chance to show your feminine side as well as your powerful Italian connections. You can’t go wrong.
Okay, by this point all of the convertibles we’ve suggested are not exactly cheap. We get that not everyone is made of money (we certainly are not), so here’s something just about everyone can afford. The Fiat 124 Spider. It’s also Italian and has a certain elegance to its fine lines. Yes, save for its engine and exterior styling changes, the 124 Spider is nearly identical to the Mazda MX-5 Miata, but the fact it has that famous Italian marque’s emblem stamped on its hood gives its extra points for today. She’ll appreciate your efforts to impress despite budget constraints. Money isn’t everything, you know. Character is.
Last up is the Audi A5/S5 convertible. Pricier than the Fiat but still a bit less expensive than the Jag, the Audi could wind up being the ideal choice. It’s a beautiful car from every angle, has more than enough power available for you, the driver, to enjoy, and an abundance of luxuries features for her. The A5 and its more powerful S5 sibling are convertibles that are both elegant and refined. Whether it’s a night out on the town, an evening at the country club, or just an ocean side highway cruise, you’re going to be just fine. She's fully aware of your excellent taste. You don’t feel the need to show off with something like those British-built exotics or an Italian supercar, but you’re in a position to provide more than what the Fiat has to offer.

Audi TT And A5 Convertibles Could Merge Into A Single Model

Why have two similarly sized convertibles when the market is already small?
The convertible market has always been small and it’s not getting any bigger. Convertible buyers are a particular bunch, and automakers know they need many additional vehicles in their respective lineup to pick up the slack for low convertible sales. Take a look at Audi, for example. In the US, it sells two similarly sized convertibles, the TT and A5, and now it appears both may be on the chopping block. According to the German language site Autobild, the TT and A5 convertibles could be dropped in favor of merging them into a single model.
What will that model be? Perhaps we can call it the A4 Cabrio, based off the A3. But wait. Hasn’t this car already been built and, subsequently, discontinued? Yes, and Audi thinks the business case is there to bring it back, only at the expense of the TT and A5 cabrios. Utilizing the MQB platform that underpins dozens of VW branded vehicles, the new cabrio would switch from the expensive longitudinal engine layout to the less expensive transverse architecture the MQB offers. That means the new convertible would be smaller than the A5. The A4 Cabrio, assuming that’s what it’d be called, would be about the size of two of its most serious rivals, the BMW 4 Series Convertible and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet.
It’ll also cost less than the A5 by over $10,000. Even more interesting is that the car will be engineered to one day offer electrification, meaning a plug-in hybrid could be available from the get-go and a full-on EV somewhere down the line. Despite this report making an awful lot of sense, no source from within Audi was provided. It could just wind up being a rumor, but we’ll be on the lookout for any follow-up information.

Audi Will Let You Drive These Models For $1,395 A Month

The monthly fee will provide access to the A5 convertible, S5 coupe or Q5 or Q7 crossover.
Audi is the latest automaker to join the car subscription service bandwagon in the US, following the likes of BMW, Volvo, Porsche and Cadillac. Dubbed Audi Select, the new subscription service lets customers swap a selected range of vehicles and provides access to Audi rentals in two dozen domestic markets. There is a catch, though – the service is currently only being trialled at five dealerships in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
For a fee of $1,395 a month, customers will have access to an A4 sedan, A5 convertible, S5 coupe or Q5 or Q7 crossover. According to Automotive News, subscribers can swap vehicles up to twice a month and hold any vehicle for up to six months.
Like other similar subscription services, the monthly fee includes taxes, maintenance and insurance, but does not cover fuel costs. You also have to be at least 25 years old and hold a valid driver's license free of major moving violations to be eligible.
Audi’s first US subscription service also entitles customers to up to 25 days of Audi rentals annually through Silvercar in 24 markets including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Denver. Reservations can be booked through the Silvercar app before the car is delivered to you.
While the service is currently only being trialled in Texas, the automaker plans to roll out Audi Select in other markets in the future if the trial is successful. “We do want to do this in other markets, but we need to learn what we need to learn before we move to other markets,” said Audi of America CFO Matt Carpenter. He went on to describe the program as a "new interaction" and said he expects the expansion to be announced by the end of the year.

New Audi A5 And S5 Cabriolet Hit The Stage At Detroit With Menacing Looks

BMW will finally have two soft-top rivals nipping at its heels.
Audi picked a peculiar time during which to bring its new cabriolet models to America because even the sunniest of states are seeing stormy weather, the likes of which is rarely seen this time of year. Nevertheless, the 2017 Detroit Auto Show saw the the topless Audi A5 and its more powerful cousin, the S5 Cabriolet come to America so impending customers could take a peak. The Cabriolet is the final puzzle piece that completes the new A5 lineup, which includes the Coupeand Sportback.
The new cabrio retains many of the coupe’s striking lines including the creases on the hood. Clean headlight lines serve to complement the wide grille, but it is the silver Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead-like A-pillars that make the cabriolet stand out by defining the only solid structure above the main body on the vehicle. Unlike the BMW 4 Series convertible, the A5 Cabrio and S5 Cabrio feature a fabric soft top that’s sure to help cut down on weight but does a worse job of keeping the outside elements from permeating through the fabric. Acoustic insulation should help remedy some of the added noise. Aside from weight, another benefit of the top is a folding time of 15 seconds after the one touch down button is pressed at a max speed of 31 mph.
While the outside looks to have only changed marginally, the structure itself is 55 pounds lighter on the A5 and 99 pounds lighter on the S5 than on the previous models. The “penalty” for this is a structure that’s 40 percent more rigid than the last A5. Lesser A5 trims are stuck with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. When mated to its resident seven-speed dual clutch automatic, it can hit 60 mph from standstill in only 6.0 seconds. S5 buyers will be treated to Audi’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine making 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is then mated to an eight-speed automatic that can launch the car from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Both models come standard with Quattro all-wheel drive. Some of the problems that come with losing a roof are small, such as where does the Bluetooth microphone go? To solve that, Audi placed it inside of the seat belts to make for easy conversations with the top down. The wait for this gorgeous drop top won’t be long, with the end of 2017 being set for release of one of the best interiors on the market.

Next Audi A5 Due in 2016

Audi's beautiful flagship coupe and convertible is due for a redesign for 2016 with improved refinement and reduced weight.
It’s been described by its designer and current Volkswagen Group design chief, Walter de Silva, as his favorite project to date. With its elegant yet simple lines gracing its coupe and convertible body, the Audi A5 has been a solid hit for the German automaker ever since it was unveiled back in 2007. Despite undergoing a recent mid-cycle refresh, the car’s age is becoming evident in light of growing competition from the likes of BMW’s soon to be released 4 Series and a new Mercedes–Benz C-Class Coupe.
As such, Automobile is reporting that the next-gen A5 will go on sale in 2016. It will likely be built on an updated version of its existing platform but with an added focus on overall refinement and a reduced weight by around 220 lbs. over the current model. Also in the pipeline is an even lighter weight variant called the Ultra, which will shed additional poundage with a lighter a/c compressor, generator, hollow-spoke wheels and more aluminum body panels. The exterior design will be an evolution of the current car without any radical changes while the interior will likely have optional driver assistance systems and a touchpad MMI.
Engines and trim packages are expected to be mostly carried over with one notable exception: the naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8 found in the high-performance RS 5 will be replaced by the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that's good for about 475 horsepower.

The All-New Audi A5 And S5 Cabriolets Are Here And Sportier Than Ever

Torsional rigidity is up, power is up, interior space is up.
Audi finally unveiled the all-new A5 and S5 over summer, and now that winter is right around the corner the German automaker has decided to reveal the new A5 and S5 Cabriolets. The two droptops are more or less identical to the hardtops on which they are based, which is a good or bad thing depending on your opinion regarding Audi’s design changes (or lack thereof). For the record, we like the look of the new A5/S5. As such the new A5/S5 Cabriolet also gets our coveted nod of approval.
Like the hardtops, the Cabriolets are longer than the models that came before them, with overall length up 1.8 inches. Interior space has been increased, with the wheelbase gaining half an inch. Shoulder room in the rear is up by more than an inch and knee room has been increased by 0.71 inches. Usually bigger isn’t better when it comes to new models, but with convertibles you obviously want to add all the interior space you can. However, the larger size of the A5 and S5 Cabriolets shouldn’t hurt drivability. Audi says torsional rigidity is up 40% over the outgoing models and claims a weight cut of 88 pounds. There’s a new five-link suspension on the front axle and adaptive dampers are also available.
Engines on offer in Europe include a few diesel power plants, but in the US it's almost a lock that we'll miss those. The A5 Cabriolet will feature a 2.0-liter turbo-four making 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The S5 Cabriolet will have a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 rated at 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are found in the A5/S5 hardtop. The A5 will be available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive in Europe, with no word yet on whether the FWD model will make it stateside. The S5 will be Quattro-only. Both models will be mated to an eight-speed automatic. No word on whether a manual will be an option. The S5 Cabriolet does 0-62 mph in 5.1 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
Inside the new A5/S5 Cabriolets get a cool new(ish) bit of tech: seat belt microphones! The mics are designed to make giving voice commands easier when the top is dropped. There’s also an 8.3-inch infotainment screen and buyers can spec a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Audi’s full suite of driver aides, including its Virtual Cockpit, are present and accounted for. Both models will be on sale in Europe by spring 2017 with a release stateside following shortly thereafter. Autoblog reached out to Audi and learned that the automaker would not be bringing the new A5 and S5 Cabriolets to the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.