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2003 Audi A4 Cabriolet Compact Near-Luxury Convertible
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Rising from a rigid open-roof body style, the A4 Cabriolet provides a power-motivated retractable cloth top set with a heated rear window on a sleek and smooth body shell coated in one of four sparkling colors. An electro-hydraulic mechanism motivates the fully automatic top to fold up or down in less than 25 seconds.
Styling for the A4 Cabriolet differs from A4 sedans and A4 avant estate wagons because all exterior lines are unique to the convertibles. The smooth prow -- with fascia and bumpers in monochrome contrasted against a bead of chrome outlining the broad trapezoidal grille -- seems more fluid and round. Two long doors on the flanks are exclusive to the convertible and wheelwell arches flare to the extreme. An abbreviated tail sports contoured lines with twin exhaust pipes evident in chrome.
Also, stances vary, as the Cabriolet drops almost an inch lower than the sedan and wagon to hug pavement. Different wheels and tires add an aggressive flair to the convertible's street stature, with five-spoke cast alloy 16-inch wheels standard and six-spoke and 17-inch alloys optional.
A tape measure confirms the package size differs too.
Wheelbase for the Cabriolet reaches to 104.5 inches, or one-fifth an inch longer than the sedan, while the overall length at 180 inches adds an extra inch. Despite these variances in physical dimensions, A4 Cabriolet carries the key mechanical components that go into A4 sedans and wagons.
For Audi, now with a vast array of sleek and sophisticated sedans and wagons sized from small and medium to large, plus curvaceous sports coupes and convertibles, A4's series amounts to core cars in this line.
The original A4 reached North America in 1996 as improvement for Audi's 90 sedan in a streamlined package with all of the right ingredients aboard for hands-on driving. It came to America after a year on the market in Europe, where A4 captured all automotive awards for its class.
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