CONVERTIBLES are not huge business in Australia, but they serve a role as a design-focused sporty offering for a few, mostly European car-makers, and they have a loyal following.

Audi has been in the convertible business for decades and has built up its own following with drop-top versions of the A4, A5 and more recently the smaller A3.

The latest version of the A5 Cabriolet has just rolled into Australian showrooms with a more insulated acoustic roof, and a trimmed-down line-up that is topped by the spicy S5.

We took two of the A5 Cab variants for a blast just outside of Adelaide on a nine-degree day to see how it stacks up.