The idea of a genuinely quick compact convertible takes a bit of getting used to.
The S3 Cabriolet smashes its way through 62mph in a mere 5.4 seconds and keeps going to an electronically limited 155mph.
These are exactly the same numbers as you’d get in its saloon counterpart.
The 1,984cc turbocharged engine features a clever way of using direct and indirect injection to best effect, combining with twin balancer shafts and a long stroke to deliver a very smooth serving of torque; fully 280lb/ft all the way from 1,800 to 5,500rpm.
The S3 Cabriolet isn’t offered with a manual gearbox, buyers instead finding the twin-clutch S-tronic sequential box, complete with shift paddles. This sends power through a quattro all-wheel-drive system which features an electronically controlled and hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch.
The S3 Cabriolet looks for all the world like a slightly shrunken version of the old S4 drop-top, and that is certainly no bad thing.
Compared with the Audi A3 Cabriolet, the body is 25 millimetres lower because of the S Sport chassis.
You might also spot the S-specific single-frame grille and front bumper, aluminium-look exterior mirrors, pronounced side sills, LED tail lights and a redesigned rear bumper incorporating a platinum grey diffuser and cut-outs for the exhaust system’s four oval tailpipes, which feature chrome tips.
The interior is finished in black with matte brushed aluminium inlays. The instrument dials are in S-specific dark grey metallic and the digits and needles are white.
The S sports seats guide and support the body and the backrests have embossed S3 logos. The upholstery is Nappa leather with S embossing and contrasting stitching. A special colour pigment on all leather trim prevents the seats from heating up too much in the sun.
A leather multifunction sport steering wheel is standard with a flat-bottomed rim and shift paddles.
The boot’s carrying capacity amounts to 285 litres with the hood up and 245 litres with it down. You can even fold the rear seat backs forward to get in longer items.
Expect to pay somewhere in the region of £37,000 for the S3 Cabriolet and you shouldn’t be too far off the mark.
The roof is electro-hydraulically operated and its weight is kept down by the use of magnesium, aluminium and high-strength steel components. It is padded with insulated foam to keep out noise and thermally protect the cabin and is available in three colours. It opens or closes in 18 seconds, even while driving at speeds up to 31mph. An active rollover system protects passengers in the event of an accident.
Dual-zone electronic climate control is fitted as standard, as is MMI, a sophisticated infotainment system that’s well worth taking the time to master. There’s a slimline, power-retractable, seven-inch monitor and MMI touch integrated into the top of the rotary push button.
The “Audi Phone Box” package connects mobile phones to the vehicle in a convenient way and the optional audio system from Bang & Olufsen offers excellent sound quality, with LED light guides adding a bit of theatre to the door woofers.
Other options include head-level heating in the front seats, LED headlights and the advanced key, to name just a few.
MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and a high-resolution seven-inch monitor top the infotainment range.
Despite the aluminium body and the lightweight hood construction, quite a lot of beefing up has had to go into the S3 Cabriolet’s chassis, which means that the kerb weight of the vehicle climbs from the saloon’s laudable 1,430kg to a big-boned 1,620kg. That’s the saloon plus two 16-stone passengers. Given that they both make 296bhp, it’s hard to see how they’re both equally quick against the clock.
They’re certainly not equal when it comes to efficiency.
The S3 Saloon with an S-tronic transmission will return 40.9mpg and emit 159g/km.
By contrast, the heftier Cabriolet alters those figures to 39.8mpg and 165g/km, which is still a wholly respectable return for a car this rapid.
Residual values are sure to be comparatively good, with the S3 Saloon S-tronic retaining 45% of its value after three years and 36,000 miles. The Cabriolet shouldn’t prove too far off that mark.
This S3 Cabriolet is a car close to my own heart because, for a short while, I ran an S4 convertible. I found I was averaging around 16mpg, the top rate tax was putting a major dent in the budget and, after having scratched the V8 itch, I moved on to something a little more sensible.
The S3 Cabriolet is the car I wished my S4 had been. It’s just as quick, but halves the emissions and doubles the fuel economy.
It looks just as good and, while the engine will never have the charisma of 4.2-litres of loud V8, the torque curve clearly shows that the latest S3 will be quicker than the old S4 in real-world scenarios. No respect, I’m telling you.
It’s a testament to how much this car has improved that a soft-top S3 now seems a wholly viable thing. Can you imagine an S3 Cabriolet based on the dumpy old hatch-based first generation A3 Cabriolet drop-top? No, me neither.
Audi has clearly demonstrated that not all compact soft-tops are created equal.