Unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the RS5 was the second most powerful open-top vehicle Audi offered on the market.
Audi took the V8 engine from an R8 and dropped it inside the engine bay of an A5 cabriolet. Thus, apart from the R8 Spyder V-10, the RS5 Cabriolet became the most powerful open-top Audi on the market. It was also the most expensive car in the A5 range.

The RS5 Cabriolet was more than just an open-top A5 with a bigger engine. At the front, it featured a unique singleframe grille with a chromed surrounding and a honey-comb mesh. A silver lip adorned the bottom of its front apron, suggesting that it was there to counteract the ground effect. The fenders were enlarged just enough to cover the wider 265/35R19 tires. At the back, a lip-spoiler found its way onto the trunk lid, while on the lower side, a diffuser and two large exhausts completed the car’s sporty look.

The cockpit was designed for four adults, but the rear seats provided limited legroom. For short distances, they looked to be ok, but not for some long trips. At the front, the high-bolstered bucket seats provided excellent grip for their occupants, while the driver was spoiled with a flat-bottom steering wheel adorned with an RS5 badge on the lower spoke. The dashboard was centered around the driver’s seat, with a color display on top of the tilted center stack. On the analog dashboard, Audi installed two wide dials with an LCD between them.

Under the hood, the 4.2-liter V-8 engine provided enough power to make the open-top vehicle run from zero to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in less than five seconds. Its standard seven-speed S-Tronic (dual-clutch) gearbox sent the power to all wheels via a Torsen center differential.