Driving the Audi A3 Cabriolet is a thrilling experience, says P Tharyan. 

Photograph: Kind courtesy Audi India

Winter in Delhi can be the beginning of a love affair with nature, especially when the sun is shining bright and you are behind the wheels of a convertible. When you are driving a Vegas yellow coloured convertible with its top down, you somehow become the cynosure of all eyes. I loved every moment of it.

The beautiful and sporty looking Audi A3 cabriolet has a lightweight cloth top; the one we got had a black top. The electro-hydraulic drive raises or lowers the hood even at speeds up to 50kmph.

On the design front, the car has a sculpted engine hood and integrated bumpers and comes with a single frame grill that is wider than on its predecessor. The LED lights are a bit flatter. The headlights have jagged bottom edges and come with DRLs. The A3 Cabriolet also has redesigned rear lights with a powerful concentration of light at the outer edge of the car. In addition to the LED, the dynamic turn signals are installed in the LED rear lights. 

Photograph: Kind courtesy Audi India

Once you step inside the Cabriolet, it impresses you with top-quality materials. Though, it's a bit of a squeeze getting into the rear seats, but once you are seated, it's comfortable and interiors cosy.

The driver, of course, has all the fun. The three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and the smart dash is quite a treat.

The moment you insert the key and turn it, the electrically retractable MMI screen with its 7-inch colour display slides out of the console of the centre tunnel. The round air vents have been redesigned for this model. The seats are of Milano leather upholstery. There is dual zone air conditioning and ac vents for those at the back. For safety's sake, this car comes with five airbags. It has two automatic drive modes: D and S. When the roads are clear, it's the S mode that comes handy.

Engine: 1,395cc TFSI inline four-cylinder, petrol
Transmission: 7-speed S tronic automatic
Torque: 250Nm@1,500-3,500rpm
Power: 150hp@5,000-6,000rpm
Top speed: 222 kmph
Price: Rs 4.9 million approx (ex-showroom)

Video: Kind courtesy Audi India