What's the news?

Audi has announced a new, entry level 1.6 TDI version of the A3 Cabriolet as part of an expanded soft-top range. Also new are the option of quattro four-wheel drive for the 180hp petrol variant and S Tronic automatic transmission for the 150hp TDI and 140hp TFSI models. All the new versions of the A3 can be ordered now, with cars expected to arrive in time for the summer.

Offered in SE, Sport and S line trim levels the A3 1.6 TDI is priced from £25,890. With 110hp and 250Nm of torque Audi claims 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds and a 124mph top speed. Official fuel economy and CO₂ emissions figures are 72.4mpg and 104g/km respectively. Sport models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, sports seat and sports suspension. The S line gets 18-inch wheels, Xenon headlights and S line interior and exterior features.

A new, lighter all-wheel drive system is available on the 1.8-litre, 180hp TFSI Cabriolet. This uses a new hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch to send drive to the back axle when needed. The engine gets a slight torque increase compared to the front-wheel drive version: 280Nm compared with 250. Combined with the extra traction of the quattro system the 0-62mph time drops from 7.8 to 7.6 seconds while fuel economy is 42.8mpg with 154g/km CO₂ emissions.

The 2.0 TDI and 1.4 TFSI engines can now be ordered with the dual-clutch S tronic transmission; six-speed for the diesel and seven-speed for the petrol engine. Costing £1,480 over the equivalent manual models prices start at £27,270.

Anything else?

Cabriolet models come as standard with a powered fabric roof while Sport and S line versions get a three-layer acoustic fabric roof designed to further reduce interior noise.