Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Audi, Reviews, Luxury

Taking a great looking performance car and chopping off its roof is risky business - compromises are inevitable. That’s especially true in this modern age of unibody structures. Removing a big chunk of a vehicle’s architecture without adequately reinforcing what’s left can yield a chassis incapable of managing the position of the wheels, let alone result in a vehicle that loses its level of driver engagement and enthusiasm. On the other hand, reinforcements add mass - often lots of it. It’s a treacherous path, as both flaccid body control and weight are the mortal enemy of performance.

You can understand our trepidation, then, upon learning that Audi was planning on introducing its S5 Cabriolet at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. By our reckoning, the German debutante’s rollout was cause for both consternation and celebration. When the A5 and S5 coupes arrived in 2007, they were hailed as being among the best looking cars ever to wear the brand’s Four Rings. The new Cabriolet models would bring with them the euphoria of open-air motoring, but we had to wonder - would Audi’s rakish new hardtop be turned into a floppy flier just by giving it a roofectomy? Equally as important, would the model’s newly downsized engine drop the performance? There was only one thing to do: Put the range-topping S5 Cabriolet through a week-long test.

Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Review: 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet speaks too softly, but carries a big stick

Review: 2010 Audi S5 Cabriolet speaks too softly, but carries a big stick originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2026 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi

“White Beast” is quite a fitting name for this tuned-up version of the Audi S5 coupe. It isn’t just an aerodynamic package - oh, no - Germany-based Senner Tuning AG has given the S5 a bit more grunt from its 4.2-liter V8 mill, as well as slightly revised suspension geometry and a daub of upgraded interior refinement.

The tuning starts under the hood, where a performance air filter and exhaust system have been added, managing to churn out a claimed additional 25 horsepower and 25 pound-feet of torque, bringing the overall output numbers to 379 and 350, respectively. On top of that, Senner has raised the S5′s electronically limited top speed from the standard 155 miles-per-hour to an Autobahn-friendly 177 mph. What’s more, the four-pipe exhaust now include sport silencers, and we assume the aural grunt from this S5 is quite a treat for the ears. (White Beast, indeed.)

Visually, Senner has added a new front fascia, mimicking that of the Audi RS5, as well as a rear lip spoiler, LED taillamps and a new rear apron. Large 21-inch wheels better fill out the wells, and the suspension has been lowered (40 millimeters in front, 35 in back) to give the car a more aggressive road stance. Inside, a carbon fiber interior trim package has been added, as well as a new tachometer display screen.

The cost of the White Beast tuning kit? €18,990 (about $25,500 USD). Click through the post to read the full press release and have a look for yourself in the gallery below.

[Source: Senner Tuning]

Continue reading White Beast: Senner Tuning AG takes on Audi S5

White Beast: Senner Tuning AG takes on Audi S5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2026 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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