Norwich Audi is lifting the lid on the all-new A3 Cabriolet at a special preview event next weekend.

The retailer, in Meridian Way on Meridian Business Park near Thorpe St Andrew, has a new A3 Cabriolet being delivered specially for the weekend to give visitors the first chance to the soft-top convertible in the metal.

The second-generation A3 Cabriolet, which joins the highly-successful hatchback, Sportback and saloon, is available to order ahead of first deliveries in April priced from £25,790 on the road.

The new cabriolet has won What Car? open-top car of the year prize. The judges said the 1.8 TFSI Sport model tested won through partly due to the fact that it was 'up there with the best open-tops for sheer driving fun, delivering plenty of grip, minimal body roll and precise steering', but also because 'everything about it feels worthy of the premium badge, from the clean styling, to the comfortable, quality interior'.

What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: 'The A3 Cabriolet is reassuring and fun to drive, and it's just as good with the roof down. This hassle-free open-top is the best you can buy. '

The latest soft-top A3 takes the recently-introduced A3 Saloon as its foundation so its proportions are now more beautifully balanced, and allow the fast-retracting powered fabric hood to be completely concealed within the sleek new body.

The soft, hard-wearing fabric roof stretched opens fully automatically in under 18 seconds at speeds up to 31mph. When retracted, the top – complete with heated glass rear window – rests in a tray that barely affects the 275-litre boot.

An even more sound-absorbent acoustic soft-top with three-layer inner padding is standard on Sport and S line versions and an option on SE. It is available in black, grey and brown, and its roof liner can be specified in black or lunar silver. In all versions, an active rollover protection system of two spring-loaded plates recessed into the body protects occupants in case of a rollover accident.

In entry-level form, the A3 Cabriolet weighs 1,365kg – around 50kg less than its predecessor despite being bigger and having improved comfort.

In the first phase, the engine range comprised the highly-efficient 140PS 1.4 TFSI, with cylinder-on-demand technology which imperceptibly deactivates two of the engine's cylinders under part-load, and the 180PS 1.8-litre TFSI turbo petrols and 150PS 2.0 TDI turbo diesel.

From next month, customers will be able to choose from an extended list of engines, transmissions and drivetrains. Highlights will include the 105PS 1.6 TDI and a 184PS version of the 2.0 TDI available with front wheel-drive or quattro all-wheel-drive. A quattro version of the 1.8 TFSI engine will also become available and it will feature as standard in the 2.0-litre TFSI 300PS S3 Cabriolet – the first ever convertible S model at this level –which is also now available priced from £33,240 on the road.

For more information contact Norwich Audi, in Meridian Way on Meridian Business Park near Thorpe St Andrew, on 01603 709200 or visit www.norwich.audi.co.uk