Auto News 5

There's no disputing that the current Audi R8 is already an exceptional sports car. The combination of its stunning appearance, outstanding performance and general livability are plenty to be proud of, but the folks in Ingolstadt weren't quite satisfied. As a result, they've produced the 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI - or simply put, a ten-cylinder R8.

Many are the mid-size sedan offerings, and most are sold in large numbers. Naturally, whenever a product is produced in great quantities, its very popularity will cause a subset of its audience to seek an alternative. Something a bit sportier, or more luxurious, or more stylish. The Volkswagen CC, the Nissan Maxima, and the Mazda 6 all hail from mainstream automakers, yet all three address this desire for something more in a mid-size car.

How do you improve the 2009 Automobile Magazine Design of the Year? It's simple: chop the top right off it, and voila - the 2010 Audi A5 and S5 cabriolets.

A stylish, debonair machine, the kind of car that makes you want to dress smartly. The keyless entry and starting is seamless (not all of them are). The steering is a bit overboosted at parking speeds, but it's fine once you're moving along. Nice, light efforts in the shifter and clutch - too bad so many buyers are likely to bypass the manual. Their loss. Every generation of Audi's MMI (multi media interface) is easier to use than the one before, but it's still not quite perfect. Poised over-the-road handling, and plentiful thrust when you let the engine climb deep into the rev range. Overall, a classy coupe for those who don't entertain boy-racer fantasies.