Audi S5 Convertible Spied Making Quick Laps at the Nurburgring

The next Audi S5 convertible has been spied testing at the world famous Nurburgring race track.

Although the Audi S5 convertible is heavily camouflaged, we can see the soft top that will be used. Like the new Audi A5, the S5 will ride on Audi’s newest version of its MLB platform, known as MLB Evo. By using ultra-high strength steel, aluminum and other composite materials, the German automaker aims to reduce weight by 200 to 250 pounds compared to the current offering. The new platform was introduced on the 2015 Audi Q7 and will eventually underpin most of Audi’s lineup in the near future.

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Expect the Audi A5 to offer a wide range of standard gasoline and diesel engines, although it’s unclear if diesel models will continue to make it to the U.S. given the Volkswagen Group’s massive emissions scandal. The high-performance S5 will likely improve on its current 333-horsepower figure, but don’t expect a huge jump in performance since the model is already getting lighter.

Production for the 2017 Audi A5 and S5 convertible models should start in late 2016 or early 2017, so look for an official debut later this year.