Audi A3 Cabriolet 2014 | Frankfurt Motor Show 2013

Audi has taken the wraps off the new A3 Cabriolet at the Frankfurt show, and promised a hotter S3 to follow.

When an unexpected rainshower hits while you're driving around in your 2014 Audi S3 Cabriolet do you, a) use the car's 5.4-second 0-100km/h performance to get under shelter, or b) hit the button to electrically raises the triple-layered fabric roof in just 18 seconds while driving at speeds up to 50km/h?

That's the kind of 1st-world dilemma that'll face owners when the Audi S3 Cabriolet arrives in late 2014. With 221kW of power and 380Nm from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, it promises to be one of the fastest sub-$100k convertibles in Australia.

For those with less of a power fixation, the Audi A3 Cabriolet comes with a 103kW 1.4-litre and 132kW 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and a 110kW 2.0-litre turbodiesel. It's not known whether all three variants will make it to Australia, and which will be offered with Audi's trademark quattro all-wheel drive system. Details are expected to firm closer to launch.

The A3 Cabriolet is both longer (18cm) and lighter (by 50kg) than the outgoing model; the former promises to improve occupant and luggage space, the latter will definitely mean good things for performance and economy.

The new A3 Cabriolet gets a host of active driving safety features, including active cruise control, active lane assist, traffic sign recognition and active park assist. That last one can be paired with an active internet connection to find available parking spots in connected garages - in Europe, at least.