The Audi Cabrio-Studie was first shown to the public at the 1989 Frankfurt International Motor Show. Based on the B3 Audi Coupe, it featured that car's front & rear styling. (See here for further information, in French, and pictures of the Studie: https://www.4legend.com/2017/audi-cab...)

It was a further two years until the production ready vehicle broke cover at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show, which featured the new front styling (with the grille now part of the bonnet) and tail lights of the then recently facelifted Audi 80.

Initially available only with the tried and tested five-cylinder fuel injection engine, four and six-cylinder spark-ignition engines were added to the programme later, and in the autumn of 1995 a high-torque four-cylinder turbocharged diesel with direct fuel injection was introduced.