The automotive rumour mill has revved up again with reports that Audi is considering a production version of the Cross Cabriolet concept for release in late 2012 as a 2013 model.
But before you join the chorus of voices saying "Crossover convertibles don't make sense!", remember that the first two crossovers - the Jeep and the Land Rover - were convertibles and both are still in production after more than 60 years.
Apparently the Q5 Cabriolet would be produced in very limited numbers - probably no more than 5000 in all - by an specialist carmaker such as Magna Steyr or Valmet, with the same two-door, fabric-roof architecture as the concept.
Customers would be able to specify the interior trim from an almost unlimited palette of options, which Audi hopes would justify the projected €45 700 (R440 000) price tag - and that's before local taxes; you can pretty well double it for South Africa.
Even at that price, given 3.2-litre V6 power and quattro all-wheel drive we'd rather have a topless Q5 than any Wrangler derivative we've seen so far.