THIS IS A CAR you never tire of looking at. The design is typical Audi, simple until you look closer and notice the details that result in such a classic yet contemporary appearance.
Just one example — the curve that flows completely around the A5 from the top of the Audi family grill where it forms the leading edge of the hood, around the front fenders, along the doors and rear fenders and unto the rear where it forms the trailing edge of the trunk.
Inside, it is the same — simple, yet exquisite. Understated elegance. Style is expected from Audi and the A5 does not disappoint.
We’ve reported here previously on the hot-rodded S5 cabrio version but let’s take a refresher course. The A5 was developed on its own unique platform, since shared with the A4 and Q5. It is available in base and premium trim levels, a choice of four- or six-cylinder motivation.
The four-cylinder can be had with automatic or manual transmission and the V6 with the auto only. In either case they house six gears. And in all cases Audi‘s justly-famous Quattro full-time AWD system is standard equipment.
The surprise is that the four-cylinder outshines the V6, making the lower-priced versions more attractive than those higher on the price range — at least for enthusiasts. There is nothing wrong with the six. It is a typically smooth and well-sorted Audi engine with 265 horsepower and the ability to waft this car along with complete ease. If your driving style rarely finds you exploring the upper reaches of the rev band this is the car for you.
However, if you are the type that takes the car out for a drive, simply to enjoy that experience, if you have a favourite piece of less-travelled twisty road then the four is your choice. I‘m talking about torque.
The turbo-charged and intercooled four-cylinder in the base A5 has 54 fewer horsepower than the V6 but it has 258 lb. ft. of torque — 15 more than the six. Torque is what pushes you back into the seat during acceleration, a real, measured number. Horsepower is the result of a calculation based on the measured amount of torque.
Audi's new S5 Cabriolet replaces the S4 Cabriolet as the company's premier high-performance open-topped model. The older car's naturally-aspirated V8 engine is now a thing of the past, and in its place comes the supercharged three-litre V6 already found in the S4 saloon and Avant.
The V6 develops a maximum of 328bhp and drives all four wheels via a seven-speed S tronic semi-automatic twin-clutch transmission. This arrangement gives a 0-62mph time of 5.6 seconds, and top speed is limited to 155mph, so the car doesn't exactly hang about, but it also has relatively reasonable fuel economy and CO2 figures of 29.1mpg combined and 224g/km.
Closely based on the A5 Cabriolet already covered in a launch report and, in the case of the 2.0 TFSI S line, a road test, the S5 nevertheless looks significantly different with 19" alloy wheels, front and rear styling upgrades and lowered suspension.
The new car is available to order from UK dealers now, priced at £42,245, and customer deliveries are due to start in October.
German-based auto maker Audi, has officially unveiled the Audi A5 Sportback 5-door coupe, which now joins the A5 range, that is also made up by the Coupe and Cabriolet versions. The A5 Sportback, which measures 4,711 mm long, 1,854 mm wide, 1,391 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,810 mm is offered with three engines from the diesel family and three more from the petrol range, although the auto maker also revealed that three more powerplants will be added by mid next year. The A5 Sportback can be seen in dealerships by September this year.
Before we go into the details of the engines, lets take a quick look at the exterior design the Sportback. At first glance, the A5 Sportback looks like a bigger A4 sedan, but with a coupeish roof line. The front and rear ends are definitely influenced by the outgoing A4 sedan, but the side profile is one of those aspects of the car that is very different in terms of the exterior styling. The side profile has more design lines, along with a slopping roof line. Daytime LED running lights are still evident up front, while the rear features LED taillights. The Sportback is also finished with 17 inch wheels, as standard while potential owners can upgrade up to 20 inch ones as well.
The interior is also Audi-standard, with the three-spoke leather steering wheel, two-gauge instrument panel with an LCD display nestled in between them, MMI display and more. Getting in and out of the car is easier with bigger doors that open wider. Both the front and rear seat are mounted low, while the trunk at the back can hold up to 480 liters of space, that can be increased to 980 liters, by folding down the rear back rests. The closing of the rear hatch is also made easy with an electrically actuated lock.
According to Audi, the A5 Sportback features a stiff chassis, fitted with a five-link axle suspension up front and a trapezoidal link suspension at the back. Most of the front and rear suspensions parts are made of aluminum, to help reduce weight. The Sportback comes with speed-sensitive Servotronic steering system (standard on the 211HP 2.0 liter TFSI and V6 models) and a braking system that is made up by 314 millimeter discs up front and 300 millimeter discs at the rear for the 2.0 liter TDI and the 2.0 liter TFSI (180HP) models, while the 211HP 2.0 liter TFSI and V6 models feature front discs measuring 320 millimeters in diameter, with lightweight brake calipers.
The A5 Sportback also uses shock absorbers with continuous damping control (CDC) and potential buyers can choose between three sports suspension setups, including a tauter setup with or without controlled dampers and an S line sports suspension that lowers the body by 10 millimeters. The 5-door Coupe also features Audi’s drive select dynamic control system that offers three driving modes: Comfort, Auto and Dynamic. For models with the MMI interface, a fourth mode is added. Called the Individual mode, it allows the driver to customize their own settings, based on a large number of parameters.
Three diesel or TDI engines include a 170HP 2.0 liter TDI with 350Nm of torque (5.2 liters of fuel per 100 km on average), a 190HP 2.7 liter V6 TDI with 400Nm of torque (6.0 liters of fuel per 100 km in the EU driving cycle) and a 240HP 3.0 liter V6 TDI with a massive 500Nm of torque (6.6 liters of fuel per 100 km on average), which allows to Sportback to sprint to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, up to a top speed of 247 km/h. All of the diesel engines are mated to a manual cog box, except for the 3.0 liter V6 which is offered with the 7 speed dual clucth S tronic transmission.
Continue reading for the rest of the report and to view an image gallery.
By fall this year, the 2.0 liter TDI will get the quattro all wheel drive system, while the 2.7 liter TDI and the 3.0 liter V6 will get the multitronic and the manual transmissions, respectively. Ingolstadt will also offer a 143HP 2.0 liter TDI version with 320Nm of torque by fall as well.
Petrol wise, there is the 180HP 2.0 liter TFSI with 320Nm of torque, the 211HP 2.0 liter TFSI with 350Nm of torque (average fuel consumption figure of 7.4 liters of fuel per 100 km), and the 265HP 3.2-liter V6 FSI, that is also good for 330Nm of torque. The 180HP 2.0 TFSI comes with a multitronic transmission while a manual version will come next year. Both the 211HP 2.0 liter version and the top of the line model get the 7 speed S tronic transmission and the quattro permanent all wheel drive system.
The 265HP V6 consumes 9.3 liters of fuel for every 100 km, on average. 0 - 100 km/h takes 6.6 seconds, and will go on to deliver a top speed of 250 km/h. All models benefit from Audi’s s energy regeneration system that makes use of the kinetic energy during deceleration. The alternator will then convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy that is stored temporarily in the battery. The 2.0 liter versions fitted with the manual transmission feature the engine start-stop system, that can reduce fuel consumption by 0.2 liters per 100 km.
Audi has also made available two S Line packages for the A5 Sportback, including the S Line sport package and the S Line exterior package. The S Line sport package comes with a tauter suspension setup and lowered body with larger wheels while interior extras include sport seats covered in cloth and leather, a special leather sport steering wheel, a leather shift lever knob, inlays in brushed aluminum and color-coordinated floor mats. S line badges adorn the fenders, the door sill trims and many interior parts.
The S Line exterior package is made up by unique bumpers and distinctive features on the side air intakes, on the diffuser and on the tailpipes, side sill trims painted in the body color and S line badges on the door sill trims and the front fenders.
The following is the price list, for the German market:
2.0 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission: 36,050 euros 2.7 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission: 39,300 euros 3.0 TDI quattro with 7-speed S tronic: 47,950 euros 2.0 TFSI (132 kW / 180 hp) with 6-speed manual transmission: 33,650 euros 2.0 TFSI (155 kW / 211 hp) quattro with 7-speed S tronic: 42,150 euros 3.2 FSI quattro with S tronic: 47,000 euros
