Audi has taken the wraps off its A5 Sportback at the Frankfurt Motor Show – the latest entrant into the growing segment of four-door “coupes.” Though not bound for North America, the new model will slot in between the A4 and A6 in Europe, where the 33,650 euro A5 Sportback will go on sale later this month.
Audi’s plan to catch sales and production up to BMW and Mercedes-Benz consists of enlarging the product range with 18 new models. That move will help the company reach one million vehicles sales in 2010, with a specific emphasis on niche vehicles like the A5 Sportback. The A5 Sportback will be positioned right below the future A7.
Though Audi says more engines will follow, including a new base powertrain, the A5 Sportback range starts with a 180-horsepower 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder turbo and culminates in a 265-horsepower 3.2-liter V6. Diesels are, of course, on offer, and include the base 2.0-liter TDI (170 horsepower) and top off in the 3.0 TDI with 240-horsepower.
Front-wheel-drive will be standard, but higher trim levels will get quattro all-wheel-drive. The 2.0-liters, in gas and diesel, get a start-stop system to conserve fuel and reduce emissions. A manual transmission, Multitronic CVT and a seven-speed S-Tronic automatic are available.
ESP and 17-inch wheels will be standard across the range, while 20-inchers and drive select dynamic suspension control with adaptive shock absorbers and a sport differential are on the options list.
The luggage hatch has a two-piece cover and, with the back seats folded, can carry 34.61 cubic feet of cargo.
The A5 is designed to be the third model in a full A5 range that includes the coupe and convertible. Audi says that rear seat room is nearly as large as the A4 despite the sloping roof line. The rear seats are mounted lower and more forward to take advantage of the space.
09/16, 7:44 AM
posted by:
jimbocardude2
beautiful, but why does audi use the same front end for half their cars? Even GM’s platform engineering looks better than this
09/16, 7:47 AM
posted by:
alsvw
absolutely love this car. hopefully it will not be overpriced fot todays market.
but it is an audi and not some knock off lexus or hyundai.
09/16, 9:04 AM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
A5 sportback= I LIKE:-D
2.0T= I LOVE!
I WANT THIS!
I WANT THIS SOLD IN THE FKIN US AUDI!!!!!!!!!!!! F U PEOPLE!!!
09/16, 9:45 AM
posted by:
Elvacano
Jimbo, I agree, why does Audi use the same front end on ALL of their cars, including some VW?
Alsvw, what exactly do you mean by knock off Lexus?
09/16, 10:15 AM
posted by:
Borat
IMO it looks much better then current A5. I love engines as well, minus V6. I hope that 170HP diesel will make to our shores, just imagine torque on this baby.
09/16, 10:44 AM
posted by:
rzegatl
Lose the A4 and bring this over, please.
09/16, 10:46 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’m glad you guys brought up the front end issue because it seems to be like some kind of disease that has spread throughout virtually the entire industry. Everyone is sticking their corporate ‘nose’ on everything they offer whether it’s particularly appropriate to the model or not. I understand the need for brand recognition but sometimes a little mystery can be good. When was the last time you saw another car you didn’t immediately recognize and asked yourself ‘hey, what the heck is that’? I miss those days.
At least the Audi grill hasn’t really been affected by the European pedestrian laws since it was quite large, flat and upright to begin with. BMW has not fared nearly as well.
09/16, 11:20 AM
posted by:
Bosley
So why is this car a 4-door if the other A5’s are 2-door? Doesn’t a coupe mean that it only has 2 doors? Otherwise it’s a sedan, right? A 4-door coupe is a contradiction in terms, like calling the R8 a luxury sport-sedan. WTF? This car will only take sales from others, not add them from swaying other car buyers from other companies.
The article says there is almost as much space in the backseats as and A4, so why would you pay so much more for a car with the same space? The front end will obviously look the same or almost the same as well. They should’ve just made an A5 avant/wagon instead, or maybe they will to beat the dead horse just a little more…… Audi’s gonna run out of numbers shortly because they are making too many models…..
09/16, 1:33 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
All i want to know is will this have 4 or 5 seats? I know the VW CC that it is esentially based on has 4 seats and the MB CLS and Porsche Panamera are 4 seaters. I love the look of these cars but don’t like the idea of 4 seats. Likely it will have 4 seats but I guess it is just wishful thinking.
Also, the grille designs being carried through an entire brands lineup is for recognition. The makers of these cars want them to be immediately recognizable as that brands car. They would rather have people not be able to tell the difference between an A6 and an A8 or an A4 and an A5 than have people not be able to recognize it as an Audi. Also, with a nose like Audi has, why would you want anything different. The LED daytime running lights and single frame grille are trademarks now. Such as BMW and the double-kidney grille that they have been using for 50 years. This is just the start of good things to come.
09/16, 2:05 PM
posted by:
Elvacano
I understand the grille design for brand recognition, but the entire front end including headlights and bumper is exaggerated. BMW and MB have their trademark grilles and I can tell any of their models apart, but not Audi’s unless I look at the emblem on the back.
09/17, 7:51 AM
posted by:
livelyjay
Gimmie gimmie gimmie gimmie ……. awww crap, not coming to the US. Of course, why am I not surprised we aren’t getting yet another great vehicle.
09/18, 5:59 AM
posted by:
ConanTheBarbarian
as the ultimate being in Hyboria…
i can get this to Canada…. Toronto will have a new A5 prowling for short skirts
09/19, 5:09 PM
posted by:
Audi RS5
Elvacano, obviously you don’t see very many Audi’s. The singleframe grill and basic headlights might be the same but the daytime running lights are different on each model.