Awesome new A5 heads Audi attack
BY MARTON PETTENDY AND NEIL MCDONALD | 27th Feb 2007
The first official details of the new two-door luxury Audi have just been revealed.
Closely following the overall design of the two-door Nuvolari concept first revealed in 2003, the A5 and S5 coupes were first revealed in leaked official pictures last week ahead of the all-new model’s official unveiling at the Geneva motor show on the same day it will be simultaneously unveiled in Melbourne.
Now Audi has confirmed the 4630mm-long A5 coupe, first deliveries of which hit Europe from June and Australia by December, will be available with both FSI petrol and TDI diesel engines, plus six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
Wrapped in a two-door body that, according to the head of Volkswagen Group Design, Walter de’Silva, makes the A5 “the most beautiful car I have ever designed”, the all-new model is based on a revolutionary new chassis that contributes to its long-wheelbase, short front overhang design.
It comprises a new, five-link double-wishbone subframe-mounted front suspension, a new, forward-mounted rack-and-pinion steering system, a front differential mounted ahead of the clutch (as on the A8) and a trapezoidal-link rear suspension with new kinematics.
Both front and rear suspension systems are all-alloy and all variants feature a sizeable 455-litre boot.
In the engine department, the A5 3.2 FSI V6 quattro variant offers 195kW/320Nm, 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.1 seconds (manual) and average EU fuel consumption of 8.7L/100km (Multitronic).
A new 125kW 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder direct-injection TFSI engine will power the entry-level front-drive A5 due on sale later, while the A5 3.0 TDI quattro’s revised 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 offers 176kW and a big 500Nm – enough to gazump the petrol V6 for both acceleration (0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds) and economy (7.2L/100km).
Unlikely for Australia is a second TDI variant, which drives its front wheels via a 140kW 2.7-litre V6. A six-speed manual transmission is standard for all A5s, with an eight-speed Multitronic CVT available for 3.2 FSI and 2.7 TDI variants.
Standard A5 features will include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic air-conditioning, MMI driver interface, a CD audio system with separate screen, an auto-opening bootlid, an electromechanical parking brake borrowed from A6/A8 and a new “comfort key”.
A5 options will include a hill-hold function, adaptive bi-Xenon headlights with cornering lights and LED daytime running lights, keyless starting, three-zone climate-control, a rear-view camera, an extra-large panoramic roof opening, a Bang & Olufsen 14-speaker/500-Watt surround sound system, 18-inch wheels, sports suspension and a host of leather trim and woodgrain choices.
To be launched at the same time, the S5 quattro manual is powered by a 260kW/440Nm FSI V8 that propels it to 100km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds.
It adds even firmer suspension, bigger brakes, a three-stage ESP stability control system, 18-inch alloys, a more aggressive bodykit comprising a chromed grille, four oval-section exhaust outlets and sports seats.
Before the A5’s global debut, Melbourne show-goers will be treated to three Australian debuts in the shape of the TT Roadster, the S3 hot-hatch and the A6 Allroad quattro.
The TT Roadster will share its 2.0-litre TFSI and 3.2-litre V6 engines with the coupe when it goes on sale in June, with both variants featuring a version of VW’s clutchless manual gearbox, which Audi calls S-tronic.
The S3 is also tipped to arrive in June, priced around $66,000 and boasting a 188kW 2.0-litre TFSI engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The S3 show car will debut a new colour – solar orange.
Arriving here in May is the long-awaited Audi A6 Allroad quattro, powered from launch by a 171kW/450Nm 3.0-litre TDI engine shared with the Q7 and A6 sedan. The Allroad will cost $106,000 - significantly above the outgoing car.
Apart from the redesigned trio, the R8 sportscar will also be on show in Melbourne following its Brisbane show debut in February.
Already more than half of this year’s allocation for the R8, which arrives here in September, has been sold - despite a projected price of around $280,000.
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