Audi introduces more automatic coupes
BY JAMES STANFORD | 13th Jun 2008
An A5 3.2-litre quattro automatic and S5 4.2-litre quattro automatic join the A5/S5 range that was introduced last October.
Audi introduced the $131,900 S5 4.2 manual first and brought in the $91,900 A5 3.2 front-drive model with a continuously variable automatic (Multitronic) soon after.
It also plans to introduce a 3.0-litre diesel A5 quattro Tiptronic automatic in November priced at $96,900 and a 1.8-litre turbo front-drive Multitronic version next year for around $70,000.
The new Tiptronic automatic S5 that arrives this month comes in at $91,900, which is the same price as the manual version.
The 3.2 quattro Tiptronic automatic A5 sits above the front-drive CVT auto version at $95,900.
That represents a premium of $4000, which can be attributed to permanent all-wheel-drive and the conventional six-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission.
It uses the same 3.2-litre FSI direct-injection petrol V6 engine and pumps out 195kW of power at 6500rpm and 330Nm of torque from 3000rpm to 5000rpm.
The A5 3.2 quattro is able to dash from 0-100km/h in a respectable 6.4 seconds.
Its fuel consumption stands at 9.3L/100km according to the ADR81/01 standard, which is slightly up on the front-drive Mutltitronic’s figure of 8.7L/100km.
The A5 3.2 quattro Tipronic automatic comes with the same amount of standard features as the front drive Multitronic model, with safety features including front, side and head airbags and electronic stability control.
It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels, has Xenon headlights, cruise control, three-zone climate control, leather upholstery, paddle shift control for the automatic, Bluetooth phone connectivity, 6.5-inch MMI control screen and the choice of several woodgrain or metal-look trim inserts.
The S5 quattro automatic runs the same 4.2-litre all-alloy V8 as the manual version.
It generates 260kW at 7000rpm and 440Nm of torque at 3500rpm. Audi says that 85 per cent of the torque peak is available from 2000rpm.
With a six-speed manual, the S5 records a fuel economy figure of 12.1L/100km.
Audi claims the six-speed tiptronic automatic version it has just introduced uses only 10.8L/100km, which is significantly less than the manual and comes as a surprise.
It says the better economy is a result of the automatic having longer gear ratios than the manual.
The automatic S5 is still quick, taking just 5.4 seconds to dash from 0-100km/h, but is 0.3 seconds slower than the manual version. The top speed of both models is an electronically limited 250km/h.
The automatic S5 comes with same amount of gear as the manual, including push-button start, LED daytime running lights, adaptive headlights, carbon-fibre trim and satellite navigation.
Performance upgrades include 18-inch wheels, high performance brake calipers, a bolder grille, air inlets and deeper front and rear bumpers, aluminium-look mirrors, a rear spoiler and four exhaust pipes.
| Audi A5 range pricing: | |
| A5 3.2 (CVT) | $91,900 |
| A5 3.2 quattro (a) | $95,900 |
| S5 4.2 quattro | $131,900 |
| S5 4.2 quattro (a) | $131,900 |