Design meets functionality: The all-new Audi A5 and S5 Sportback
Seven years after the birth of the first-generation Audi A5 Sportback comes the latest interpretation of the definitive five-door coupé. Blending elegant and emotional design with expansive and functional spaces, this family-friendly coupe comes with a completely reengineered suspension, breathtaking performance, innovative driver assistance systems as well as enhanced connectivity and infotainment features.
The exterior of the Audi A5 features a combination of sculpted shapes and taut surfaces that combine with a stretched wheelbase, short overhangs and long wraparound lid featuring a power dome to emphasize the athletic dynamism of this five-door coupé. The trademark Singleframe grille is also significantly flatter and wider than in the previous model, with finely-contoured headlights featuring optional LED or Matrix LED headlights with dynamic turn signals rounding up the front of the new Audi A5 Sportback.
The signature wave-pattern shoulder line on the all-new Audi A5 Sportback draws connections with its predecessor, but interpreted in a sharper and more precise manner that traces all three dimensions resulting in a striking interplay of light and shadow. With prominent wheel arches, coupé-style frameless doors and a characteristic spoiler edge of the boot, this svelte Sportback also matches sporting credentials with family-friendly functionality.
The Audi A5 Sportback is also significantly lighter than its predecessor based on advances in intelligent material composition and lightweight design that result in an overall weight reduction of as much as 85 kilograms, weighing in from just 1,470 kilograms. The new Audi A5 Sportback is not just light, but meticulously engineered aerodynamically for a slippery drag coefficient of just 0.26.
Improved Engines, Drivetrains, and Chassis
The new Audi A5 Sportback will launch with five engines; two TFSI and three TDI units, each developing between 140 kW (190 hp) to 210 kW (286 hp) of power and representing a performance increase of up to 17 percent, whilst also consuming up to 22 percent less fuel. These engines are also mated with drivetrain solutions tailor-made for each engine variant; whether six-speed manual transmission, seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission or eight speed tiptronic.
At the top of the range sits the new Audi S5 Sportback, which is powered by a 3.0 TFSI V6 engine mated to an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox and quattro permanent all-wheel drive, now develops a staggering 260kW (354 hp) of power and 500Nm of torque for a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds. As a new development, the Audi A5 Sportback will also be available as a bivalent g-tron, which runs on Audi e-gas, natural gas or gasoline.
The chassis is one of the highlights of the Audi A5 and S5 Sportback, offering drivers optimal comfort with no compromise on performance or agility. Equally at home whether tackling winding mountain roads or taking long trips with the family on the Autobahn, the new Audi A5 Sportback now comes equipped with an electromechanical power steering, providing better road feedback and steering precision. Additionally, Audi also offers an optional dynamic steering is also available, automatically adjusting gear ratios based on speed and steering angle.
As with all Audi vehicles, the Audi drive select dynamic handling system comes as standard, allowing the customization of engine and drivetrain settings to suit the driver’s personal preferences.
Intelligent on the Inside
The new Audi A5 Sportback has grown significantly inside, resulting in more generous space for the driver and passengers alike. As is typical of Audi vehicles, interior build quality is uncompromisingly high. Sophisticated materials in a wide range of colors provide underscore the premium character of the mid-sized model. The horizontal architecture of the instrument panel creates a sense of spaciousness whilst optional ambient lighting with 30 colors to choose from always evokes a fitting interior mood.
With 480 liters (17.0 cu ft) of luggage capacity, the Audi A5 Sportback rates among the best in its class. Additionally, the rectangular-shaped layout of the luggage compartment, with minimal intrusions and irregularities, coupled with its one meter (3.3 ft) load-area width make it outstanding in terms of practicality and accessibility. The rear seat back also splits 40:20:40 as standard, accommodating up to 1,300 liters (45.9 cu ft) when fully folded down. Audi also offers the option of sensor control for opening and closing the standard-fit electric luggage compartment lid.
From the driver’s seat, the all-new Audi A5 Sportback allows customers to pick between analog instrument dials of the Audi virtual cockpit, a 12.3-inch high-resolution TFT monitor that presents richly detailed graphics in a highly customizable layout. The optional head-up display projects all relevant information onto the windscreen as easily comprehensible symbols and digits, thus enabling the driver to keep their eyes on the road. Customers choosing the top version of the Audi infotainment system, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch automatically also get the hardware module Audi connect and the new Audi connect SIM, a SIM card permanently installed in the car which syncs up many of the assistance and safety systems in the car.
With the Audi smartphone interface, Apple Car Play and Android Auto bring the familiar smartphone environment to the car, if desired. The optional Audi phone box with wireless charging in the center armrest uses near-field coupling to link smartphones wirelessly to the vehicle’s antenna and enables inductive charging according to the Qi standard. For very discerning hi-fi fans, the Bang & Olufsen sound system with its innovative 3D sound that provides the sensation of sitting in a concert hall with 19 loudspeakers is available as an option.
An intelligent combination of different technologies enhances the safety, comfort and efficiency of the new Audi A5 Sportback. At the same time, Audi is also taking the next step toward piloted driving with a broad choice of innovative driver assistance systems defining the standards in the segment. Compared with the previous model, nearly all of the systems are either completely new or have been extensively updated.
The predictive efficiency assistant helps the driver save fuel, Audi active lane assist helps keep the car on track in the driving lane, and the adaptive cruise control (ACC) Stop&Go adaptive cruise control including traffic jam assist offers the driver relief in slow-moving traffic up to a driving speed of 65 km/h by assuming the tasks of braking and accelerating the car. New and important safety features include the park assist, cross traffic assist rear, exit warning, collision avoidance assist and turn assist as well as the Audi pre sense systems. Camera-based recognition of traffic signs rounds out the lineup.
The new Audi A5 and S5 Sportback will roll into showrooms in Germany and other European countries at the start of 2017 from EUR 37,800 for the A5 Sportback and EUR 62,500 for the S5 Sportback.
About the Author
Subhash Nair Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.
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