Audi has taken off the wraps of the all-new Audi A5 and S5 coupes. The sporty two-door coupe spinoff from the A4 B9 saloon will go on sale in selected markets by November this year, two months earlier than the Sportback’s January 2017 debut.
The second-generation A5 and S5 ride on Volkswagen’s MLB – a modular platform for longitudinal, front-engined vehicles. Aesthetically, the A5 doesn’t differ much from the current A4 B9, but the company says the A5 projects a more emotionally connected styling as opposed to the A4’s dashing looks.
To begin, the A5’s grille sits lower and spans wider than the A4, featuring a different and slimmer design of LED headlights and DRLs. The S5 meanwhile, receives an integrated rear diffuser and quad exhaust; two key exterior finishes that separate the S5 from the A5.
Unsurprisingly, the A5 receives three diesel and two petrol engines, producing between 187 hp and 282 hp. That said, the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 petrol engine which powers most of Audi and Volkswagen’s cars will be carried over to the A5.
The range-topping S5 on the other hand, receives a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine that produces 349 hp and 500 Nm of torque. This sends it on a sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds with a limited top speed of 250km/h.
All engines are mated with a choice of a six-speed manual or optional seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with the exception of the range-topping oil burner and S5 which settle for an eight-speed torque converter automatic. The latter two also have quattro all-wheel drive as standard.
The new A5 is also 60kg lighter than its predecessor, and a marginally longer wheelbase means that it’s more spacious on the inside too. Boot space is increased to 465 litres. The A5 also has a very low drag coefficient of 0.25, which should improve fuel efficiency. The numbers have not been revealed, however.
Inside the A5 is pretty much a carryover from the A4. As expected, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit is fitted, along with Audi MMI Plus. Safety features include Traffic Jam Assist, Active Lane Assist, Cross Traffic Alert and Pre-sense Safety Systems.
The BMW 4-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe rival will undoubtedly be available in its hottest guise, the RS5 sometime in the future. For now, just look forward to its Malaysian debut in 2017!
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Audi A5
Audi S5
