Audi S5 Coupé and S5 Sportback: now with V6 TDI engine

The Audi S5 Coupé and Audi S5 Sportback switch to a TDI engine. With the 3-litre supercharged and turbocharged V6, they claim an output of 347 CV.

The “S” family of Audi continues to back diesel in its top models. Following the new Audi S6 and S7 Sportback TDI, now it is the turn of the new Audi S5 Coupé and Audi S5 Sportback.

And the star is once again the latest evolution of the 3-litre V6 TDI engine. This engine incorporates electric supercharger and turbocharger technology, plus hight mild-hybrid technology Mild Hybrid with a 48-volt electrical system.

Image gallery Audi S5 Coupé

The figures show that the new Audi S5 Coupé and S5 Sportback TDI have little to envy from the previous TFSI petrol versions. They produce 347 CV, with 700 Nm of torque available between 2,500 and 3,100 rpm. That is enough to go below 5 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint, which stands at 4.8 seconds for the S5 Coupé, and one tenth more for the Sportback. Top speed in both is limited to 250 km/h.

The best part? Thanks to this engine, it is possible to combine first-class performance with very low consumption. The homologated figure is 6.2 l/100 km, though, under the NEDC cycle. What matters is the comparison with the previous “S” models with TFSI engines on the same cycle: the consumption reduction reaches almost 20%.

Mild hybridisation and electric supercharger

As in the Audi S6 and S7 TDI, the new V6 TDI engine uses a supercharging system combining an electric supercharger and a turbocharger. The former is capable of accelerating the compressor turbine up to 65,000 rpm in 300 milliseconds, thanks to a 7 kW electric motor.

This ensures immediate response when there is not enough exhaust gas flow to spin the conventional turbocharger, especially when pressing the accelerator fully with the engine running at very low revs.

On the other hand, the MHEV mild-hybrid technology helps homologate very low consumption. In the S5 it works with a 48-volt electrical system. It allows coasting with the engine switched off for periods of up to 40 seconds, and lets the start-stop system shut the engine off before the car comes to a complete stop from 22 km/h.

The Audi S5 Coupé and S5 Sportback come as standard with quattro four-wheel drive, which uses a self-locking central differential. The sport differential for the rear axle and the electronically controlled adaptive damping suspension are optional. The dynamic steering, which varies the steering ratio depending on vehicle speed and the selected drive mode, is also optional.

As standard, these versions fit 18-inch wheels with 245/40 tyres. Optionally, wheels up to 20 inches with 265/30 tyres can be fitted. These versions will go on sale next May.

Image gallery Audi S5 Sportback