We analyse the new Audi A5 coupé in detail

Nine years. That is how long Audi has sold the first generation of the Audi A5 coupé. It reached the market in 2007 to target a niche that the brand had left in the background for several years, combining the elegance the brand of the four rings always boasts with a sporty coupé silhouette.

Fans of the brand were eagerly awaiting this new generation which, although easily recognisable as an Audi A5, brings a more up-to-date look that gains a great deal of ground and a package loaded with technology, incorporating the latest updates seen in its siblings in the range.

Its exterior size also increases and, more importantly, its wheelbase, which has a positive effect on passenger space. The total weight is reduced by up to 60 kilos, depending on the versions, which translates into greater agility and lower consumption.

Design

As we said, its design makes it easily recognisable as an Audi A5, and it does bear similarities to its predecessor, so it may be accused of being a continuation. But if something works, why change it? Either way, its new shapes give it greater visual width both at the front and at the rear.

The design is somewhat of a continuation, but a successful one. At the front we see how the designers have chosen to “flatten” the brand’s Singleframe grille, reducing its height but increasing its width. The headlights also change compared with its predecessor’s, taking on a less rectangular shape with a slight arch in the upper area and where they finish over the wing. The bonnet features four marked but subtle ribs running lengthwise along it, also gaining curvature.

If we look at the car from the side, we again notice that greater curvature we mentioned. The soft curved lines start at the bonnet and end at the small spoiler on the boot lid. The main crease running from the front headlights to the rear light clusters gives a greater sense of fluidity, while the pronounced lower ridge that begins at the bottom of the front door and ends at the rear wheel arch achieves a strong dynamic look.

At the rear of the body, we again find a design reminiscent of the previous generation, but which once again gives a greater sense of width. This has been achieved mainly thanks to the wide, low-set light units and the more pronounced horizontal lines running across the bumper and the boot.

No surprises in the cabinWe leave the exterior and move on to the cabin. Audi says that the space is now greater than in the outgoing Audi A5, both in the front and rear seats, and that the boot’s cargo capacity gains 10 litres, reaching 465 litres.

The interior is very similar to Audi’s latest creations and is practically identical to that of the Audi A4. Horizontal lines continue across the dashboard, alongside quality materials. The Audi Virtual Cockpit (optional) stands out, with a 12.3-inch TFT screen and high resolution for the instrument cluster. At the top of the centre console there is a new 8.3-inch screen through which all the vehicle’s connectivity and infotainment system is managed, along with multiple settings.

Engines

Five engines plus the powerful Audi S5. Setting aside the Audi S5, which has also been presented alongside the Audi A5, the engine range initially comprises five different engines, two petrol and three diesel. The petrol (TFSI) units produce 190 and 286 hp, while in the diesel range Audi (TDI) has only disclosed the power output of two of them: 218 and 286 hp.

The sporty Audi S5 uses a supercharged 3-litre V6 engine producing 354 hp, that is, 21 hp more than in the previous generation. This allows explosive acceleration, such as reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.7 seconds.

In any case, the German brand claims that they achieve up to a 17% increase in power delivery while reducing fuel consumption by 22%.

Depending on the engines, you can choose between different transmissions: the six-speed manual gearbox, the seven-speed robotised dual-clutch or the eight-speed Tiptronic automatic. Both the manual and the seven-speed S tronic are used on the four-cylinder engines and on the 218 hp 3-litre TDI. The Tiptronic is reserved for the most powerful diesel and the Audi S5, which also come as standard with quattro all-wheel drive.

Chassis

Audi started from scratch in tuning the Audi A5’s chassis. An electronic suspension is available as an option, which the driver can adjust by selecting the different driving modes with Audi drive select.

Likewise, the steering is adaptive depending on the type of driving, the vehicle’s speed and the selected driving mode, varying its firmness and, optionally, its ratio.

Technologies, driver assistance and equipment

The new A5 incorporates all the technologies we recently saw in the new Audi A4. Among them we can highlight the aforementioned Audi Virtual Cockpit, unintentional lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam function, evasive-steering assist, cross-traffic alert when leaving a parking space and traffic sign recognition, among others.

The front headlights can incorporate LED and Matrix LED lighting, although xenon is standard. The rear lights also use LED lighting. The Audi MMI radio plus audio system, Bluetooth and the various driving modes are all included.

Its arrival on the market is scheduled for after the summer, although the brand has not yet released prices.

Source | Audi