Most cars get ‘remodelled’ every half-decade or so, and often ‘refreshed’ in-between. Audi waited 10 years give its popular A5 a makeover, inside and out.
While built on the same platform as the redesigned A4 – Audi’s bedrock sedan – the new A5 is designed to be sportier, tauter, more sculpted.
The hexagonal grille is flatter and wider than with the current model, effectively move the facing of the car closer to the road to strengthen its ‘presence’. But the sharply accented headlamps did not move down with the grille, and are instead kept high and away, creating a unique architecture for the Audi brand.
Because the engine is higher, a ‘power dome’ was required to be built into the hood. Edges running from the hood to under the A-post at the mirror are meant to indicate precise tooling. The mirrors are placed on top of the door shoulders in race-car style, accenting the sporty look. Wave-like swells in the side, especially approaching the rear wheels, add more muscle.
New engines increase power up to 17 per cent while improving fuel efficiency up to 22 per cent over the current A5. The drag co-efficient has been reduced to a best-in-class 0.25, down from 0.31. On the S(port) version, the turbo V-6 produces 354 horsepower and 368-lb-ft of torque, translating to a 0-to-100 km/h zip in 4.7 seconds.
Audi’s optional virtual cockpit with head-up display effectively presents a second screen, in front of the steering wheel when desired, so the driver needn’t shift eyes sideways. There’s also an optional suspension with damper control with a pair of driving modes.
Other highlights: The new A5 comes with LED daytime running and rear lights, a little more luggage room, WiFi with data packages, and the clean, tasteful interior – while lacking the plushness of some rivals – boosts head and leg room.
When can we buy it and at what price?
Next spring. Canadian prices are still to be announced. The Cabriolet and hatchback versions will follow.
Cool quotient
4.5 stars (out of 5)
Climbing and descending hills on narrow, twisty roads northeast of Porto, the A5 produced a throaty warble from the exhaust – as though being piloted with a manual shifter rather than the automatic transmission – and hugged turns as though Velcroed. The S5, projected to represent about 25 per cent of sales, climbed to 140 km/h with seemingly nary effort, running slickly as Cristiano Ronaldo on a soccer pitch.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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