In Audi's words, the A5 "has been crafted to be a modern grand tourer, a touring coupé in the best tradition."

The engines - all with direct fuel injection - have power outputs ranging from 125 to 195 kW (170 to 265 bhp) and the newly developed running gear features front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.

The A5 is available to order from 6 March 2007 with the first vehicles due for delivery from June.

Concept

The Nuvolari quattro concept (2003) gave a first taste of Audi’s vision for a powerful and expertly styled coupé with a high performance potential and a progressive, sophisticated design – a bold step into the future.

Many elements from the Nuvolari have been adopted in the Audi A5.

With a length of 4.63 m, the Audi A5 clearly belongs to the luxury coupé niche. It has four comfortable seats and a load volume of 455 litres which make it a long-distance tourer.

Design

In the A5, the typical Audi’s progressive design language is characterized by a sporty silhouette with precisely drawn lines which interplay with the powerful surfaces, the expressive front face, and the equally distinctive tail end yield.

The coupé’s proportions, for instance, are characterised by a very wide and low stance, a short front overhang and a long, flowing transition from the C pillar to the tail end.

An expression of determination characterises the features of the front end: the face bears the hallmark of the new Audi in the form of the single-frame grille, and its right-angled headlights and large air inlets reinforce the architectural impression of breadth in the car’s face-on outline.

The same holds true for the rear: the distinct horizontal lines and wide, powerfully styled tail lights, which seem to push outwards, underscore the sporting intent of the A5.

The side line is dominated by the mighty trapezoidal C pillar. This not only emphasises the car’s sporty appeal, but also creates a look reminiscent of the legendary Audi Ur-quattro.

A second stylistic tribute to Audi’s four-wheel drive pioneer model can be found in the marked outline of the wheel arches, with their curving contours drawn into the wide shoulder line.

The lines and surfaces of the Audi A5 play with light and shadows, bringing its shape to life and endowing the body with the sculpted intensity that makes Audi design unique.

Audi’s customary devotion to detail is particularly evident in the headlights: their elaborate styling perfectly reflects precision and high-tech engineering. The daytime running lights, comprising a strip of eight LEDs on each side, make the A5’s xenon plus headlights absolutely unmistakeable.

Interior Design

The entire cockpit architecture is focused on the driver and brings together the instruments and the centre console to form one unit. The interior design provides a high-quality tactile experience; one example of this design approach can be found in the door panel trim, where the controls, inlays, armrest and stowage compartment combine to form one visually harmonious unit.

The instrument panel, with the characteristic droplet-shaped surrounds for the speedometer and rev counter, does feature typical Audi styling elements, but in all its details has been developed as a new design.

The A5 also has the screen of the MMI operating system positioned at an ergonomically perfect high position in the cockpit. A new advanced version of the acclaimed intuitive MMI operating logic makes the wide range of functions easy to understand.

The new key communicates electronically with the vehicle’s electrical system as soon as it is inserted into the cockpit and it can store information, such as the vehicle’s current mileage or warning messages from the Audi A5’s driver information system.

Engines and performances

All engines supplied for the new model series feature direct fuel injection (FSI technology for the gasoline units and common rail TDI for the diesel engines).

The top-of-the-range petrol engine in the Audi A5 is a new 3.2-litre FSI with valvelift system. This system varies the valve lift between two levels by means of sets of sliding cams which are mounted directly on the intake camshafts. These feature two sets of adjacent cam contours for small and large valve lift. Which cam is used to open the intake valves depends on the power demand at any one time. The effect is an appreciable increase in engine efficiency.

The 3.2 FSI unit has an output of 195 kW (265 bhp) and a torque of 330 Nm, which is delivered in a rev band of 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. The A5 3.2 FSI quattro with manual six-speed gearbox sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and the top speed is limited to 250 km/h - as usual.

The fuel consumption is 8.7 litres per 100 kilometers (3.2 FSI multitronic).

The 4-cylinder 1.8 TFSI, delivering 125 kW (170 bhp), will be available from autumn 2007. It combines turbocharger technology with petrol direct injection

The sporty top-of-the-range TDI is the revised 3.0-litre engine. It now delivers a power output of 176 kW (240 bhp) and its maximum torque is 500 Nm. Performances figures are a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/, with an average fuel consumption of just 7.2 litres per 100 km.

The second TDI engine is a 2.7-litre V6 engine, which delivers 140 kW (190 bhp) and offers a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 7.6 seconds, a top speed of 232 km/h and an average fuel economy of 6.7 litres per 100 km.

Technical Features

The new running gear features front wheels that are located by a five-link suspension arrangement with upper and lower wishbones. The wishbones are mounted on a subframe, which is firmly bolted to the body for high rigidity. Another completely reengineered component is the rack and pinion steering. It is located in front of the front axle close to the wheel centre line, and enhances the car’s very agile handling by its direct transmission of the steering forces.

Overall, the front axle is located a long way forward for a longitudinal engine configuration with front- and four-wheel drive. This new vehicle architecture makes it possible to have a long wheelbase with a short front overhang, and to optimise the axle load distribution.

To accomplish this special design, the engineers used a trick adopted from the Audi A8: the front axle differential is located in front of the clutch.

A key element of the rear running gear is its trapezoidal-link rear suspension with completely new kinematics. It provides a high degree of ride comfort combined with excellent directional stability. At both the front and rear, the main components of the suspension are made of aluminium.

The lightweight structure was created using the latest technologies, such as metal plates with varying wall thicknesses (tailored blanks), combined spot welded and bonded joints, and the use of aluminium, for example, in the front wings.

The smooth surfaces of the additional underbody panel enhance the Audi A5’s inherently good aerodynamics. One small but typical example of the extensive high-precision work carried out in the wind tunnel can be seen in the spoilers moulded into the sides of the tail lights.

Equipment

Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, MMI information and operating system, an audio system with CD player and separate screen, and the automatically opening boot lid.

Among the optional features are an extra-large panoramic tilting roof; the Audi adaptive light with bi-xenon headlights, dynamic cornering light system and the LED strip of daytime running lights; an automatic air conditioning system with three temperature zones; a parking system with a rearview camera.

The sound system for the Audi A5 is supplied by the Danish hi-fi specialist Bang & Olufsen and comprises 14 speakers, 500 watts of music output, surround sound,

(Source: Audi)