Powerful, sophisticated, efficient: the drive system
Three engine variants are available in New Zealand for the new Audi A5 Sportback family. The A5 Sportback 40 TFSI S Line engine outputs 140kw and 320Nm of torque. The 3.0 TFSI S5 model sports quattro all-wheel drive and eight-speed tiptronic. It has a powerful V6 engine with 260kW of power and 500 Nm of torque, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The RS 5 Sportback has immense pulling power and high output combined with efficiency featuring RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) and quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The 2.9 TFSI V6 twin-turbo delivers 331 kW of power and 600 Nm of torque supplied to the crankshaft accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds.
Sporty look: the exterior design
Elements of the new design language from the full-size class characterise the sporty aesthetics of the updated Audi A5. Even the first generation from 2007 turned heads with its sporty and harmonious body line. The second generation from 2016 added new, sharper accents. Now Audi has significantly revised the exterior, with the front end in particular exuding an even more powerful resolve. The Singleframe with the honeycomb grille is flatter and somewhat wider. Ventilation slits above the grille are reminiscent of the classic Audi Sport quattro from 1984. A bold blade forms the lower edge of the bumper, which features larger air inlets. A new sill provides for a slimmer appearance when viewed from the side and a diffuser insert with trapezoidal tailpipes makes the back of the car look wider.
The new design language of the Audi S5 Sportback conveys sportiness and appeal from every angle. The standard, S-specific elements add special touches to the exterior. The RS 5 Sportback, remains true to its genetics and continues the sporty and elegant character. The best example of this is the three-dimensional wave-like shoulder line. Like the original Audi quattro, the RS 5 impresses with perfectly balanced proportions. A long engine hood, the extended wheelbase, and the short overhangs underline the sporty presence of the RS 5. The new Singleframe is considerably flatter and wider compared to the Audi A5 Sportback and the radiator protective grille with the RS-specific three-dimensional honeycomb structure features a gloss black design.
The A5 Sportback rolls off the assembly line with LED headlights as standard. And the S5 and RS 5 Sportback has Matrix LED headlights with LED rear lights featuring dynamic turn signals as standard. The A5 Sporback comes standard with S Line exterior package which makes for a sport look at first glance.
Audi New Zealand, General Manager, Dean Sheed, says, “The next evolution of the Audi A5 family combines an elegant design with the performance we know and love from Audi. Each model in the A5 range has the latest technology and performance to deliver the ultimate driving experience on New Zealand’s roads.“
Electrification: the MHEV system
The A5 & S5 models are equipped with a mild hybrid system (MHEV). The central component of the mild hybrid system is the belt alternator starter (BAS), which is connected to the crankshaft. When the A5 decelerates due to the driver taking their foot off the accelerator or light braking, the BAS can recover up to 5 kW of power and feed it into a separate lithium-ion battery with a rated capacity of 10 Ah in the rear of the car.
If the driver takes their foot off the accelerator between 55 and 160 km/h, the vehicles can coast with the engine switched off and the lithium-ion battery then powers the electrical consumers. With all MHEV variants equipped with automatic transmissions, the start-stop range already begins at 22 km/h with manual transmission. When the accelerator is depressed, the BAS restarts the engine quickly and smoothly. When stopped, this happens while the brake pedal is still depressed as soon as the vehicle in front begins to move. In real-world, everyday operation, the MHEV system can reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.3 liters per 100 kilometers according to Audi measurements.
Groundbreaking: connectivity
Horizontal lines dominate the interior of the A5 models. That large MMI touch display, the control center of the new operating system, is the focal point of the instrument panel and angled slightly toward the driver. The multicolor contour/ambient lighting package standard on both the S5 and RS 5 models adds highlights in the dark.
With its new MMI touch system, the highly connected Audi A5 range offers a user experience similar to a contemporary smartphone. A 10.1-inch touch display with acoustic feedback replaces the rotary pushbutton used in previous models. The MMI search is based on free text input and returns relevant hits very rapidly. Natural-language voice control understands many formulations from everyday speech.
Price and market launch
The Audi A5 Sportaback range is available at Audi Authorised dealerships now. The Audi A5 Sportback 40 TFSI S Lin is priced from $83,500 + ORC and optional extras. The S5 Sportback is priced from $126,500 + ORC and optional extra and the RS 5 Sportback is priced from $157,900 + ORC and optional extras. All three models come with Audi 5-year Warranty, 3-year Motoring Plan and 5-year Roadside Assist.