With the new Audi A4 already in show rooms and out in the streets and the A3 recently receiving a face lift, it was only a matter of time before Audi launched new versions of the Audi A5 and S5 sportback. Even though the car isn’t on sale yet Audi has made a public announcement of their latest offering with an expected debut at the Paris motor show later this month.
For 2017 the Audi A5 and S5 Sportback have received a raft of updates both in the hardware and in exterior styling and for the first time in an Audi there is a bivalent engine on offer. The new A5 Sportback is also a claimed 15kg lighter than its forerunner. In terms of styling the Audi A5 and S5 Sportback feature a redesigned front grille which is wider than before. This brings the looks in line with the rest of the Audi family. The cars also have a lot more creases in the body work and the edges seem to be less rounded.
The front suspension on the A5 has been redesigned and the rear suspension has been updated with a new set up. The cars also feature revised electromechanical power steering which Audi claim will provide better feed back from the road and more steering precision. Audi’s dynamic steering will also be available as an option.
There is a choice of five engines which include two petrol engines and three diesel engines on offer for the A5. Power is up by as much as 17% with improved fuel economy across the board. Audi hasn’t released the exact figures for each engine on offer but power will range from 140kw(190hp) of power to 210kw(286hp). For the first time in an Audi A5 there will also be a 2.0l bivalent engine available capable of running on petrol but also Audi e-gas and natural gas.The S5 will come equiped with a new turbo charged v6 engine churning out 260kw(354hp) of power and 500nm of torque.
Entry level models of the A5 come with front wheel drive as standard with Audi’s quattro available as an option. The 3.0 diesel will come with quattro as standard. Three transmissions will be on offer:a six speed manual gear box, a seven speed s-tronic dual clutch transmission and Audi’s 8-speed tiptronic gearbox with the latter two being optional.
The S5 comes with quattro all wheel drive and Audi’s 8 speed tiptronic gearbox as standard. The car has an electronically limited top speed of 250kph(155mph) and a claimed 0-100kph(0-62mph) time of 4.7s.
The A5 and S5 Sportback will be on sale from early on next year.
