Audi A5 has world premiere - mid-size class renewed after 9 years
After nine years, the young audience of Audi's mid-size models are longing for a new one. And that's exactly what's coming in the form of the A5. With combustion engines and not electric. So not fully electric, at least.
Surprise at Audi! We almost didn't believe it, but after nine years, the Ingolstadt team is indeed bringing a completely new model to the market. And it's called the A5, just like the old model, but it's not that simple. An A5 emblem now graces the trunk lid of the sedan. And this trunk lid is quite sexy with its distinctly raised contour.
But where is the Sportback version with the sloping rear? It's been discontinued. And a Cabriolet? Audi openly admits that it will no longer be available. But good news for those of us here in Germany who love wagons: The good old Avant (1424 liters trunk volume) will continue to exist. It, too, will be called A5, whereas this designation was previously reserved for Coupe, Cabrio, and Sportback models. The reason is simple. Future model series with electric powertrains will have numbers that only include odd digits, which are reserved for the combustion engine models.
Here in a photo studio near Munich, the wagon and sedan are ready for a physical inspection. And the Avant A5's trunk may not be as striking as the sedan's design, but Audi has expanded its design space in a literal sense. The creatives in Ingolstadt have been using light technology for a while now to generate aesthetics. With the new OLED rear lights, Audi is taking light design to the next level. The driver can choose between eight different graphics here. However, a stylized warning triangle always appears if, for example, an emergency braking maneuver is performed. And there's a trendy LED light strip that connects the tail light units.
The A5's design remains essentially restrained
The design team has developed the front end more cautiously, although it now looks significantly sportier with its prominent air intakes. Entering the new Audi A5, one notices: Here, things have been drastically redesigned compared to the predecessor. Then the passenger sees a completely new interior design. For journalists, it's not new, as the Q6 E-Tron has already shown this architectural style, along with the OLED rear lights. But what Audi has done here is interesting enough to warrant multiple discussions. For example, about the dashboard's instrument panel with the display area extending all the way to the large monitor for the passenger. It took some time, as the infotainment faction was growing increasingly frustrated with the previous mid-size model.
And architecturally, the current solution is more refined than before, as the designers have almost seamlessly integrated the monitor housing into the interior - it fits like a glove. In stark contrast, however, is the optional passenger monitor. It looks a bit awkward. But with its edges, it's at least interestingly shaped.
A slight adjustment to the older Audi models will be necessary when searching for the climate menu. It now has less space - it's limited to a single line in the main menu. And physical controls are mostly limited to the volume knob and the gear selector lever. Essential things, after all.
Essentially, what's under the hood of the 4.83 meter (Combined length of A5 Sedan and Combi) long A5 with pronounced overhangs is also important. It's worth noting that due to a 2.90 meter wheelbase, passengers in the second row should be able to keep their legs comfortably arranged (especially for tall people). And for the base of the new mid-size car, Audi's marketing experts have come up with a beautiful term. "Premium Platform Combustion" is the name of the underbody that houses powertrain units with longitudinally mounted engines.
New "PPC" platform readies many hybrids
As hinted in the previous subheading, hybrid drives are often used in "PPC" cars besides pure combustion engines. The engineers from Ingolstadt speak of the so-called MHEV-Plus system. This is a hybridization based on 48-volt technology. Audi goes beyond the previously used starter generator. But wait - not all variants will have access to this new power source. In fact, none of the variants with unremarkable number synonyms for engine versions will receive it. But in order.
The base consists of two different versions with a 2-liter gasoline engine. There's news here too, as the TFSI engines are now paired with a turbocharger and variable turbine geometry - previously exclusive to self-igniting engines. And the self-igniters? They're starting up properly to reach the next level. In other words, MHEV Plus is now in play. So, 24 electric horses join the 204-PS diesel with so-called Twin-Dosing (reduces nitrogen oxide emissions below the detection limit). The starter generator remains on top to quickly restart the diesel engine when needed for sailing mode. And to achieve ambitious fuel consumption of under five liters per 100 kilometers, 25 kW regeneration power is planned.
One more little treat for you? Those who thought there wouldn't be a six-cylinder - far from it. This one goes by the name S5. The three-liter delivers 367 PS and receives an additional 24 electric PS. More boost power is assured, as well as electric parking, which the silent aggregation also takes over.
Has anything been forgotten? Of course not, the new Audi, priced from 45,200 Euros, comes with a hundredfold of electronic and physical helpers (for example, Car-to-X communication or simply the Quattro Sport differential) plus countless infotainment functions. It comes with front- and all-wheel drive and makes a clean, refined impression at first glance. And then there are also plug-in hybrid versions.
More info will be available after the first dynamic lap. And it should come quickly, as the orderability for the new Audi A5 will be opened this month. And the first vehicles will roll out to customers in November.
The new Audi A5, priced from 45,200 Euros, offers several models, including those with Audi's new MHEV-Plus system, which utilizes a 48-volt technology and a starter generator. This system is not available for all variants, however, only for those with more distinctive engine versions.
Despite the focus on hybrid and electric models, Audi continues to offer combustion engine models, as evident in the A5, which will be part of their premium platform for combustion engines.
