All-new 2016 Audi A5 officially unveiled

Audi has officially unveiled the second generation A5 coupe, nine years after the original model went on sale in 2007. Headlining the new 2016 Audi A5 are an all-new chassis, advanced engines, and revamped infotainment features and driver assistance systems.

Sporting an evolutionary design, the new mid-size coupe retains the wave-shaped shoulder line that already characterised the previous model but comes with it a new bonnet, sculpted singleframe grille is significantly flatter and wider, new LED headlights and taillamps, and more pronounced wheel arches – a cue to the quattro all-wheel drive.

The all-new Audi A5 Coupe will arrive in Australia in the first-half of 2017. The new model line-up, pricing and specification will be announced closer to launch.

Engines

The new Audi A5 will be available globally with up to five turbocharged engines: two TFSI petrol and three TDI diesel units. With considerable increase in performance across the range, the new engines now output between 140 kW and 210 kW. Compared with the previous model, they offer up to 17 percent more performance while consuming as much as 22 percent less fuel, according to Audi.

With its newly developed 3.0 TFSI turbo V6, the Audi S5 coupé now dispenses 260 kW of power, 15 kW more than the engine in the previous model. The new S5 can reach 100 km/h from rest in 4.7 seconds.

Drivetrain

Audi claims the new A5 range comes with a drivetrain solution tailor-made for each engine variant. The manual six-speed gearbox and the seven-speed S tronic are used with the four-cylinder engines as well as the 160 kW 3.0 TDI with front- or all-wheel drive. The eight-speed tiptronic is reserved for the top diesel with 210 kW and the S5 engine. Both engines come standard with quattro all-wheel drive. Audi also offers the optional rear-axle sport differential for even more dynamic driving and precision.

The new quattro with ultra technology is also available for the first time. Available for four-cylinder TFSI and TDI engines with manual transmission, the on-demand all-wheel-drive system is said to improve efficiency with no perceptible differences to permanent systems in terms of traction and driving dynamics.

Chassis

The all-new chassis has been strengthened to further improve on driving dynamics of the new A5. Audi offers a suspension with damper control as an option, which is integrated into the Audi drive dynamic handling system, enabling the driver to modify the basic characteristic in multiple steps.

The electromechanical power steering is also a new development from Audi. It adapts according to the vehicle’s current speed and provides highly precise road feedback. Optionally available is the dynamic steering, which varies its gear ratio depending on the speed and steering angle.

Body

Aerodynamics and efficiencies benefit from the reduction in weight. Audi engineers were able to trim the curb weight by as much as 60 kg. The car maker claims the A5’s body is the lightest in class thanks to an intelligent mix of materials and lightweight design. With a drag coefficient of 0.25, the A5 coupé is also one of the most aerodynamically shaped in the segment.

Interior

The interior benefits from the increased dimensions and longer wheelbase. Space for driver and passengers is more generous. The horizontal architecture of the instrument panel and the continuous air vent strip create a wide sense of space.

Audi’s virtual cockpit replaces conventional gauges in the instrumentation panel, providing high-resolution 12.3-inch graphical display of driving parameters, navigation and multimedia information. Together with the MMI navigation plus including 8.3-inch monitor on the centre console, it forms the central information unit.

Driver assistance systems

With the new A5, Audi is taking the next step toward piloted driving. The predictive efficiency assistant helps the driver save fuel, Audi active lane assist helps keep the car on track in the driving lane, and the Stop&Go adaptive cruise control including traffic jam assist offers the driver relief in slow-moving traffic.

New safety features include the park assist, cross traffic assist rear, exit warning, collision avoidance assist and turn assist as well as the Audi pre sense systems. Camera-based recognition of traffic signs rounds out the line-up.