Audi has revealed a new-generation mid-sizer that goes up against not only the BMW 3 Series but also the 4 Series Gran Coupe.
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The outgoing A4 Sedan and A5 Sportback have been replaced by the new A5 Sedan, which confusingly isn't a sedan but rather a liftback… much like the old A5 Sportback.
Meanwhile, the old A4 Avant has been replaced by the A5 Avant. It's part of a move by Audi to have combustion-powered vehicles use odd-number names, while electric vehicles (EVs) use even ones.
Both body styles are available in sportier S5 guise, packing a turbocharged V6 engine.
We've contacted Audi Australia to confirm when the A5 and S5 will come here. They're launching in Germany and various other European markets in November 2024.
The new-generation A5 is the first vehicle on what Audi calls the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), and also features the new E3 electronic architecture.
Steel spring suspension is standard, with sports suspension and S sports suspension with adaptive damper control also available – both of which lower the vehicle by 20mm.
A5 models can be had with Audi's quattro ultra all-wheel drive system, which can automatically disengage the rear axle under partial load for maximum fuel efficiency. The S5 features a quattro sport differential with torque vectoring.
It has grown in size. Both body styles ride a 2900mm wheelbase, up 67mm on the old A4.
There's a range of mild-hybrid powertrains, which use a 48-volt lithium iron phosphate battery and a powertrain generator attached to the transmission output shaft that enables partially electric driving on slight inclines and in low-speed manoeuvres.
It can contribute up to 18kW while also recovering energy and sending it back to the battery during deceleration. While the combustion engine is switched off, the air-conditioning can still operate at full power.
Powertrains are as follows:
All models use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The styling in traditional Audi fashion is evolutionary, though there's a more muscular look than before with a wider, flatter grille, a more sculpted bonnet, and blistered fenders Audi says evokes the Urquattro.
There are also new flush-mounted door handles.
The A5 Sedan blurs the lines between the old A4 Sedan and A5 Sportback, with a wide-opening tailgate and short rear deck but a three-box silhouette for a sedan-like appearance.
Wheels range from 17 to 20 inches in size, while there are optional digital OLED tail lights which can be used to warn other road users in advance of accidents and breakdowns.
The matrix LED headlights also feature customisable signatures.
Inside, there's a new curved OLED display with a 11.9-inch virtual cockpit digital instrument cluster and 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen.
A 10.9-inch passenger display is optional, allowing those riding shotgun to stream video content, browse the web or assist with navigation – though a dynamic privacy mode prevents the driver from seeing distracting content while operating the vehicle.
Also optional is a head-up display, which can now be used to control vehicle and infotainment functions.
The Audi virtual assistant will be able to answer weather and general knowledge prompts in the future using ChatGPT.
Optional safety features include traffic sign-based cruise control, rear turn assist, and Adaptive cruise assist plus which uses high-resolution map data and swarm data from other vehicles to maintain the correct speed.
The A5 and S5's active front assist incorporates autonomous emergency braking, evasion assist, turn assistant, and front cross-traffic assist.
Audi has revealed the new A5 and S5 exclusively in Sedan and Avant body styles, and it's unclear if today's Coupe and Cabriolet will see another generation.
They're the last remaining two-door Audi models available, following the axing of the A3 Cabriolet, TT and R8.
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MORE: Everything Audi A5MORE: Everything Audi S5
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
