Some smart re-styling touches and significant re-engineering of new generation Audi A5 and S5 Sportback, Coupe and Cabriolet models means you get a better car with an entry level price of €39,335 on the road. And the order book is open now for January delivery.
The A5’s signature iconic design feature - the xenon lights with daytime running lights have been nicely altered to reflect the newest Audi evolution of this innovative system.
Beyond their measured exterior and interior styling updates, infotainment technology advances and chassis modifications, the three ranges are also characterised by CO2 emission reductions of up to 22 per cent thanks to new and heavily revised engines and additional efficiency measures.
Andrew Doyle, managing director, Audi Ireland, told us: “The new generation Audi A5 marks a new chapter in the Audi A5 success story, marrying style with power and efficiency and showcases Audi’s expertise in design and engineering. Sensitively redesigned inside and out, with updated cabin features, new colour schemes and trims provide even more options for drivers.”
Both in Ireland and worldwide, the Audi has been market leader in its class since its launch in 2007 so Audi did not want to mess about too much with a winning formula when designing their mid-life updated models. Instead, the key objective in updating the three ranges was to deliver major gains in efficiency without compromising on the performance that fulfils the promise in the taut and muscular lines of the A5. Audi tells us that this has been achieved primarily by introducing two new engines and completely redesigning others.
The entry level 1.8-litre TFSI unit, whiczh will be available across the ranges, has been completely redesigned. It features ground-breaking innovations. With power increased from 160 bhp to 170 bhp, it effectively replaces the 180 bhp version of the four-cylinder 2.0-litre TFSI engine, and Audi claims that the A5 Coupe combines best-in-class 49.6 mpg economy potential with a 21 per cent reduction in CO2 output to 134g/km.
For the bigger selling TDI versions, Audi can call on the current diesel line-up in the newly launched A6 model and make it available in the new A5 range. A 2.0TDI version with 177 horsepower available in manual and automatic transmissions is available across the three variants. Two V6 diesel units round out the diesel line-up at the top end.
In the A5 Coupé with multitronic, it consumes on average 4.9 litres of fuel (that’s 58 mpg in old fashioned measures ) and emits just 129 grams CO2 per km. The second variant of the 3.0 TDI produces 245 bhp. The Sportback and Cabriolet models will be available in an entry level 2.0 TDI offering with 143 bhp from early 2012.
The top models in the series – the S5 as Sportback, Coupé and Cabriolet - have also been refreshed. All S5 models, including the Coupé, are now equipped with the 3.0 TFSI V6 producing 333 bhp. Compared to the 4.2-liter V8 it replaces in the Coupé, the supercharged V6 consumes on average 20 per cent less fuel per 100 kilometres. Average fuel consumption is just 8.1 litres (35 mpg ) while performance remains impressive. The S5 Coupé can power to 100 km/h from rest in 4.9 seconds – a 0.2-second improvement over its V8-powered predecessor – on the way to a governed zoom-zoom 250 km/h top speed.
Overall, it appears that the new Audi A5 line-up has got even better. I will confirm that for you after a drive on Irish roads.
