2007 Salon International
d'Auto et Accessoires, Geneva, Switzerland
Audi A5/S5
Audi is launching a fascinating new model
series for its entry into a highly emotionally charged segment of the
market: the A5 successfully unites the acclaimed Audi design language
and thrilling dynamic driving performance, and combines generous refinement
with the brand’s characteristic quality and sophistication. Its progressive
design gives the new coupé an appearance that is both elegant and dynamic.
With its muscular FSI and TDI engines, its entirely newly developed
high-precision running gear, and a raft of innovative, luxury-class
equipment features, the Audi A5 has been crafted to be a modern grand
tourer, a touring coupé in the best tradition.
The Audi S5 is an extra sporty offering
to complete the new series. A powerful V8 FSI engine gives the S5 a
dynamic edge, which underscores its athletically accentuated design.
The A5 and S5 are available to order from 6 March 2007 with the first
vehicles due for delivery from June.
.
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Rupert Stadler, new head of Audi
AG
The Nuvolari quattro concept car
of 2003
gave a first taste of Audi’s vision for a powerful and expertly styled coupé with a high performance potential and a progressive, sophisticated
design – a bold step into the future.
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Many elements from the Nuvolari
have been adopted in the Audi A5. The new coupé is a clear and
unique statement of sportiness and elegance. At the same time,
the A5 offers a driving experience characterised by exhilarating
dynamic performance and excellent comfort over long distances.
With a length of 4.63 m, the Audi
A5 clearly belongs to a superior class of coupé. Four comfortable
seats and a load volume of 455 litres make this car a comfortable
long-distance tourer. The dynamic performance is supplied by
FSI and TDI engines with rated power ranging from 125 to 195
kW (170 to 265 bhp). All engines share highly eco-friendly and
efficient characteristics.
The engines’ power can be transmitted
by either front-wheel drive or quattro four-wheel drive and
a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The running gear developed
for the A5 is entirely new and combines agile handling with
the utmost driving safety.
For coupé buyers, emotion plays
a major role in their choice of car; the most important reason
to buy, in the case of a sporty two-door car, is the design.
And on that point the Audi A5 genuinely speaks for itself –
its design takes Audi’s progressive and stylish design language
to new heights. The sporty silhouette, the precisely drawn lines,
which gracefully interplay with the powerful surfaces, the expressive
front face, and the equally distinctive tail end yield a wholly
desirable coupé. “The Audi A5 is the most beautiful car I have
ever designed”, says Walter de’Silva, Head of Volkswagen Group
Design, with absolute conviction.
For the Audi A5, power
is provided by innovative technologies across the board. All
engines supplied for the new model series feature direct
fuel injection, for which the petrol engines employ the FSI
concept and the diesels are equipped with common rail TDI.
This gives all engines a thrilling free-revving character,
allowing them to effortlessly unwind their generous torque
with optimum energy efficiency. The refined TDI engines with
their outstanding sporting talents suit the A5 just as well
as the petrol units. Which type to go for is entirely a
question of the driver’s personal preference. All of the
engines impressively demonstrate that efficiency and driving
pleasure are by no means mutually exclusive.
The top-of-the-range petrol
engine in the Audi A5 is a new 3.2-litre FSI with
innovative valve gear comprising the Audi valvelift system.
At the wheel of an Audi A5 3.2 FSI there is a whole 195 kW
(265 bhp) of power output available and a superb torque of
330 Nm in a broad rev band of 3,000 to 5,000 rpm, ensuring
blistering acceleration at all times. Within 6.1 seconds the
3.2 FSI quattro with manual six-speed gearbox sprints from 0
to 100 km/h. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h. Despite
this thrilling performance potential the car’s fuel
consumption is only 8.7 litres per 100 kilometers (3.2 FSI
multitronic).
The 1.8 TFSI,
delivering 125 kW (170 bhp), will be available from autumn
2007.
The V6 TDI units from
Audi set the standards in their segment. Their copious
torque and outstanding fuel economy accompanied by superb
refinement mean that they score highly on all counts.
The sporty top-of-the-range
TDI is the thoroughly revised 3.0-litre engine. It now
delivers a power output of 176 kW (240 bhp) and its maximum
torque is an immense 500 Nm. But that is not all: with its
supreme 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 5.9 seconds and a
top speed of 250 km/h, the Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro is one of
the sportiest vehicles of its kind. Added to this, it also
offers an average fuel consumption of just 7.2 litres per
100 km!
The second TDI engine
offers even better fuel economy. The 2.7-litre V6 engine
delivers 140 kW (190 bhp) and is an ideal complement to the
multitronic gearbox for the comfort-minded coupé driver.
Nevertheless, its performance figures are more than
impressive: it offers a top speed of 232 km/h with an
average fuel economy of 6.7 litres per 100 km. On top of
that, its acceleration time of just 7.6 seconds confirms the
sporty credentials of this version of the Audi A5.
The Audi A5 2.7 TDI
multitronic is equipped with front-wheel drive, while
the 3-litre TDI with manual gearbox constantly supplies
power to all four wheels.
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The interior, the interface
between person and vehicle, is characterised by ergonomic design
and functionality, and equally by the exclusiveness of the materials
selected and Audi’s typically superb build quality. An atmosphere
in which you feel perfectly at ease, even on long journeys –
that is the key feature of the A5 interior.
The entire cockpit architecture
is clearly focused on the driver and brings together the instruments
and the centre console to form one unit. The animated shapes,
the precision of the workmanship, and the sophisticated design
of the controls – these represent a visual delight that is also
a joy to touch. The interior design provides a high-quality
tactile experience each time you drive the Audi A5. One example
of the all-encompassing design approach can be found in the
door panel trim, where the controls, inlays, armrest and stowage
compartment combine to form one visually harmonious unit.
The instrument panel, with
the characteristic droplet-shaped surrounds for the speedometer
and rev counter, does feature typical Audi styling elements,
but in all its details has been developed as a new design.
The new key is another
design item that also provides sophisticated functionality.
With its soft contours and pleasant surfaces it sits beautifully
in the hand. But above all, the innovative key dispenses with
the conventional key bit. This is possible because it communicates
electronically with the vehicle’s electrical system as soon
as it is inserted into the cockpit.
The Audi S5 is a unique
competitor among high-performance coupés, thanks to its combination
of V8 FSI technology and quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The
eight-cylinder engine with its superb power delivery has worthy
counterparts in the specially tuned sports suspension and
high-performance brakes. Subtle, but clear design elements inside
and out serve to distinguish this coupé as a high performance
athlete in a league of its own. The Audi S5 Coupé goes on sale with
the launch of the Audi A5 series.
Audi S5's eight-cylinder engine
has a rated power output of 260 kW (354 bhp). Its peak torque is 440
Nm, which it already delivers at 3,500 rpm. Within just 5.1 seconds
the Audi S5 can sprint to 100 km/h. But no figures can adequately
describe the supreme free-revving character, the spontaneous
response, the continuous power build-up, or the thrilling sound of
this eight-cylinder engine. The V8 naturally derives its enormous
power potential from the innovative FSI direct injection technology
with high compression and optimum fuel mixture formation.
The six-speed manual gearbox
with its very precise guiding of the gear lever and short throw
action makes every gear change a pleasure. The quattro permanent
four-wheel drive of course provides perfect traction with variable
torque distribution from its basic setting of 40 percent to the
front and 60 percent to the rear axle. Within a fraction of a
second, the dynamic drivetrain system adapts to the current driving
conditions and constantly delivers the ideal distribution of drive
torque.
The Audi S5’s sports suspension
is tuned to enhance the coupé’s performance with particularly
dynamic handling. The special high-performance brakes, recognisable
by their black painted brake calipers, always ensure precise
deceleration. And finally, the ESP electronic stabilisation
programme can be deactivated in two stages whenever the driver
wishes to exploit the potential of the Audi S5 to the full on a
suitable stretch of road.
While the design of the Audi A5
forms a balanced synthesis of sportiness and elegance, the Audi S5
displays the more vigorous features of a powerfully built athlete:
the radiator grille possesses the specific look of an Audi S model –
painted in platinum grey and fitted with vertical chrome inlays. The
front and rear bumpers have a more pronounced outline and the air
inlet grilles are more striking.
Alongside the coupé’s 18-inch
wheels with the new S design and 245/40 R 18 tyres, the standard
equipment specification for the S5 features items such as xenon plus
headlights with impressive daytime running lights in the form of an
LED light strip, or sports seats with electronic adjustment.
