This name Audi had once used for its coupe-fied A4 is now to represent all body styles of the new A4 successor.
For those looking to replace their outgoing Audi A4 with this recently revealed successor, they will soon realise that they will be getting an A5 instead. Such is as that is exactly what the latest 3-Series and C-Class rival will henceforth be known as.
A name that is previously the preserve of its style-forward coupes, this utilisation of the A5 moniker by Audi on what is the direct A4 successor comes as part of the German firm’s new naming convention for its next-generation models. All new ICE cars from the quad-ringed automaker will be odd numbered moving forward, while its EV lineup will occupy the even numbers.
And just to eliminate any confusion with the A5 being a coupe from here on too, Audi has since already stated for there not to be a two-door version of this latest model. There will also not be a drop-top guise as well, or even a swoopier Sportback, with this compact executive car set to only be available in either saloon or Avant estate body styles.
It has to be said here however that the sharper exterior aesthetic of this new Audi certainly cribs more than a few styling cues from the outgoing A5 Sportback, with it to feature the same rear hatch layout too. Other exterior highlights worth a mention meanwhile in this new A4 successor includes for it to feature a set of sleeker OLED headlights flanking a slightly shrunken front grille from before, while its predecessor’s false exhaust tips having since been ditched in response to customer feedback as well.
Moving onto what lies underneath now, the new A5 is to ride on the Volkswagen Group’s new PPC (Premium Platform Combustion). This thus sees for it to have grown somewhat from its predecessor, becoming 67 mm longer (at 4,830 mm) and 13 mm wider (at 1,860 mm), with its wheelbase now stretched by 68 mm too (to 2,900 mm).
Engine options with this new Audi starts from a revised version of its 2.0-litre EA888 TFSI turbo petrol four-pot, which brings to the party this time round a new variable-geometry turbocharger and a tweaked combustion process for better efficiency. Euro-spec A5s will be receiving a 148 hp version of this power plant if only the front wheels are to be driven, while those equipped with Quattro all-wheel drive will be gaining a more potent 201 hp flavour.
If something even more powerful than that is to be desired, the new medium-hot S5 now comes packing an updated 3.0-litre TFSI turbo V6 featuring Audi’s new 48 V twin motor-generator MHEV plus mild-hybrid system. Total power output of this six-cylinder is currently quoted by its maker at 362 hp (+13 from before), with all that grunt to be channeled to all four wheels through an S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and a quattro sport differential with torque vectoring.
Perhaps most interesting with regards to the engine options though in this new Audi is for it to still feature an oil burner under the hood, as the A5 can still be ordered with a 2.0-litre TDI four-cylinder. Now updated with the same 48 V novel mild-hybrid system as the S5, its twin motor-generator combo in this application is said to add a decent 24 horsepower electrified boost to the 201 hp and 400 Nm of torque output by the base engine.
Finally finishing off within the new A5, its rather minimalist button-free cabin is headlined by a curved panoramic display that combines an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster with a massive 14.5-inch touchscreen. An enhanced head-up display is also to be available, as well as an optional 10.9-inch screen for the front passenger if even more screen square footage is required.
Order books in Europe for the A5 will open later this month ahead of first deliveries in November, with prices to kick off in the UK from around £42,000 (RM 255,000). Audi has since also confirmed that a plug-in hybrid powertrain with an electric-only range of 62 miles will soon to be available next year, with there likely to be a hot RS5 likely on the horizon as well.
