The Audi A5 Sportback, the A5 Coupé and the A5 Cabriolet now feature a new, tauter look and the cutting-edge MMI touch operating concept. Mild hybrid technology offers greater comfort while also reducing fuel consumption. Elements of the new design language from the full-size class characterise the sporty aesthetic of the updated Audi A5. Now Audi has significantly revised the exterior, with the front end, in particular, exuding an even more powerful resolve. The Singleframe with the honeycomb grille is flatter and somewhat wider. Ventilation slits above the grille are reminiscent of the classic Audi Sport quattro from 1984. A bold blade forms the lower edge of the bumper, which features larger air inlets. A new sill provides for a slimmer appearance when viewed from the side; a diffuser insert with trapezoidal tailpipes makes the back of the car look wider. On the inside, horizontal lines dominate the interior of the A5 models. That large MMI touch display, the control centre of the new operating system, is the focal point of the instrument panel and angled slightly toward the driver. All body and engine variants in the A5 product line roll off the assembly line with LED headlights as standard equipment. Audi offers Matrix LED headlights with LED rear lights featuring dynamic turn signals as an optional upgrade. Customers opting for the top end get Matrix LED headlights including Audi laser light, LED rear lights with dynamic turn signals and dynamic light sequencing. Customers can choose from 12 paint finishes, including the new shade district green, metallic.
With its new MMI touch system, the highly connected Audi A5 offers a user experience similar to a contemporary smartphone. A 10.1-inch touch display with acoustic feedback replaces the rotary pushbutton used in previous models. The graphics are clean and reduced; the menu structure reflects the expectations of the user. The MMI search is based on free text input and returns relevant hits very rapidly. Natural-language voice control understands many formulations from everyday speech. The updated Audi A5 uses a new main unit with increased computing power – the third generation modular infotainment platform (MIB 3). It works together with the equally new Communication box, which handles such things as telephony and the Audi connect services. The Audi A5 comes standard with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The driver controls the full-HD, 12.3-inch display (1,920 x 720 pixels) of the Audi virtual cockpit plus via the multifunction steering wheel and can choose between three views. This is complemented by a head-up display that projects important information into the driver’s direct field of view.
The updated Audi A5 models (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km*: 5.4–3.7; combined CO2 emissions in g/km*: 143–98) are available in Europe with an output range from 163hp. This includes the S models with their powerful V6 engines. The engines satisfy the limits of the Euro 6d-temp emissions standard. At market introduction, four A5 engine variants will be equipped with a mild hybrid system (MHEV). A belt alternator starter, which is connected to the crankshaft, recovers energy during deceleration and stores this in a compact lithium-ion battery. With the four-cylinder engines, the MHEV system is integrated into the 12-volt electrical system and into a new 48-volt main electrical system in the S TDI models. All A5 models are equipped with an automatic transmission, either a seven-speed S tronic or an eight-speed tiptronic. quattro drive is available as an option for the mid-range engine variants and comes standard with the three most powerful ones.
The suspension harmonises perfectly with the cultivated sportiness that all A5 models convey. The standard tuning is sporty, yet comfortable. A tauter sport suspension and a suspension with controlled damping are available as options. The steering, automatic transmission and engine management are likewise integrated into Audi drive select. Drivers can choose between five Audi drive select profiles to determine how these components work together. Mounted behind the large wheels – up to 20 inches in diameter – are powerful brakes. The A5 will arrive into Ireland from January 2020. Prices will be announced at a later date.
