Covers Come Off the New Audi A5 Sportback
Australians will have to wait until early next year to get their hands on the magnificent Audi A5 Sportback which is now on-sale in Europe.
The superbly styled Sportback joins the Coupe and Cabriolet to complete Audi’s A5 lineup. Local specifications have not been finalized but Audi Australia says both petrol and diesel versions are heading this way.
Gloriously proportioned, the A5 Sportback features four frameless doors, a long wheelbase and wide track. The long, tapered rear end is finished with flat C-pillars, a subtle rear hatch spoiler and sporty diffuser.
Alloy wheels ranging from 17-inch to 20-inch complete yet another outstanding styling job from Audi.
Inside is the usual array of Audi luxury features and a handy luggage capacity of 480 litres with the rear seats in place or 980 litres when folded.
Currently in Europe, Audi is offering six engines (three petrol and three TDI diesels) with three more powerplants to follow in 2010.
The petrol engines are two 2.0-litre versions (132kW or 155kW) and the 195kW 3.2-litre V6.
For the diesel versions, Audi is offering a 2.0-litre TDI (125kW) – complete with a start-stop system which switches the engine off when stationary in traffic – plus a 140kW 2.7-litre TDI and the 3.0-litre TDI which delivers 176kW and drives though Audi’s S-tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.
All engines have a recuperation system which recovers energy during braking and deceleration, storing it in the battery.
The three petrol engines and the two top TDIs feature the Quattro all-wheel-drive system and there is an optional sport differential which delivers enhanced driving dynamics. Other driving aids available include an electronic differential lock for front-wheel-drive models, adaptive shock absorber control and dynamic steering with variable boost for the power-assistance.
