By Otsile Kadiege

Audi recently lifted the veils off the all-new A5 Sedan and Avant. Confused? Well, the ‘Lord of the Rings’ automaker came up with a plan to separate ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) from Electric Vehicles (EV) by allocating even numbers to EVs and odd numbers to ICE vehicles. Is the A4 nameplate dead? For now it’s in the archives until Audi develops an EV worthy of the brand’s popular nameplate. That said, the newcomer ushers in a sharper design, ground-breaking technologies, an all-new combustion engine-specific platform and advanced MHEV powertrains.

Exterior design and styling

Outside, the new A5 range boasts a dynamic and muscular design with unmistakable Audi cues. Highlights include a wide and significantly flatter proportioned Singleframe with a three-dimensional honeycomb structure. The grille is flanked by slim headlights with a 3D design and integrated digital daytime running lights with LED technology. The front bumper has gaping air inlets with contrasting frames.

In profile, the new A5 has a clean design with “blisters” at the rear haunches and a fastback-like silhouette. It’s also longer and shod with newly designed alloy wheels. At the rear, there’s a light-bar with second-generation digital OLED rear lights that feature around 60 segments per digital OLED panel. The sporty S5 gets real quad exhaust tips and a cosmetic rear diffuser.

Interior design and technologies

Inside, the new A5 has a futuristic cockpit design which looks similar to its stablemate – the Q6 e-tron. Highlights include a curved, free-standing Audi MMI panoramic display which consists of the Audi virtual cockpit with a 11.9-inch visible screen diagonal and the 14.5-inch MMI touch display. Audi complements the digital stage for the front passengers with the optional 10.9-inch MMI front passenger display, which is perfectly integrated into the dashboard design. The new A5 has a configurable head-up display that has been further developed compared to its predecessor. For the first time, drivers now have the option of controlling vehicle and infotainment functions via the head-up display.

Other highlights include sporty quilted and perforated seats for the S5, fabric inserts on the door panels and dashboard for the non-S A5, a gear lever-less centre console with two cup holders, a wireless charging tray, a flat-top and bottom steering wheel, ambient lighting, four USB-C ports (two up front and two at the rear), heated seats for the front and rear.

Powertrains and platform

Powering the new A5 range are turbo-petrol and turbodiesel engines with a new MHEV plus system based on a 48-volt on-board electrical system which is said to reduce CO2 emissions while increasing performance. The entry-level engine is a four-cylinder 2.0-litre TFSI with 110 kW. Optionally, the same engine is available with an output of 150 kW. The four-banger turbodiesel engine develops 150kW and 400Nm between 1 750 and 3 250 rpm. Customers who want more power can opt for the sporty S5 which makes use of a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine with 270 kW and is paired with a revised S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

The new A5 range will make use of the brand’s new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) which is specific to ICE vehicles. In a bid to improve the driving characteristics of the new A5, Audi has done extensive detail work on the suspension and steering.

Availability

The Audi A5 and S5 range will be built in Neckarsulm, Germany and will be launched at the said company in November 2024. Audi South Africa is yet to announce local availability.