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Audi unveils sleek new A5 Coupé

Audi unveils sleek new A5 Coupé
Deon Schoeman

It’s been almost a decade since Audi revealed the first-generation A5 Coupé – a highly desirable two-door that did much to underline the marque’s design capability and engineering prowess. It says much of the original’s enduring appeal that its successor has been so long in the making.

Unveiled last night, the new A5 Coupé doesn’t represent the styling revolution some may have hoped for. Instead, the newcomer reflects the evolutionary approach that has become something of an Audi trademark.

The result is a car that is unmistakably Audi and emphatically A5, but lacks the sparkle and drama of the original. Instead, it adopts a more mature, more fettled approach that seeks to build on the beauty and the appeal of the original.

Audi did the same with the latest A4 sedan, which could be accused of adopting a safe, even conservative, design approach. And yet, if you view old and new side by side, the latest version is fresher and keener in every respect, even though it’s also larger.

The same is likely to be true of the A5 when we get to see it in the metal. The fundamentals and proportions of the second-generation version remain intact: a long, swooping bonnet, short overhangs, powerful haunches, a low roofline and wide tracks all express the athleticism at the core of the A5’s design language.

Look closer, and the detailing emphasises an execution that is crisp and confident. The front view is dominated by a shorter but wider grille, while the slim headlights, pronounced air intakes and a profiled bonnet all add to a stronger, confident execution.

The rest of the coachwork is more pronounced, with a crisp, sculpted waistline, broad sills and high-decked rear all emphasising the newcomer’s dynamic intentions.

As with the A4, the real progress of the new A5 compared to its predecessor is likely to be most apparent behind the wheel. The cabin expresses Audi’s latest mix of streamlined ergonomics and luxurious appointments, including the all-electronic virtual cockpit and a large centrally mounted display linked to Audi’s MMI infotainment and control system.

On the move, the new coupé’s reduced weight and brand-new chassis should also make for a vastly enhanced driving experience. The A5 shares its platform with the latest A4, and if the sedan’s quantum leap in refinement and response is anything to go by, the A5 should be a real star on the dynamic front.

European markets will get a choice of five engines: two TFSI turbo petrol units, and three TDI turbodiesels, with power outputs between 140 kW and 210 kW. There’s also an S5 version powered by a 3,0-liltre V6 now rated at 265 kW.

The transmission options comprise a six-speed manual gearbox, seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and an eight-speed Tiptronic auto for the 160 kW 3.0 TDI. Quattro all-wheel drive will be offered with the 3.0 TDI and the 210 kW 2.0 TFSI petrol engine.

The South African model line-up is likely to be more streamlined, but will still offer petrol and diesel options, as well as the S5. Launch timing and pricing has yet to be confirmed, but the new A5 is unlikely to reach our shores before the first quarter of 2017.

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