The new Audi A5 Sportback - "superiority through technology" makes sense!
The first five, which appeared on the market in 2007, are probably known to everyone. Neat coupe liked many fans of the four rings. Seven years ago, the Sportback joined the two-door body, just more practical due to its five “fences”. Now the market has a new version of this interesting body combination - a family coupe.
From the outside, the new Audi A5 Sportback looks very dignified. The designers increased the wheelbase and shortened both overhangs. Combined with a sharp, chunky hood and a bodyline that the brand describes as "tornado", the result is a large coupe with a sporty stance. Despite its small dimensions (the length of the new A-five is 4733 mm), the car seems to be optically light.
It is not difficult to see the current trend in the automotive industry that the lines of the body from model to model are becoming clearer. It's the same with the new Audi A5. Sharp embossing can be found on almost every part of the car, giving the body a three-dimensional look - even large surfaces are not as flat as a table. Particular attention is paid to the long embossing, which runs in a wavy line across the entire profile of the car - from the headlight to the very end of the rear. The long tailgate smoothly turns into a small spoiler. Thanks to this, the car seems light and “airy”, and not “wooden”.
Vnetzhe
If we were dealing with new Audi models, we wouldn't be surprised to be behind the wheel of the new A5 Sportback. This is the simplicity and elegance typical of the Ingolstadt Group. The horizontal dashboard creates a feeling of spaciousness. Delving into the numbers, it is worth emphasizing that the interior of the new five has increased by 17 millimeters, and the area where the hands of the driver and passengers are located has expanded by 11 millimeters. It seems that 1 centimeter should not matter much, but it does. Optionally, the driver's seat can be equipped with massage rollers, which will further increase the comfort of the trip. The comfort of passengers traveling in the second row of seats has also been taken care of - now they have 24 mm more knee room.
The Audi A5 Sportback has one of the largest luggage compartments in its class. Available volume up to 480 liters. In practice, it is difficult to reach deep into the trunk without resting your knees on the bumper, which in the current weather will not be clean for a long time. However, the steeply sloping trunk line will not allow you to carry bulky items. Therefore, when transporting small items, it is better to stay, and not, for example, large cardboard boxes. The boot lid of the A5 Sportback opens electrically at the touch of a button as standard. However, at the request of the customer, the car can be equipped with a gesture control system.
The 8,3-inch screen on the center console is slightly driver-focused. Through it, we can integrate a smartphone (iOS or Android) with an adapted Audi MMI system. In addition, thanks to the Audi Phone Box, we can not only charge the smartphone inductively, but also connect it to the car antenna, increasing the range of incoming and outgoing calls.
For an acoustic experience, the new Audi A5 Sportback features a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 19 speakers and a total output of 755 watts.
Virtual clock
For some time now, Audi (as well as Volkswagen and, more recently, Peugeot) have eschewed the traditional round analog instrument cluster. Now their place is taken by a virtual cockpit, a 12,3-inch screen. We can display everything on it: digital speedometer and tachometer dials (in two sizes), vehicle data, multimedia and navigation with the Google Earth satellite image option. Optionally, the Audi A5 Sportback can also be equipped with a head-up display. This time the brand abandoned the polycarbonate plate sliding from the dashboard (which, to be honest, had little to do with grace and elegance), in favor of displaying the image on the windshield in front of the driver's eyes.
Car with high intelligence!
It's hard to imagine a modern car that doesn't try to "think" for the driver. Some people like it when the car chats while driving, someone grinds their teeth, but one thing is for sure - it helps to increase the safety of the driver, passengers and even pedestrians and other road users. And most importantly, it works.
What systems will we find on board the new Audi A5 Sportback? Of course, adaptive cruise control with automatic distance control, without which it is difficult to imagine any modern premium car. In addition, the new A-five recognizes road signs using cameras (so we always know the current limit, not the one provided by the mapping system, which may have outdated information obtained, for example, from road works). When driving on active cruise control, the car itself determines the restrictions and adjusts the speed of the car to the regulation. Unfortunately, this autonomy is achieved at the expense of sudden braking and acceleration, as well as changing restrictions.
In the A5 Sportback, of course, we find a traffic jam assistant (up to 65 km/h) that helps the driver move by slowing down, accelerating and temporarily taking control of the vehicle. If it is necessary to avoid an obstacle, Maneuver Avoidance Assist calculates the correct path in a fraction of a second using camera data, cruise control settings and radar sensors. Initially, the warning system will jerk the steering wheel in a safe direction. If the driver understands the "hidden message", the car will support him in the further maneuver.
In addition, the driver can use Audi Active Lane Assist, Audi Side Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor to make it easier to get out of tight parking spaces.
Car-2-Car
One of the most interesting features of the new Audi A5 Sportback is the fact that these cars communicate with each other in their own way. The previously mentioned active cruise control with traffic sign reading is currently transmitting the received data to the server. After filtering the information, other cars of the brand under the sign of the four rings, equipped with this system, will be informed in advance about the speed limit in this area.
What's more: in the event of loss of traction on slippery surfaces, the system will transmit this information to the server so that other cars can "warn" their drivers. The weather can be challenging and sometimes we find it slippery when it's too late. If the car warns us ahead of time that traction in a particular area might be a bit desirable, many drivers will likely take their foot off the gas pedal.
In short, the new A-Fives communicate with each other, exchanging data about traffic, road conditions (which we can somehow translate into expected weather conditions), and even limited visibility during fog.
Engine options
The Audi A5 Sportback is available with six engines: three petrol and three self-igniting.
The first group is represented by the well-known TFSI units with a volume of 1.4 liters and a power of 150 hp, as well as 2.0 in two power options - 190 and 252 hp.
Diesel engines 190 TDI with 2.0 hp and six-cylinder 3.0 TDI with 218 or 286 hp. The most powerful six-cylinder V6 diesel engine develops a huge torque of 620 Nm, available already at 1500 rpm. The Audi S5 Sportback will certainly become a pleasure for fans of sports driving, under the hood of which lies a three-liter engine with a capacity of 354 horsepower.
During the first races, we happened to drive several tens of kilometers on the “weakest” diesel engine with a quattro drive (such a term sounds strange for a car with a capacity of almost two hundred horses). Where does this choice come from? Audi statistics show that customers have chosen this drive most often so far. The car may not sin with excessive power, but contrary to its appearance it is very dynamic. Up to a hundred accelerates in 7.4 seconds. And if sport mode is selected via Audi's Drive Select system (available as standard), the calm A5 Sportback shows what it's capable of with its 400 Nm of peak torque.
The truth is that while everyone says they like powerful cars, when it comes to buying one, they opt for something more sensible and economical. And a 190 hp diesel engine. not greedy at all. According to the manufacturer, he needs only 5.3 liters of diesel fuel for a distance of 100 kilometers around the city.
Power transmission
When deciding whether to buy the new Audi A5 Sportback, there are three powertrain options to choose from. This can be a six-speed manual gearbox, automatic, dual-clutch gearbox, seven-speed S tronic (which is not only in the most powerful diesel and in the S5 version) and eight-speed tiptronic (installed just in the two units just mentioned).
Manual transmission variants of the A5 Sportback are available with the new quattro all-wheel drive system with Ultra technology. Compared to stationary systems, this option is optimized in terms of performance. All thanks to the multi-plate clutch, which disengages the rear axle in less difficult conditions. The Islander then "decouples" the drive shaft, resulting in real fuel savings. But don't worry - the rear wheels will come into action in as little as 0,2 seconds if needed.
Regardless of the engine version, the classic quattro permanent all-wheel drive is still available. During normal driving, the self-locking center differential sends 60% of the torque to the rear axle and the remaining 40% to the front axle. However, in more difficult conditions it is possible to transfer up to 70% of the torque to the front or even 85% to the rear.
A5 Sportback with the most powerful 286 hp diesel. and the Audi S5 can also be optionally equipped with a sports differential on the rear axle. Thanks to this, we can go through corners even faster and sharper, and the technology itself will eliminate all signs of understeer.
The brand's slogan "Superiority through technology" takes on meaning after exploring the technological capabilities of the new A5 Sportback. Looking at all the novelties on board, the question may arise: is it still an inconspicuous five or a technological masterpiece?
Finally, we are talking about an “everyday car” that is not quite something that has phenomenal driving performance, thanks to advanced technologies, is luxuriously made, and in addition communicates with other representatives of its genre.
Finally, there is the question of price. The price list opens with 1.4 TFSI with the amount of PLN 159. The 900 hp quattro diesel 2.0 TDI we tested. costs from PLN 190. The most “testosterone loaded” S-Friday 201 TFSI is already a significant expense of PLN 600. Yes, I know. A lot of. But Audi has never been a cheap brand. However, some wise people have noticed that customers increasingly want to use a car, and not necessarily own one. For this reason, the Audi Perfect Lease financing proposal was created. Then the cheapest A-Friday will cost PLN 3.0 per month or PLN 308 per month for the S600 option. It already sounds a little better, doesn't it?
