Test drive Audi A5 Sportback and S5
It seems impossible to combine so skillfully under one name two completely different cars. But Audi did it with a second-generation A5 that fits all occasions
This text could begin with a journalistic cliché about how I confused a new Audi with an old one in the parking lot and tried to get into someone else's car. But no - nothing of the kind happened. It only seems in photographs that the cars are too similar to be considered different generations. In fact, there are no less differences between them than in the iPhone and Samsung.
It should be understood that Frank Lambretti and Jacob Hirzel, who are responsible for the exterior of the new car, retained in the second generation model all the signature features invented by maestro Walter De Silva for the first A5. Strict classic proportions, a sloping roof with a slightly broken side glazing line, a pronounced belt line with two curves above the wheel arches and, finally, a large "single frame" grille - all the distinctive features remained with him.
Since the body of the A5 was rebuilt, the dimensions of the car increased slightly. So, the car turned out to be 47 mm longer than its predecessor. At the same time, its weight has decreased by almost 60 kilograms. The credit for this is not only the new body, in the design of which even more lightweight aluminum alloys are used, but also the lightweight chassis architecture.
The A5 is based on the new MLB Evo platform, which already underpins the A4 sedan, as well as the Q7 and Q5 crossovers. Actually, from its name it becomes clear that the new "cart" is a seriously evolved version of the previous one. There are five-link suspension schemes in the front and rear, as well as a longitudinally located motor that transmits traction to the front wheels.
For a surcharge, of course, the integration of the proprietary quattro all-wheel drive is possible. Moreover, it is of two types here. Cars with initial motors are equipped with a new lightweight transmission with two clutches in the rear axle drive. And the top modifications with the letter S are equipped with the usual Torsen differential. But in Russia you won't have to choose for a long time - only all-wheel drive versions will be supplied to us.
Moreover, the range of engines offered in Russia is not as wide as, for example, in Europe or the USA. Three engines will be available to choose from: a two-liter turbodiesel with 190 hp, as well as a 2.0 TFSI petrol four in two levels of shaping - 190 and 249 horsepower.
The S5 version with a supercharged petrol "six" with a capacity of 354 horsepower stands apart. We tried it first. In addition to the impressive power, the S5 Coupé engine also has an impressive torque, which peaks at 500 Newton meters. Paired with an eight-speed "automatic", this engine accelerates the car to "hundreds" in 4,7 seconds - a figure characteristic, rather, for purebred sports cars, rather than for a coupe for every day.
"Gas" on the floor, a slight pause, and then you start to be imprinted on the chair, and all internal organs for a moment hang in weightlessness. A little later comes the realization of what happened, but that's it - it's time to slow down. The speed is growing exponentially and very quickly goes over the allowed speed. It seems that such a coupe has a place on the track, but it has to be content with twisted country lanes in Denmark.
The full potential of the S5 chassis, of course, is not revealed here, but it still gives a certain idea of the coupe's capabilities. The acuteness of reactions and nervousness are not about him. However, on a straight line, the car is reinforced concrete stable and predictable, and on a high-speed arc it is surgically accurate.
The Dynamic mode provides the most transparent and sensitive connection with the road and the surrounding reality in the Drive Select mechatronics smart settings. Here the steering wheel is filled with a pleasant and not at all artificial effort, and the accelerator pedal reacts more sensitively to pressing, and the eight-speed "automatic" goes through gears noticeably faster.
Add to this set an electronically controlled limited-slip differential in the rear axle that literally screws the car into corners and you have a true driver's car. No more, no less.
But all this is true only for the top-end modification of the S5 - cars with two-liter engines cannot turn their heads like that. And here a very reasonable question arises: does it make sense to come to terms with the inconvenience of a two-door body when there is a clever A5 Sportback?
The exterior of the liftback has been redesigned with the same care as the coupe. At the same time, all the external gloss, as in the case of the two-door, makes it easy to recognize a new car in it. Much more interesting to look inside. Here, the architecture of the dashboard and its decoration, as in the case of the coupe, repeat the design of the A4 sedan. The rest of the cabin is still different here. The sloping roof hangs rather low over the heads of the riders. At the same time, compared to the previous A5 Sportback, the new car is still slightly more spacious.
The overall length of the interior has increased by 17 mm, and the slightly stretched wheelbase provided an increase of 24 millimeters for the rear passengers' feet. In addition, the cabin has expanded by 11 mm at shoulder height for the driver and front passenger. The luggage compartment has also grown and now stands at 480 liters.
A close acquaintance with "Sportback" begins with a diesel engine. He has 190 "forces", like the younger gasoline engine. But believe me, this car is far from being quiet. The peak moment of the turbodiesel is almost as impressive as that of the older "six" - 400 Newton meters. Moreover, the "four" gives the maximum thrust already from 1750 rpm and holds them right up to 3000 rpm.
Such a reserve of traction on a far not narrow shelf will allow overtaking, barely touching the pedal, and hooliganism at traffic lights. The main thing is not to let the motor get out to the red zone, because after 4000 rpm it starts to sour very quickly. However, this is possible if you take control of the seven-speed "robot" S tronic, which assists the diesel engine. In normal mode, the box annoys with overly economical settings and sometimes switches to a higher gear too early. Fortunately, the sports mode very quickly saves from nervous stress caused by an external irritating factor.
All other Sportback skills are not questionable. You will not feel the fundamental difference in the behavior of a liftback and a coupe on public roads, even if you put on your favorite fingerless gloves and call yourself Ayrton three times. The coupe is the choice of a fashionista rather than an athlete.
Design is the main cornerstone of the two-door's success. By the way, this is also recognized in Audi itself, demonstrating the results of world sales of the previous generation A5. So, then the coupe and liftback were almost level. During the entire production period of the model, 320 regular A000s and 5 Sportbacks were sold. And there is a suspicion that things will be about the same with the new car.
Audi A5
| 2.0 TDI | 2.0 TFSI | S5 |
| A type | ||
| Coupe | ||
| Dimensions: length / width / height, mm | ||
| 4673/1846/1371 | ||
| Wheelbase, mm | ||
| 2764 | ||
| Cargo space, l | ||
| 465 | ||
| Curb weight, kg | ||
| 1640 | 1575 | 1690 |
| Permissible total weight, kg | ||
| 2080 | 2000 | 2115 |
| engine's type | ||
| Diesel turbocharged | Turbocharged petrol | Turbocharged petrol |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm. | ||
| 1968 | 1984 | 2995 |
| Max. power, h.p. (at rpm) | ||
| 190 at 3800-4200 | 249 at 5000-6000 | 354 at 5400-6400 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | ||
| 400 at 1750-3000 | 370 at 1600-4500 | 500 at 1370-4500 |
| Drive type, transmission | ||
| Full, robot | Full, robot | Full, automatic |
| Max. speed km / h | ||
| 235 | 250 | 250 |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | ||
| 7,2 | 5,8 | 4,7 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km | ||
| 5,2/4,2/4,5 | 7,5/5/6,2 | 9,8/5,8/7,3 |
| Price from, $. | ||
| 34 159 | 36 006 | 50 777 |
Audi Sportback A5
| 2.0 TDI | 2.0 TFSI | S5 |
| A type | ||
| Liftback | ||
| Dimensions: length / width / height, mm | ||
| 4733/1843/1386 | ||
| Wheelbase, mm | ||
| 2824 | ||
| Cargo space, l | ||
| 480 | ||
| Curb weight, kg | ||
| 1610 | 1675 | 1690 |
| Permissible total weight, kg | ||
| 2185 | 2105 | 2230 |
| engine's type | ||
| Diesel turbocharged | Turbocharged petrol | Turbocharged petrol |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm. | ||
| 1968 | 1984 | 2995 |
| Max. power, h.p. (at rpm) | ||
| 190 at 3800-4200 | 249 at 5000-6000 | 354 at 5400-6400 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | ||
| 400 at 1750-3000 | 370 at 1600-4500 | 500 at 1370-4500 |
| Drive type, transmission | ||
| Full, robot | Full, robot | Full, automatic |
| Max. speed km / h | ||
| 235 | 250 | 250 |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | ||
| 7,4 | 6,0 | 4,7 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km | ||
| 5,2/4,2/4,6 | 7,8/5,2/6,2 | 9,8/5,9/7,3 |
| Price from, $. | ||
| 34 159 | 36 006 | 50 777 |
