To start with, let's call it a technological tour de force. The new A5 Sportback does what Audi's been claiming all these while - Vorsprung Durch Technik, as we'll be covering plenty of technological advancements in this new sports sedan with a flicker of utilitarian value in it.By lenghtening the A5 Coupe's modular platform by almost 9 cm, Audi created a 4 door hatch with a wheelbase that's only 3cm shorter than the A6, which is largest in its class till the new E-Class came along with 1cm more. Not only it is longer than the class leading A4, it is also wider and sits almost 4 cm lower than the already low and squat A4. Giving the A5 Sportback a low lying sports profile to begin with before showing its talents in functionality.
Undoubtly, the A5 is a beautiful car to begin with, even though yours sincerely do have some reserves when the lines flow from the very sporty coupe front end goes along the window line and somehow crashes along with a bulgy cumbersome rear end that gives the impression of a Gran Tourer more than a sports coupe. The Sportback however, seems to have this identical crisis solved, with some help integrating BMW's famous Hoffmeister Kink, the tapered back rear window line immediately gives a more pleasant look to the overall of the this 4 door sports hatch. Of course Audi frantically denies in its press release by claiming its actually paying an homage to the 1969 Audi 100 Coupe S. (Lucky they found one with a rear window in an era where all are styled that way) Which just makes me giggling in wonder why the A5 Coupe doesn't pay the same 'respect' to its Grandpa.The BMW signature kink aside, along with a folding line that flows from the front fenders all the way blending into the rear lamps. This, in my opinion is better penned than Walter de'Silva's favourite A5.
With a proper boot, the A5 Sportback comes with a decent 480 liter boot, with the rear seats folded down, this then translates into a capacious 980 liter. Of course one might then ask what has all this got to do with a hatch? Well to begin answering, the hatch had nothing to do with the interior luggage capacity, but the opening determines what you could fit.
Even if a sedan's 60:40 splitting seats can both be folded down at once, no boot opening would be wide or high enough to even fit through a 32" Trinitron (yes, its all Plasmas and LCDs now). Thus making this hatch, the biggest differentiation, and also the best link between the A4 and A5 coupe.
But certainly, even thou it matches the A4 Avant's 980 liter capacity, the tapering rear window does make a whole lot of difference in outright luggage carrying capabilities. But of course, that's not the sole purpose of this car. Going to a red carpet event in an Avant makes you looked like an Audi ad-puppet, going there with an A5 Sportback makes you look like a brand ambassador.
Of course being part of Volkswagen Group, which arguably is now the largest manufacturer in the world, economies of scale is a crucial part of their success, with a non marketed tagline of 'Vorsprung Durch Kosten Sparen' underlies the very success of Technik; we wouldn't expect new interiors fitted on the Sportsback.
One gripe I do have and still hating it, is the deliberate attempt to make what could be 5-seaters into 4 seaters to enhance its sports appeal to potential customers. Of course unlike many manufacturers that wants you to either shoot your parent in law or third child, the A5 Sportsback at least does come with a 'bearable' cushioned, leather-ed middle bench for losers, but then the exclusion of another set of seat belts just goes to show losers are not recommended in 'Sporty cars'. I can't see how else it helps by limiting the choices of sitting five person would make a car more appealing. Speaking about middle east's increasing economic prowess as a great potential market, Mr Akhmed could only then marry 3 wives instead of 4.
Skipping the standard fare A5 interior console, there are of course remarkable additions, especially in technology aspects, fuel saving of course. First off, the A5 Sportback comes with all the expected range of Audi engines, 3 of each TDi and FSi engines. Of course we would expect the excellent 3.0TDi and 2.0TFSi to rack up most of the sales depending on regional availability.
Worth noting as well is that Start-Stop technology now comes standard even with manual transmission models, along with Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, whereby when the vehicle coasts or under braking, the alternator kicks in to recapture electricity into the high powered batteries which serves as a support when Start-Stop system kicks in. For manual transmissions, the Start-Stop system will shut off the engine any moment the its in free gear and the driver lifts off the clutch pedal. As traffics ease and the clutch is depressed, the engine kicks back, resuming idle RPM when a gear is selected, and goes off when the clutch's release. Of course the Start Stop system can also be switch On/Off with a touch of a button.
Coupled along these new energy saving systems, is the new Modular Efficiency Platform, this feeds the driver with information such as a gear-change indicator to optimize consumption, and also constantly analyzes electricity flow within the vehicle, be it the air conditioning or rear screen defroster, then it translates these information back into energy consumption figures to help drivers save fuel. By providing better information, drivers could even safe up to 1 liter per 100km, driving it for a standard 25,000 - 35,000 km a year, that translates to considerable fuel saving.
Putting the engine's power to the tarmacs smoothly would of course be the 7-Speed S-Tronic's job (VW's DSG gearbox), which sports two sets of clutch providing lightning fast gear shifts. Of course performance was also enhanced with the 2.0TFSi engine's turbo charger, with variable exhausts vanes. The moment acceleration is required, as the driver floors the pedal, the blades of the turning fins changes their profiles, turning into flatter blades allowning the fins to spool faster.
Besides advancement in engine technology, the Audi Sportback was build to a different standard, using high strength steel, a material that could literally hang 10 tons of weight just with a 3cm x 0.02 inch thick cut out. This high strength steel would of course serves as the main protection for interior passengers in the event of a collision.
So? Highly desirable? Definitely. Let's wait for the higher performance S-RS models. If they do produce them. Check out the gallery
Even if a sedan's 60:40 splitting seats can both be folded down at once, no boot opening would be wide or high enough to even fit through a 32" Trinitron (yes, its all Plasmas and LCDs now). Thus making this hatch, the biggest differentiation, and also the best link between the A4 and A5 coupe.
But certainly, even thou it matches the A4 Avant's 980 liter capacity, the tapering rear window does make a whole lot of difference in outright luggage carrying capabilities. But of course, that's not the sole purpose of this car. Going to a red carpet event in an Avant makes you looked like an Audi ad-puppet, going there with an A5 Sportback makes you look like a brand ambassador.Of course being part of Volkswagen Group, which arguably is now the largest manufacturer in the world, economies of scale is a crucial part of their success, with a non marketed tagline of 'Vorsprung Durch Kosten Sparen' underlies the very success of Technik; we wouldn't expect new interiors fitted on the Sportsback.
One gripe I do have and still hating it, is the deliberate attempt to make what could be 5-seaters into 4 seaters to enhance its sports appeal to potential customers. Of course unlike many manufacturers that wants you to either shoot your parent in law or third child, the A5 Sportsback at least does come with a 'bearable' cushioned, leather-ed middle bench for losers, but then the exclusion of another set of seat belts just goes to show losers are not recommended in 'Sporty cars'. I can't see how else it helps by limiting the choices of sitting five person would make a car more appealing. Speaking about middle east's increasing economic prowess as a great potential market, Mr Akhmed could only then marry 3 wives instead of 4.Skipping the standard fare A5 interior console, there are of course remarkable additions, especially in technology aspects, fuel saving of course. First off, the A5 Sportback comes with all the expected range of Audi engines, 3 of each TDi and FSi engines. Of course we would expect the excellent 3.0TDi and 2.0TFSi to rack up most of the sales depending on regional availability.Worth noting as well is that Start-Stop technology now comes standard even with manual transmission models, along with Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, whereby when the vehicle coasts or under braking, the alternator kicks in to recapture electricity into the high powered batteries which serves as a support when Start-Stop system kicks in. For manual transmissions, the Start-Stop system will shut off the engine any moment the its in free gear and the driver lifts off the clutch pedal. As traffics ease and the clutch is depressed, the engine kicks back, resuming idle RPM when a gear is selected, and goes off when the clutch's release. Of course the Start Stop system can also be switch On/Off with a touch of a button.
Coupled along these new energy saving systems, is the new Modular Efficiency Platform, this feeds the driver with information such as a gear-change indicator to optimize consumption, and also constantly analyzes electricity flow within the vehicle, be it the air conditioning or rear screen defroster, then it translates these information back into energy consumption figures to help drivers save fuel. By providing better information, drivers could even safe up to 1 liter per 100km, driving it for a standard 25,000 - 35,000 km a year, that translates to considerable fuel saving.Putting the engine's power to the tarmacs smoothly would of course be the 7-Speed S-Tronic's job (VW's DSG gearbox), which sports two sets of clutch providing lightning fast gear shifts. Of course performance was also enhanced with the 2.0TFSi engine's turbo charger, with variable exhausts vanes. The moment acceleration is required, as the driver floors the pedal, the blades of the turning fins changes their profiles, turning into flatter blades allowning the fins to spool faster.
Besides advancement in engine technology, the Audi Sportback was build to a different standard, using high strength steel, a material that could literally hang 10 tons of weight just with a 3cm x 0.02 inch thick cut out. This high strength steel would of course serves as the main protection for interior passengers in the event of a collision.So? Highly desirable? Definitely. Let's wait for the higher performance S-RS models. If they do produce them. Check out the gallery
