Not wanting to be left out of the recent trend of cramming coupé, saloon and estate values into one car, Audi has released some information regarding its upcoming A5 Sportback.By Gareth Dean
Audi describes the upcoming A5 Sportback as being “as emotional and elegant as a coupé, as comfortable as a sedan, and as practical as an Avant [Station Wagon]”. This amalgam of virtues sounds very similar to the brief that BMW has already given with its 5 Series GT, which looks like the newcomer’s most likely rival.
Then only images Audi has released show a smidgen of the rear section (the other images are renderings) and a designer’s sketch that shows what appears to be an elongated A5 with an additional set of doors. According to Audi, the Sportback will feature a tapering roofline, about 36 mm lower than that of the A4 saloon, leading to a large hatch. The load bay will serve up 480 dm³ of load space, growing to 980 dm³ with the rear seats tumbled. Other design touches include frameless doors and “dynamic window styling”.
In typical Audi fashion, the Sportback will be launched with a choice of no less than 5 engines – two petrols and a trio of turbodiesels. The VW Group’s 2,0-litre TFSI petrol unit will make an appearance with 155 kW and 350 N.m of torque. The halo petrol model will feature a 3,2-litre V6 unit with 195 on tap. Both models will feature the company’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.
The diesel range kicks off with a 2,0-litre TDI unit developing 125 kW and 350 N.m of torque. The mid-range oil-burner is a 2,7-litre TDI with 140 kW and 400 N.m, while the range topping diesel model will utilise a 3,0-litre V6 TDI unit with 176 kW and a stump-pulling 500 N.m of torque.
The A5 Sportback will also usher in a newly developed ESP system with an electronic differential lock on the front axle that Audi claims will aid dynamic handling without compromising steering characteristics. Other technological; features destined for this model include Audi’s drive select system; which alters damper, S-tronic transmission shift patterns and throttle response in accordance with three driver-selectable presets, adaptive shock absorbers, and dynamic steering with continuously variable assistance.
We’ll get a better look at this model closer to its launch in September.