Audi Expands A5 Range with 134HP and 161HP TDIe Diesel Engines in Europe

These days, downsizing doesn't occur only to engine displacement but also to engine outputs. Case in point, the introduction of two new entry-level diesel engines for Audi's A5 Sportback and A5 Coupe models.

The new 136PS (134bhp) and 163PS (161bhp) 2.0-liter TDIe diesels will be offered in parallel to the existing 143PS (141bhp) and 177PS (175bhp) 2.0-liter TDI units, the difference being that the 'e' engines are less powerful but more fuel-efficient.

The 2.0-litre TDIe 163PS is available on both the A5 models, linked exclusively to six-speed manual transmission.

Read more »

Senner Tuning Beefs up the Audi S5 Sportback

The crew over at Senner Tuning have pointed their guns on the pre-facelift Audi S5 Sportback with the release of a new package that aims to improve both the performance and styling aspects of Ingolstadt's liftback model.

Underhood, the S5's 3.0-liter TSI V6 gains a software optimization, a new air filter and a custom exhaust system, all of which do their part to lift output from 333HP and 440Nm to 445-horses and 530Nm (390.9 lb-ft) of peak torque.

Read more »

Audi Reboots its 1.8-liter TFSI Engine

Last month, Audi divulged the facelifted versions of its A5 range, which include the Coupe, Convertible and Sportback models.

While the cosmetic changes were minor, the Ingolstadt-based company introduced a new 1.8-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine that will power the entry-level A5 models. Now, Audi decided to share the full details of its new, more powerful and at the same time more frugal gasoline unit.

Read more »

2012 Audi S5 Range Updated, Coupe Drops 4.2 V8 in Favor of Supercharged V6

Along with the introduction of the regular versions of its refreshed A5 series, Audi also presented the updated S5 range. The most important change concerns the S5 Coupe in which the outgoing model’s naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine with 354-horses and 440Nm (324.5 lb-ft) is replaced with the same 3.0-liter supercharged V6 found in the Sportback and Convertible S5s. Read more »

2012 Audi A5 Coupe, Convertible and Sportback Receive a Mild Facelift

Audi today unveiled the facelifted versions of its A5 range which includes the Coupe, the Sportback and Cabriolet models. The company’s goal was to freshen up the A5’s exterior looks and to improve both their driving dynamics and fuel economy.

The 2012 Audi A5 range is available exclusively with direct injection engines featuring forced induction and stop-start and energy regeneration system as standard. As a result, Audi says fuel consumption has been decreased across the range by 11% on average and CO2 emissions by as much as 22%.

Read more »

SCOOP: New BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo Shows its Chic Tail

Over the past year, we brought you plenty of spy shots and videos of the next generation of the 3-Series sedan, codenamed F30, but now our spy photographers caught the newest addition to the family of BMW’s bread and butter model, the Gran Turismo.

When it goes on sale towards the end of 2012 or early 2013, the new 3 GT will join the existing body styles of the 3-Series, which include the four-door sedan, the two-door coupe, the five-door station wagon and the hardtop convertible, offering BMW a direct rival to the Audi A5 Sportback.

Read more »

SEAT Palma: Design Proposal for a Spanish Audi A5 Sportback

Not long ago, we shared the news about some allegedly leaked sketches for numerous future SEAT cars -that may or may not be official- including some that showed a design proposal for an Audi A5 Sportback-like hatch. Now, a member of the Hungarian site 'Hvtm' has taken an A5 Sportback and turned it into a SEAT by restyling the car's nose and rear end as well as the profile. Check out both pictures after the jump and tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Read more »

Sportback from the Past : The Audi A7's Predecessor, the 1977 100 C2 Avant

The just introduced A7 Sportback and its more compact sibling, the A5 Sportback, aren't the first fastback, liftback, hatchback, five-door coupe or whatever else you'd like to call cars with four doors and a rear hatch, from Audi.

The automaker from Ingolstadt toyed around with the idea of a fastback model in the upper-medium segment more than 30 years ago with the presentation of a hatchback version of the A6's predecessor, the 100, carrying the Avant nameplate.

That was before Audi began started using the Avant moniker for its Station Wagon models beginning with the third generation of the 100 in 1982.

Read more »

Audi S5 Sportback Grand Prix with 375HP by Senner Tuning

The Grand Prix is Senner Tuning's take on the new Audi S5 Sportback. Starting with the engine, the German company brings output from the standard 3.0-liter TSI's 333 horsepower and 440Nm /325 lb-ft of torque to 375HP and 495Nm / 365 lb-ft. The power boost comes from a reconfigured ECU, the addition of a performance air filter as well as a custom sport exhaust system with four tail pipes.

Read more »

ABT Powers Up and Stylizes New Audi A5 Sportback

ABT Sporstline has built its reputation on modifying just about anything on four wheels that comes out of the VW Group's plants. Their newest proposal concerns the Audi A5 Sportback which has been modified with a variety of aesthetic and performance goodies.

The tuner jazzes up the five door coupe's appearance with numerous aero add-ons, including a new front bumper, ABT's trademark grille, front fender air-vents and a rear apron with a diffuser shrouding chrome exhaust tips.

Customers can choose between 18-inch and 20-inch alloy rims which are available in two different designs.

For the time being, ABT offers power kits only for the A5 Sportback with the 2.0 TSI petrol and the 3.0 TDI diesel engines.

After the tuner gets its way with the powerplants, the entry-level 2.0 TSI's output is boosted from 180HP to a hardy 275HP while the 3.0-liter V6 diesel can be lifted from 240HP to either 282HP or 310HP. The most powerful version of the V6 diesel hits the 100km/h (62mph) mark in 5.8 seconds.

The tuner finishes off the package with a sport suspension and a high-performance braking system with either 345 mm or 380 mm disks and eight piston calipers.

Hofele Design's R8-Inspired Aero Kits for Audi A5 Coupe, Cabrio and Sportback

Ever since the R8 broke cover, Audi tuners have been churning out numerous aero kits that try to imitate the styling of the mid-engined sports car for the German firm's more mainstream models. The latest package of the sort to capture our attention comes from Germany's Hofele Design and it's available for the A5 Coupe, Convertible and even for the new Sportback.

The common denominator for all three A5 models is the R8-look front bumper with the characteristic air vents underneath the headlamps.

Fortunately or unfortunately - we'll let you decide, that's about all the R8-love that Hofele Design has to offer the A5 Sportback.

However, for the full R8 effect, A5 Coupe and Convertible owners can match the new front bumper with a pair of R8-style side blades and a new rear bumper with faux air-outlets and an integrated diffuser that inspired from the V10-powered version of Audi's supercar.

Hofele Design rounds off the package with a boot lid spoiler (A5 Coupe only), air-intakes for the front fenders, side skirts and a wide choice of alloy wheel designs.

VIDEO: Audi's Chief Designer Draws the new A5 Sportback

In addition to the cryptic shots and preliminary specifications of the A5 Sportback, Audi also published a video with the firm's Chief designer, Wolfgang Egger, drawing a sketch and explaining a few details on the car's styling. In Audi's own words, the A5 Sportback is "as elegant as a coupe and as practical as an Avant" but that's something we'll need to see for ourselves. Follow the jump to check out the video and once you're finished, click here to read our previous post on Audi's so-called five door coupe.

Audi A5 Sportback: First Official Photos and Details, Including Price - Sales Start this Fall

The brand with the four rings has released the first official teaser shots along with initial information that includes details on the entry prices and the engine range of its much anticipated A5 Sportback. The third variant of the A5 series after the Coupe and Convertible models is a sleek five-door coupe with a low-slung roofline and a large hatchback that draws its inspiration from the Sportback concept study revealed in Detroit earlier this year. The new A5 Sportback will be available with an extended range of turbocharged and naturally aspirated gasoline engines as well as diesel units.

While Audi is holding back on the full blown photos of the car, the German firm tried to give us a picture of the A5 Sportback by comparing the five-door coupe's exterior dimensions to the A4 Sedan. According to the automaker, the A5 fastback (doesn't that sound more correct?) is 36 mm or 1.42 inches lower than the A4 Sedan while it also features shorter overhangs at the front and rear as well as a 2mm longer wheelbase of 2,810 mm (9.22 feet).

Notable styling traits include the frameless doors and of course the fact that unlike other sport sedans of the same philosophy like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the VW Passat CC, the A5 Sportback features a somewhat more practical lift-gate instead of the traditional trunk. Audi claims that the Sportback's baggage volume of 480 liters (17.0 cubic feet) nearly equals that of the A4 Avant while there's also the option of folding the rear seats down, in which case, the volume increases to 980 liters or 34.6 cubic feet.

There are no teaser photos of the interior but don't expect something radically different from the A4 and A5 models. The premium five-door coupe is a pure four-seater with Audi claiming that it will offer comparable headroom and legroom space with the A4 Sedan.

The initial engine range of the A5 Sportback will consist of two gasoline and three diesel engines. The two gasoline units, the 2.0-liter TFSI with an output of 211HP and 350 Nm or 258 lb-ft of torque and the 3.2-liter V6 generating 265HP will be combined with Audi's all-wheel drive quattro system.

The diesel lineup will include a 2.0 TDI with 170HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft), a 6-speed manual gearbox and start/stop system, the 2.7-liter TDI with 190HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft), and the three-liter V6 TDI with 240HP and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of maximum torque and quattro all-wheel drive.

The A5 Sportback is set to arrive at Audi's European dealerships in September with an entry price of €36,050 in Germany (or about $50,000 US at today's exchange rates) for the 2.0 TDI version. Audi said that in the middle of 2010 it will add a cheaper model in the mix. The automaker did not disclose any other details but we're guessing that the entry-level model will be powered by either the 160HP 1.8-liter TSI or the 180HP 2.0 TFSI gasoline engines.

Audi Confirms A5 Sportback and new A8 for 2009, Q5 Hybrid also in the Works

During his speech at Audi AG's annual shareholders meeting in Germany, Audi Chairman of the Board, Rupert Stadler, revealed that the automaker is planning to present the next-generation A8 in November and extend its range with the new A5 Sportback sometime in 2009. Furthermore, Stadler confirmed earlier reports that Ingolstadt based company is also working on a hybrid version of the Mercedes GLK rivaling Q5 SUV and that the A1 minicar is due for a 2010 market launch with the Q3 small SUV following in 2011.

This means that unless Audi has another surprise up its sleeves, the four-door coupe derivative of the A5 is most probably the new model that the maker said its preparing to unveil during the celebrative festivities for the firm's 100th anniversary in Germany on July 16.

The A5 Sportback is in essence the production version of the sleek-looking Sportback Concept that was first shown in Detroit in the beginning of the year. Expect to see a familiar Audi engine lineup, including the latest 2.0-liter TSI with 211HP, the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 290HP and a 3.0-liter V6 diesel cranking out 240HP.

"The A4 has attracted the largest share of customers loyal to the Audi brand. And a great number of them want to move further upward while carving out their own unique identity," said Stadler.

"The A5 Sportback is precisely what they're looking for. This vehicle will pose a genuine innovation in the B segment: a revolutionary vehicle concept offering the ideal blend of functionality and aesthetics"

As for the brand new A8 sedan (see the spy shots here), Stadler said claimed that it will be the sportiest model in its segment and that it will redefine people's notions of a luxury car's interior.

"We will also be presenting the next-generation Audi A8 and rest assured, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's going to be a sensation. The A8 remains Audi's flagship: it embodies our understanding of the word "premium"," Stadler told Audi's shareholders.

"The A8 will be the sportiest luxury sedan in its class – and set new standards with regard to interiors. Its precision and build quality are second to none. This model naturally means a great deal to us, because it played a greater role than any other car in the rise of the Audi brand. And we will unveil it to the world in a remarkable fashion in late November."