Audi is presenting a new vehicle concept - the Audi A5 Sportback. The five-door model with the long, flowing rear end unites the best of various vehicle genres: the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon. The Sportback joins the Audi A5 Coupé and Cabriolet as the third member of the Audi A5 model family.
The
Audi A5 Sportback will be rolling into
Audi dealerships in September 2009 featuring an emotion-packed design, high everyday practicality, a sporty character and engines that are as efficient as they are powerful. Sales have already begun, with prices starting at 33,650 euros. A further, specially-priced model to follow in 2010 will make the
Audi A5 Sportback the entry-level model in the A5 model series.
Audi, the inventor of the Avant, is setting new trends in design with the Audi A5 Sportback. The five-door coupe is defined by elegant lines. It is 36 millimeters (1.42 in) lower than the Audi A4 Sedan; with its short front overhang, long wheelbase, wide track and the four frameless doors with their slender window lines, it is the very picture of sporty elegance.
The interior is spacious, offering uncompromising comfort in all four seats. The large luggage compartment hatch is harmoniously integrated into the long, tapered tail end with the flat C pillars; the spoiler lip underscores the tension-filled character. The luggage compartment volume of 480 liters (16.95 cu ft) nearly matches that of the
Audi A4 Avant and increases to 980 liters (34.61 cu ft) with the rear seats folded down.
The Audi A5 Sportback follows the consistent path of innovative technologies at Audi when it comes to the drivetrain. All of the engines are highly-efficient direct injection models - TDI for the cultivated diesels, FSI for the gasoline engines - and all comply with the Euro 5 emissions standard.
All models are equipped with a recuperation system that recovers energy during braking and deceleration and stores it temporarily in the battery.
Audi is initially offering three gasoline and three
TDI engines, with three more engines to follow by mid-2010. The gasoline engines - the two-liter
TFSI with 132 kW (180 hp) or 155 kW (211 hp) and the 3.2-liter
V6 with 195 kW (265 hp) - are equipped with the
Audi valvelift system for variable control of valvelift. The intelligent technology boosts performance while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption.
The 2.0 TDI produces 125 kW (170 hp) and consumes on average a frugal 5.2 liters of fuel per 100 km (45.23 US mpg). It is coupled with the start-stop system, which further enhances fuel efficiency in city traffic. The 140 kW (190 hp) 2.7-liter TDI offers even more power. The 3.0 TDI, which also features the S tronic, puts out an impressive 176 kW (240 hp).
Like the three gasoline engines, the top diesel engine delivers its power to the
quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The two most powerful engines are optionally available with the newly developed sport
differential, which variably distributes power between the rear wheels and provides even greater dynamics, driving pleasure and safety. The two
TDI models with front-wheel drive - the 2.0
TDI and 2.7
TDI - and the 2.0
TFSI (132 kW / 180 hp) benefit from another
Audi innovation: The
ESP stabilization program with electronic front
differential lock increases agility and prevents understeer.
Audi A5 Sportback buyers can choose from a palette of 15 paint colors. The solid colors are called Ibis White, Brilliant Black and Brilliant Red. The effect finishes go by the names Ice Silver, Amethyst Gray, Dakar Beige, Sphere Blue, Condor Gray, Aruba Blue, Lava Gray, Phantom Black, Garnet Red, Deep Green, Deep Sea Blue and Meteor Gray.
For many Audi customers, the design is a prominent factor, and often the primary factor, in the buying decision. This will certainly also be the case with the Audi A5 Sportback. Its future buyers are expected to be somewhat younger than the customers for the A4 Sedan and Avant. They enjoy a high standard of living, are oriented toward sport, prestige and lifestyle, and are often self-employed in creative professions. They are technology enthusiasts and appreciate new intelligent concepts.
Even more dynamic: the new sport differential
The dynamics of the Audi A5 Sportback with quattro drive can be further enhanced by an optional technology - the new sport differential available for the 3.0 TDI quattro and the 3.2 FSI quattro.
The sport
differential distributes the drive power in continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels. When steering into or accelerating in a curve, the majority of the torque is sent to the outside wheel, literally pushing the car into the curve. The sport
differential nips any tendency toward oversteer or understeer in the bud. With a short reaction time of under 100 milliseconds, it is even faster than the
ESP stabilization program; it reacts just as effectively while coasting as it does under load.
The sport differential is a new type of rear-axle differential. A superposition gear comprising three gear wheels was added to both the left and right sides of the classic differential; it rotates ten percent faster than the drive shaft. A multi-plate clutch actuated by an electrohydraulic actuator provides the power connection between the shaft and the superposition gear.
When the clutch closes, it forces the higher speed of the superimposed gear onto one of the wheels. The additional torque is drawn off of the opposite wheel via the differential. In this way nearly all of the torque can be directed to one wheel. The maximum difference between the wheels is 1,800 Nm (1,327 lb-ft).
The secret to the effectiveness and fast reaction speed of the system lies in the proprietary Audi management software. The controller quickly recalculates the ideal distribution of the forces for each driving situation as a function of the steering angle, yaw angle, lateral acceleration, speed and other information.
The optional sport differential is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamic control system; its function can be adapted to the wishes of the driver. The "comfort" mode is primarily aligned to the demands of driving safety and stability, providing heavy damping of load changes. The "auto" mode is the balanced setting, and in "dynamic" mode the system is particularly sporty, ensuring that load changes are both agile and easily controlled.
Chassis
The Sportback draws on all of the high-end skills of the Audi A5 series for the chassis as well. The five-door coupe shines with sporty handling, superior stability and good ride comfort. The Audi A5 Sportback turns in quickly and willingly, takes all manner of corners at high speed and with great stability, finding good traction at the exit point of the curve.
There are a number of good reasons for these strong points. Among the most important are the high body stiffness and the balanced distribution of axle load. As in the entire A5 series, the front axle is moved far to the front of the Sportback as well. This was made possible by the unusual arrangement of the powertrain components. The
differential, which determines the position of the axis, is mounted directly behind the longitudinally installed engine and thus in front of the
clutch or torque converter. The battery was moved to the luggage compartment for better balance.
A lot of technology went into the chassis itself. All major components of the front and rear suspensions are made of aluminum, which greatly reduces the unsprung masses. The front wheels are mounted on a five-link axle that can absorb separately the longitudinal and lateral forces acting upon it. Bearings are stiff in the lateral direction for sporty precision and soft and supple in the longitudinal direction.
The front axle and the engine are fastened to an auxiliary frame that is rigidly bolted to the front section of the car. The high rigidity facilitates the spontaneous generation of steering force. The steering box, mounted low and far forward, transmits the steering commands directly to the wheels.
Precise and efficient: the steering
The rack-and-pinion steering with its 16.1:1 ratio is sporty and direct. It connects the driver with the road and provides precise and finely differentiated feedback. The system's regulated vane pump only provides as much hydraulic energy as is needed at the moment. The speed-sensitive servotronic is standard with the 2.0 TFSI with 155 kW (211 hp) and the V6.
The
Audi A5 Sportback has a self-tracking, trapezoidal link rear suspension. It is also mounted on an auxiliary frame and is very compact in the interest of luggage compartment space. The rear suspension is identical in the front-wheel-drive and
quattro versions. The springs and shock absorbers - the latter with small supplemental stop springs - are mounted separately on the wheel carriers, making it possible to combine high ride comfort with sporty precision.
Audi will install a sport suspension upon request. Three variants are available - a tauter setup with or without controlled dampers and an S line sports suspension that lowers the body by 10 millimeters (0.39 in).
The Audi A5 Sportback has large, powerful brakes that can be very precisely metered. The 2.0 TDI and the 2.0 TFSI with 132 kW (180 hp) have 314 millimeter (12.36 in) discs up front and 300 millimeter (11.81 in) discs at the rear. The front discs are particularly effective at quickly dissipating the heat generated during braking: The two friction rings are connected by hundreds of small metal cubes through which a high volume of cooling air can flow in a very short period of time.
The models with the V6 engines and the 2.0 TFSI with 155 kW (211 hp) feature front discs measuring 320 millimeters (12.6 in) in diameter. The calipers are made of a composite material. The piston housing is made of aluminum and dissipates heat very well. The lightweight brake calipers are extremely stiff; the discs and cover plates are also very light.
The Audi A5 Sportback rolls standard on 7.5 J x 17 six-spoke, forged alloy wheels shod with 225/50 tires. Two additional 17-inch wheels, four 18-inch wheels, one of which in an Audi A5 Sportback-specific design, and three 19-inch wheels are available as options. The top of the line is a 9 J x 20, seven twin-spoke cast wheel shod with 265/30 tires. All versions of the Audi A5 Sportback are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring display.
The front-wheel-drive versions of the Sportback come standard with a new technology from Audi: The latest generation of the highly effective ESP stabilization program from the Audi A5 Coupé and Cabriolet now includes a new electronic differential lock. The system works like a mechanical locking differential. It makes the already agile handling more neutral by preventing understeer and improving traction. The new function improves the driving dynamics when driving through curves under load and on both wet and dry road surfaces. The driver benefits from a more instantaneous and precise steering reaction and greater track stability. Traction in corners is also improved. The car can be steered with less steering effort.
These advantages are achieved with no additional components and thus no added weight, instead being provided by sophisticated software in the ESP. As soon as the electronics detect that the load on the inside wheel of the powered front axle is reduced too much and the wheel loses traction, it initiates brief, controlled braking. This redirects the excess torque to the outside wheel, which due to the greater dynamic wheel load is capable of delivering more power to the road.
This shifting of the wheel torques generates a yawing moment around the vertical axis and the Audi A5 Sportback turns ever so slightly - and for the driver almost imperceptibly - into the radius. And it also accelerates out of tight curves with absolutely no tire slip, exactly as if it were on rails. Road behavior is even more precise, agile, stable and neutral, further enhancing the subjective confidence in the car. The new system provides an additional degree of safety even when driven with restraint.
High-end technology: Audi drive select
Audi A5 Sportback customers can also order an optional Audi high-end technology that is unmatched by the competition - the Audi drive select dynamic control system. It enables the driver to access all of the technical components relevant to driving dynamics and vary their function by switching between three modes - "comfort," "auto" and "dynamic."
If an MMI navigation system is on board, a fourth mode - "individual" - is available. This mode enables the driver to freely compose his or her own custom settings from a large number of parameters.
Audi drive select influences the engine's throttle response characteristic, the shift points of the seven-speed S tronic and the boost of the servotronic steering. The modular structure of the system means that it needs to be combined with at least one of three other technologies - the sport differential, adaptive shock absorber control or dynamic steering.
The electronic shock absorber control system uses CDC (continuous damping control) shock absorbers. Their electromagnetically actuated valves control the flow of hydraulic fluid between the inner and the outer tubes by opening orifices of different sizes. A large cross-section provides a soft damping characteristic, and a small cross-section provides a taut characteristic. A fast controller continuously analyzes the signals received from 14 sensors and calculates the optimal damping per wheel in extremely short intervals - 1,000 times per second.
The dynamic steering: always the perfect ratio
Dynamic steering is another pioneering technology from Audi. It varies the steering ratio by nearly 100 percent as a function of driving speed and the mode specified by Audi drive select. The heart of the system is a superposition gear integrated into the steering column and driven by an electric motor. Known as a harmonic drive, the low-friction unit is compact and light, free of play in operation, and precise. It can transmit immense amounts of torque and is very efficient.
At low speeds, the system is very direct and boost is also very high, which makes parking extremely easy. At moderate highway speeds, the system becomes less direct and provides less power assist. At top speeds, an indirect steering ratio and low level of power assist facilitate steady tracking.
The dynamic steering works together with the ESP stabilization program to provide sportiness and driving safety. Because it can make steering corrections in less time than the brake system needs to build up pressure at the wheels, it eliminates the need for many braking actions, and driving therefore becomes faster and more fluid. Dynamic steering counters oversteer caused by load changes as well as understeer, and also provides valuable assistance when braking on surfaces with different coefficients of friction.
Equipment and trim
Audi did not design the Audi A5 Sportback as a niche model, but expects solid volumes - a realistic outlook considering the complete package of strong qualities and the very competitive prices. The 2.0 TFSI with 132 kW (180 hp) costs only 33,650 euros, and the 1.8 TFSI with manual transmission to follow in 2010 as the new entry-level model of the Audi A5 family will be even more affordable.
The base version of the Audi A5 Sportback is already generously equipped. It comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, a tire pressure monitoring display, fold-down rear seat backs, an easy-to-use and highly efficient deluxe automatic air conditioning system, a leather sport steering wheel and the chorus audio system including a CD player and eight speakers.
A number of other fine features round out the standard equipment. These include an electromechanical parking brake, six airbags, belt tensioners and force limiters, Isofix child seat preparation, the recuperation system for the recovery of braking energy, fog lights, heated and power-adjustable exterior mirrors, four power windows and an intelligent ignition key that automatically stores service-relevant data.
The 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TFSI with manual transmission come equipped with special technologies to further improve their already high efficiency - a start-stop system that significantly reduces fuel consumption in city traffic, and a driver information system with efficiency program. It includes a gear-change indicator similar to the one found in the other versions with manual transmissions.
A novel electronic differential lock is integrated into the ESP stabilization programs in front-wheel-drive models for even better dynamics and traction.
Models having engines producing at least 140 kW (190 hp) come standard with two more sophisticated technical modules on board: The servotronic steering automatically adapts steering boost to the driving speed, and the xenon plus headlights are combined with LEDs for the daytime running lights and the tail lights.
In addition to this attractive level of standard equipment, Audi also offers a long list of options that bring premium-class luxury to the five-door coupe. Adaptive light supplements the xenon plus headlights with dynamic cornering lights. The high-beam assistant automatically switches between the low and the high beam. The convenience key can now stay in the jacket pocket - the doors are opened by radio and the car is started by pushing a button. The starting assist function adds additional functions to the electomechanical parking brake, and the deluxe automatic air conditioning regulates the temperature in three separate interior zones.
Other interesting options include side airbags in the back, a light and rain sensor, an interior lighting package with discreet lamps, an auxiliary heating system and an alarm system. When it comes to the chassis, the program is complemented by the Audi drive select system, the sport differential for the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system (for the two most powerful V6s), the sport suspension with damper control, and two conventional sport suspensions. Wheels are available in 17, 18, 19 and 20 inch sizes.
Radar and camera: the assistance systems
A whole range of innovative assistance systems make driving even more relaxing, more controlled and safer. The adaptive cruise control with the integrated Audi braking guard uses radar technology to maintain the distance to the car in front. The integrated Audi braking guard provides the driver with advance warning of an impending collision and assists with braking. Audi side assist also uses radar to make lane changes safer. Audi lane assist uses a camera to help the driver stay in the lane. The Audi advanced parking system uses the rear-view camera to display the area behind the car on the onboard monitor.
Audi also offers an entire system of technology modules in the attractive, futuristic field of multimedia technology. The concert radio with CD has a memory card reader for music files and an AUX-in port for connecting an MP3 player. A 6.5-inch color monitor and eight speakers round out the package. The symphony radio adds a six-disc CD changer.
Positioned above the audio systems are the state-of-the art MMI navigation and MMI navigation plus systems. The smaller model, which reads data from a DVD, already includes a color display, a slot for memory cards and voice control. It can be upgraded to include a digital radio receiver, a CD changer, a high-performance Bluetooth link for cell phones and an interface for the full integration of an iPod. A center-mounted color display in the instrument panel is also available here.
The top-of-the-line MMI navigation plus is a high-tech media center. The high-resolution, seven-inch color monitor presents the map in either a conventional or a topographic view; city models and points of interest are shown in 3D. A 40 GB hard drive stores the map data, the music files and the user's contacts. The voice input system recognizes whole words. The radio module features a multiple tuner, and there is a player for audio and video DVDs that can be controlled very easily via a special joystick function for the MMI control unit.
A number of high-quality expansion modules are also available for the MMI navigation plus, such as an analog/digital TV tuner. The luxury sound system from Bang & Olufsen transforms the Audi A5 Sportback into a rolling concert hall - a 505 watt 10-channel amplifier powering 14 high-performance speakers.
Another high-end option is the Bluetooth car telephone. It uses a radio link to copy the card data from the user's mobile phone if the phone honors the SIM Access Profile standard.
Dynamic look: the S line packages
Audi has put together two S line packages for customers with particularly sporty tastes. The S line sport package combines a tauter suspension setup and lowered body with larger wheels. Interior extras include sport seats covered in cloth and leather, a special leather sport steering wheel, a leather shift lever knob, inlays in brushed aluminum and color-coordinated floor mats. S line badges adorn the fenders, the door sill trims and many interior parts. The special exterior finishes Monza Silver and Misano Red are also available through the S line sport package.
The S line exterior package is also available from Audi as an alternative or in addition to the sport package. Its most important elements are unique bumpers and distinctive features on the side air intakes, on the diffuser and on the tailpipes. Side sill trims painted in the body color and S line badges on the door sill trims and the front fenders round out the program.
Audi A5 Sportback: the prices at launch (Germany)
ABT Sportsline Audi S4
ABOUT US
NEWS
COMPARE CARS
MANUFACTURERS
TECHNOLOGY
TUNING
