What's Wrong With This Picture: A5 Is Alive Edition

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

The A5 is a crucial element of Audi’s fashion-nugget appeal, and these things have to move with the times lest the times move them. Post-update, the A5 now looks far more like its smallest (and to be fair, its newest) sibling, the A1… at least around the all-important headlights. The big news under the skin is that the old V8 has left the building, as the S5 will now be powered by the S4’s supercharged 3 liter V6. There’s also a new electro-mechanical steering system, active brake leveling, a new middle diff on AWD models and a newly-available rear “sport differential.” It’s not yet clear how many of these upgrades and options the US market will be offered (here’s one hint: we won’t get the slick four-door “Sportback” version you see in the gallery), but really, with a car like this don’t the pictures say everything? I’m not saying the A5 is a car people buy solely for its looks, but… oh, who am I kidding?






Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Autobahner44 Autobahner44 on Jul 13, 2011

    Glad I went with the 2011 A5, and didn't wait for the 2012. The marketing reasons for the facelift are understandable, but they've just taken D'Silva's masterpiece and popped an A1 (or new A3, as shown in Geneva) nose on it. Not making it any better, just different... I think the value of mine just increased.

  • DrivnEZ DrivnEZ on Jul 13, 2011

    My heart skipped a beat when I saw photo A5facelift6. The white convertible is TDI powered. I bet THAT's not coming to the States. Dez

  • Bd2 Another excellent article Murilee, I have always admired the engineering, quality and styling of these vehicles and credit their inspiration with the legendary Hyundai Tiburon which can fetch low six figures these days at private auctions.
  • Ravenuer Looking forward to it!
  • Daniel J I love my mazda 6. It's getting harder and harder to drive it around where I live as municipalities fail to repair roads. SUVs are just easier to drive with all of the potholes.
  • 1995 SC On the plus side, I found a sedan I want to buy
  • Teddyc73 As I asked earlier under another article, when did "segment" or "class" become "space"? Does using that term make one feel more sophisticated? If GM's products in other segments...I mean "space" is more profitable then sedans then why shouldn't they discontinue it.
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