AUDI A5 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

After winning the hearts of the customers in 2007 with the first generation of the A5 and after 9 years of proved success, Audi decided it was time for a new generation.

The timeless design of the A5 along with the great luxury and the comfort features of an A4 made the A5 one of the user’s top choices.

In the standard version, the A5 lacked a bluetooth audio connectivity and a USB port. Safety-wise, it did not offer as much as the competitors did, the coupe offering only a blind-spot monitor. While the competitor’s cars were more expensive than the luxurious 2-door car, they did offer more technology.

Despite the downsides, the A5 was still an attractive car that came with a standard all-wheel-drive and a well designed suspension.

Besides the coupe, Audi also released the convertible version of the A5, a car that was equipped with a power-operated soft top.

The A5 was available with 2 trim levels: the Premium and the Premium Plus.

The base level came with standard 188-inch alloys, automatic headlights, LED running lights, automatic wipers, heated mirrors, a tilt-only sunroof, leather upholstery and other great features.

The Premium Plus added features such as auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry and go and a high quality Bang & Olufsen 14-speaker audio system for the coupe.

Users could add a sport package to the Premium Plus trim level and it consisted of front sport seats, a sport flat-bottomed steering wheel along with the Audi’s Drive Select system (calibrations for the steering, throttle and automatic transmission).

Audi introduced a facelifted version of the A5’s first generation in 2011, showing a sportier look and fixing most of the issues noticed by its customers.

Four years after the model’s introduction in 2007, Audi launched a refreshed version of it. The new version provided not just more power for those looking for that but also better fuel efficiency. In addition, the wide choice of turbo-diesel engines made this sporty-looking coupe an excellent companion for long journeys, although it was mostly suitable for two occupants onboard, even though it was a four-seat vehicle.

The most significant upgrade was noticed at the front fascia. There, the automaker installed a new set of headlights that featured LED daytime running lights inside them, similar to those introduced on the Audi A4 B9 generation. They flanked the single-frame grille surrounded by a chromed trim, extended downward into the apron, and flanked by wide horizontal air intakes. From its profile, the wave-shaped waistline was similar to the one on the non-facelifted version, although it looked sharper. Finally, at the back, the redesigned taillights were available with continuous LED strips that emphasized the car’s sporty character.

Inside, the automaker couldn’t make more room for the rear passengers, but it could improve the ambiance for those seated at the front, and that’s what it did. Firstly, it added higher-quality materials to the center stack and the door cards. Then, it improved the infotainment system, and all grades got an eight-speaker CD radio with an option for an MMI (Man-Machine Interface) unit with an integrated hard drive, a seven-inch display, and a DVD player. In addition, Audi offered Bluetooth connectivity and integrated Google POI search, Google Earth images, and a WLAN hot-spot. For the safety package, the refreshed A5 has adaptive cruise control with an emergency stop feature, which, below 30 kph (19 MPH), could apply maximum brakes that could bring the vehicle to a halt to avoid collision. The comfort for the front occupants didn’t change, though. Audi installed bolstered seats, with an option for sports seats depending on the engine version, cloth or leather upholstery, and heating functions. In the back, on the other hand, there was hardly room for two passengers due to the limited legroom and headroom.

Under the hood, Audi installed a wide choice of engines, either gasoline or diesel, ranging between 170 PS (168 HP) and 272 PS (268 HP) paired with either manual or automatic transmissions. For selected versions, the four-rings brand added the quattro all-wheel drive system, while others were fitted as standard with it. One of the biggest complaints about the car was the weight distribution, so the automaker tried to solve the problem by improving the suspension and especially re-calibrating the rear dampers. Last but not least, the automaker replaced the formerly used servo-assisted power steering and introduced an electromechanical system for the facelifted version of the A5’s first generation.

If you are familiar with the Audi Nuvolari Quattro that was revealed as a concept car back in 2003, then you should know that the new A5 had borrowed many elements from it.

The 2008 Audi A5 was a true sports coupe and this could be observed by solely looking at the exterior design, not to mention the powerful engines that drove it.

The A5 came with more engine options: a FSI and a V6 TDI. The FSI was a 3.2-liter powerplant that developed 265 hp and a great torque of 330 Nm. The TDI versions were a 3.2-liter developing 240 hp and a 2.7-liter V6 with 190 hp.

The engines were mated to a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission. Drivers also had paddle shifters mounted on the back of the steering wheel, just in case they wanted to manually control the automatic transmission.

The A5 was available with both front-wheel-drive and their quattro driving system.

Recognised for the great styling, the Audi’s interior was beautifully designed and featured lots of options: aluminum inserts and black headliner that came with the S-line trim package, a big and stylish sunroof that only tilted, a Bang & Olufsen audio system delivering a great acoustic experience and many others.

While such powerful engines should be heard while inside, the A5’s cabin was incredibly quiet.

The base model of the A5 had a price of around $41,200, while the most equipped model could easily get to around $52.000.