The A5 Sportback is an uncanny car. What started life as a four-door sedan (A4) was then turned into a two-door coupe (A5), then the two-door coupe turned into what Audi calls the A5 Sportback. In other words, it’s a four-door sedan with the looks of a coupe. Be that as it may, the second-generation A5 Sportback has one little thing its forebear lacks altogether: it looks much better.
From certain angles, the 2017 Audi A5 Sportback, g-tron, and S5 Sportback hark back to the aesthetically pleasing A7 Sportback. The bland-looking front fascia and uninspired hind are business are usual for Audi. Hexagonal grille, LED lights front and rear, the same old thing in a different package. Underneath the skin, the big news is that the car boasts 2,824 mm of wheelbase, which is 60 mm more than before, equaling to more rear legroom.
In the case of the 2017 Audi A5 Sportback, this model will start rolling into European showrooms early next year, starting from €37,800. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that engine options mirror that of the regular A5. Hence, the engine range consists of the A5 Sportback g-tron’s 2.0-liter TFSI with 167 HP / 270 Nm, continues with the 2.0 TFSI with 187 HP / 320 Nm or 248 HP / 370 Nm, the 2.0-liter TDI and TDI ultra with 187 HP / 400 Nm, as well as the 3.0-liter TDI with 214 HP / 400 Nm or 281 HP / 620 Nm of get-up-and-go.
The A5 Sportback lineup can be had with FWD, quattro AWD, a six-speed stick shift, a seven-speed dual-clutch, and an eight-speed slushbox. The A5 Sportback also claims a best-in-segment accolade for lightness (1,470 kg / 3,240 lbs). Although heavier, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe prides itself with a trunk that has same capacity as the A5 Sportback: 480L / 17 CuFT.
Until the RS5 Sportback comes out to play ball, the S5 Sportback (€62,500) will have to suffice with a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) stint of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The S5 Sportback is motivated by a six-cylinder turbo powerplant with 349 HP and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) on tap.
In the United States, the all-new Audi A5 Sportback and S5 Sportback are due to set foot on American soil at the midway point of calendar year 2017.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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