Audi has done some wild things throughout its 115-year history, and they still haven't come to their senses. The Ingolstadt brand has multiple EVs in the making, and they are not ready to give up on ICE-powered models either, with the low-slung ones getting odd numbers and the even numbers being reserved for the electric establishment.
Case in point, meet the all-new 2025 Audi A5 Sportback. Despite sharing its name with the outgoing five-door liftback that takes on the likes of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, it is actually a four-door sedan that will replace the nine-year-old (how time flies!) B9 generation A4.
It has a similar face with a smaller grille and larger lower air intake, new LED headlights that look like an evolution of its predecessor, flush-mounted door handles, and a familiar back end that likely features a full-width light bar. Designers chose to keep the rear license plate holder in a recess on the (new) trunk lid, and below, we can see dual exhaust tips on the left-hand side.
The wheelbase seems to have about the same length, yet due to the cleverer packaging, the interior should be a bit more spacious, at least for backseat occupants. We also expect it to have a slightly more generous cargo area, albeit nothing too extreme, as you can see. Audi will wrap everything up in premium materials, and as expected, stuff such as the (eco?) leather upholstery will be reserved for the upper specs of the car.
Photo: Baldauf
It should be based on an updated version of the MLB Evo platform, which is the foundation stone of numerous VW Group vehicles. In its current form, it underpins pretty much everything from the A4 to the Q8, as well as the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. Therefore, it is a versatile construction that supports multiple powertrains. We expect most of the lineup to include mild hybrids, with at least one plug-in hybrid option, perhaps derived from the latest Volkswagen Tiguan and Passat.
One thing is certain: the all-new Audi A5 Sportback, which will be joined by the A5 Avant (A4 Avant's successor), will not feature any battery-electric option whatsoever. That role is reserved for the all-new A4, which will be a zero-emission alternative to cars such as the Mercedes EQC. A performance-oriented version of the all-quiet model should be on the cards, and we will certainly see an RS variant of the ICE-powered models when the time comes.
But when is it due? All hints point towards a 2024 unveiling, with the first units of the car likely getting their U.S. visas for the 2025 model year. As a result, we should find out everything about it in a few months.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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