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By
EWAN KENNEDY
18 February 2008
The styling of the new Audi S5, the German marque’s first
foray into a the full-on sporting coupe segment, follows cues
first seen in the Audi Nuvolari concept car shown at the 2003
Geneva Motor Show. There are also hints to the shape of the Audi
R8 supercar, and even some clues to the smaller Audi TT coupe.
The Audi is long, low and aggressive and makes a real statement
on the move. Audi S5 single-frame grille has vertical chromed
inlays and is painted in platinum grey. Our test car for the past
week was done in brilliant red that was nicely set off by plenty
of aluminium highlights and attracted a lot of attention both on
the road and in carparks.
The interior of the S5 is elegant and sporting and takes a
further step forward in interior design from a company already
recognised as a leader in in-cabin ambiance. However, the
instrument area is very much aimed at the driver, so the front
passenger may feel a little left out of the picture.
The front sports seats are comfortable and supportive and were
trimmed in a quality white leather in ‘our’ car. This sports
coupe comes close to being a genuine four-seater if those in the
front are willing to give up some of their space. Access to the
rear seat, which is setup purely for two people, is made easier by
switches in the front seatbacks that power them forward.
Luggage space is most impressive; there are many sedans and
hatches out there that provide less room than this Audi coupe. A
decent sized ‘ski’ hatch in the centre of the rear seatback
permits long loads to be carried. These can be enclosed in a
special bag to keep moisture and dirt from getting onto the seat
and boot trim.
The S5 uses Audi's new platform, and the engine is now mounted
further back than in previous cars to provide better balance. It
uses Audi's all-wheel drive quattro system for superior traction
in hard driving conditions, as well as on roads made wet by rain.
On the open road S5 is well balanced, though there's still a
trace of understeer at times, even at speeds below extreme. It
responds quickly to throttle and steering inputs and makes all the
right noises from the engine and exhaust.
The S5 can be a little awkward to drive in and around the city
at slow speeds because of some shunting in the gearbox. Perhaps a
trait that’s not unexpected given the full-on sporting nature of
the beast.
The new platform is also to be used in the upcoming
next-generation Audi A4, a car that’s eagerly awaited by Audi
enthusiasts who are forced to admit that their current cars can
sometimes understeer more than they like.
Ride comfort in the S5 is good for a car in this class and only
bad bumps on rough backroads ever gave it any hassles. There's
some coarse-chip rumble, but we’ve heard a lot worse from other
Euro cars.
Audi S5 is powered by a 4.2-litre V8 engine that generates 260
kW of at a high-revving 7000 rpm, a big number for a V8 and one
that required some diligent engineering to make it possible. Peak
torque is an impressive 440Nm at only 3500 revs, but the engine is
tractable from ridiculously low speeds and is happy to wander
along with as few as 1200 rpm on the tacho.
As it’s aimed at the sporting driver, Audi's new S5 is currently
available only with a six-speed manual gearbox. An automatic will
be introduced midway through 2008.
Despite its power this is a high-efficiency engine and can give
fuel consumption in the nine to ten litres per hundred kilometres
range if used carefully on country runs or motorways. This figure
will rise to about 11 to 14 litres per hundred kilometres if used
hard and/or for heavy-duty commuting.
Audi has taken the interesting move of introducing the sports
versions of its new coupe first. A smart attack, come to think of
it. Other models in the range will carry a designation of Audi A5
and will be offered in a range of engines and transmissions.
Turbo-diesels are on offer in Europe, but may not come to this
country. Though, given Audi's success with diesel-powered racing
cars at the last two Le Mans 24-hour events, these clean
performance engines may well make an impact in Australia one day.
This is a magnificent German machine and at a not unreasonable
price of $131,900 could make quite a name for itself in Australia.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
A5 3.2 FSI 3.2-litre two-door hatch - $91,900
S5 4.2 FSI 3.2-litre two-door hatch - $131,900
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in both models
Air Conditioning: Standard in both models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in both models
CD Player: Standard in both models
Central Locking: Standard in both models
Cruise Control: Standard in both models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in both models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in both models
Stability Control: Standard in both models
Traction Control: Standard in both models
SPECIFICATIONS (Audi S5 4.2 FSI 4.2-litre two-door coupe)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 4.163 litres
Configuration: V8
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 11.0:1
Bore/Stroke: 84.5 x 92.8 mm
Maximum Power: 260 kW @ 7000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 440 Nm @ 3500 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: All-wheel drive
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Not offered
Final Drive Ratio: 3.889:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4635 mm
Wheelbase: 2751 mm
Width: 1854 mm
Height: 1369 mm
Turning Circle: 11.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1630 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 63 litres
Towing Ability: 750 kg (2100 kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Five-link, upper and lower wishbones, anti-roll
bar
Rear Suspension: Independent, trapezoidal-link, resiliently
mounted subframe, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 5.1 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 13.4 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 98RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 12.4 L/100km
STANDARD WARRANTY
Three years/unlimited km
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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