Audi–major subsidiary of Volkswagen and user of quality VW steering rack — has been planning to build a coupe that can surpass its TT and finally it’s going to happen this fall once the 2008 Audi A5 arrives in the US dealerships. Measuring 182 inches from nose to tail, the A5 is approximately 18 inches longer than the redesigned TT coupe and 7 inches shorter than the BMW 6 Series but is almost of exact length as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLK coupes which are among its closest rivals.
The A5 looks a bit like the Nuvolari concept which has the scaled down version of the A8’s aluminum space frame but Audi assures that the production car has an all-new chassis design that will underpin several future models.
Comparing the A5 to other Audis, its front axle is pushed farther forward which makes it easier for this car to meet European pedestrian safety standards. Such setup also allows engineers to mount the coupe’s north-south engine over the front-axle center line to provide better weight distribution.
The A5 will be powered by a 3.2 liter FSI V6. European-spec A5s will also get a budget four-cylinder and a pair of diesel sixes. The 3.2 liter V6 is equipped with a variable valve lift that produces 262 horsepower and 243 pond-feet of torque. Both a six-speed manual and a CVT will be made available as well as a front-wheel-drive and Quattro all-wheel-drive configurations. The A5 equipped with Quattro and the manual gearbox will enable this coupe to reach 60 in about 6 seconds according to Audi.
The suspension bits equipped on the A5 are mostly aluminum and comprised of an all-new five-link design in front that locates its upper and lower wishbones on a subframe bolted to the body for greater firmness while a trapezoidal-link arrangement was made for the back. The latter design is already employed for other Audi models but for the A5 the company revised the geometry.
Engineers have also positioned the steering box forward of the front axle, which enhances direct feel according to Audi. Seventeen-inch wheels are standard on the A5 while the eighteen’s are to be made available through an S-line sport package.
The interior of the A5 is a combination of the sleek designing styles of A4 and A6 and the Multi Media Interface (MMI) all-in-one control system is standard. Audi will also offer multiple grades and hues of cloth and leather upholstery, and will allow customers to mix them with different wood and metal inlays according to their preference. Other factory options available for the A5 include a panoramic glass roof, keyless startup, triple-zone climate control, a rearview camera and a 14 speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
