First Drive2008 Audi A5, S5Wienerschnitzel Alfredo*Audi claims the new A5 and S5 are the 'most Italian' cars it has ever built. This may seem like an odd claim for a company known for its pursuit of German engineering perfection, but Audi's new head of design is none other than Walter de'Silva, a born and bred Italian and the man responsible for these cars. So it's no surprise that Audi would pick the northern Italian city of Verona (the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet) to debut its newest GT. What is odd is that Audi has decided to launch two versions of a car-one 'normal', the other 'sporty'-at the same time.
Both cars' interiors show typical Audi brilliance and efficiency. Anyone familiar with the marque will quickly feel at home, but will also notice a sportier edge. The instrument cluster and MMI display have been combined into one long flowing piece to form a single point of information for the driver. The center console's layout is logical and simple to use-even while driving. The European-spec S5 is equipped with grippy sport seats which hold you in place on hard cornering, but are also highly comfortable over long periods of time. I'm hoping we'll see something similar in North America.
The A5's seats, while nice, do not offer the support I would like. If the A5 S-line option gets you the S5 seats, it would be well worth the money if you can't quite swing an S5.
As it turns out, the roads around Verona are exactly what these cars were built for: twisted mountain paths and wide-open motorways. In the mountains, the S5 really comes alive. Audi has developed a new drivetrain that places the gearbox behind the front differential. The new layout contributes to an extremely well balanced chassis. The car doesn't feel nose-heavy and changes direction quickly and easily. The S5's turn-in is sharp, and the stiff structure makes it predictable all the way through the corner. Understeer is present, but not as prevalent as in previous Audis. The suspension is firm, but nowhere near harsh. It rides like you'd expect of a GT car with sporting intentions.
The A5 has a much more elegant feel. It behaves well at speed, a little more comfortable on rough pavement, but it's not as urgent through the switchbacks. Quattro all-wheel drive puts every single horse to good use, but the front-wheel-drive A5, however, sometimes has problems dealing with all the torque summoned by its 3.2-liter V6. The ESP is constantly working to keep the tires planted, but its doing so frustrates the driver. For the average person, a front-drive Audi may make sense, but for those who really want to explore what the car can do, Quattro is a must.
So once again, romance has bloomed in Verona.
Expect the S5 to be available around November, and word is the A5 will arrive in the first quarter of 2008. Prices haven't been set, but the S5 should be somewhere just north of the current S4.
At this time, pricing is hard to predict because standard trim levels have not yet been determined.
It's Audi's Turn
The New A5 And S5 Put Ingolstadt In Pole Position
nIt's been more than a decade since the first Audi A4 1.8T lived in european car's garage. We distinctly remember the car, a gorgeous silver job with 16-inch alloys, a sport suspension and a Quattro driveline. Gawd, it was good. We also remember wondering if Audi could keep it up, continue producing products on a level with the car that single-handedly put the company back on the automotive map.
A bit later, we were blown away by the TT-without question the most striking design in the last 30 years. And then the S4 came along with its twin turbo engine and we swooned all over again. Even its disappointments were fabulous. Although the Allroad never set any sales records, Audi set the stage for a whole slew of like-designed cars based on its original concept. But Audi wasn't finished, not by a long shot. The A8 and its wondrous aluminum spaceframe chassis redefined what a luxury touring vehicle should be. The S8 cast that concept in stone. The A6 and S6, well, they were in a league of their own. More recently, Audi's R8 has been called everything from a Porsche-killer to a German Lamborghini. The RS4 made such an impression on a few of our editors they have been barred from mentioning it ever again. And then there's the Q7, a new breed of activity vehicle that has left editor Bidrawn so smitten, he refuses to relinquish its keys.
A normal company would relax and savor its hard-earned success. Audi isn't a normal company. Driven by design, powered by leading-edge technology, Audi is the car company to watch in the new millennium. We've been thinking this for the last three years; the new A5 has made us come right out and say it aloud.
It's Audi's turn.