This is the Audi A5 Sportback, a five-do
This is the Audi A5 Sportback, a five-door hatchback version of the A5 coupé. Sound strange? Well, Audi thinks it makes perfect sense, claiming it brings together the style of a coupé, the comfort of a saloon and the practicality of an estate car.
And Audi has chosen to unveil it exactly 100 years since the company was first formed by August Horch, whose company, 'August Horch Automobilwerke', later became Audi. A gathering of some of Germany's most prominent politicians, sport stars and celebrities will assemble in Ingolstadt tonight (Thursday 16th July) and watch as Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs on the amazing new Audi Design grand piano - also getting it's first public outing.
Back to the car, Audi's new niche product will compete with the all-new BMW 5 Series GT in being a premium family car with a twist. It's a four-seater only, although Audi claims it has almost as much rear passenger space as an A4 saloon, despite its sleek profile and lower, coupé-like stance. The boot is sizeable too, at 480 litres. That's only ten litres less than the A4 Avant's, though the estate increases capacity to 1,430 litres with the rear seats down, whereas the Sportback jumps to only 980 litres.
First deliveries in the UK begin in October, with prices starting at £27,140 for a 2.0-litre TDI version with a manual gearbox. The usual range of Audi petrol and diesel engines will be available, though as usual Audi will probably hold the cheaper variants back at first. A hot S5 Sportback is on the cards too and there's even talk of a madcap V8-engined RS version at some point.
In the meantime, buyers can choose from 2.0- and 3.2-litre capacity TFSI petrol engines or 2.0-, 2.7- and 3.0-litre TDI diesel units. Power capacities will therefore range between 178bhp and 237bhp, with a seven-speed S-tronic dual clutch automatic featuring on higher-powered diesels.
This is the Audi A5 Sportback, a five-do pictures
