Audi's new A5 and S5 leaked

Photos of Audi's upcoming A5 coupé, scheduled to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show, have been leaked from the manufacturer's dedicated micro-site just two weeks before the doors to the show are opened.

The A5 coupé shows how Audi plans to take on the BMW 3 Series coupé and Mercedes-Benz CLK. The elegant and understated design is brimming with characteristic Audi design cues: the front-end styling and headlamps bear a strong resemblance to the Audi TT and the rear of the car indicates an A4-inspired deck lid and evolutionary tail lamps that are more than a little reminiscent of those on the 3 Series. A deep, characterful groove runs the length of the wheelbase, and the wheelarches are flared for a purposeful sporting stance.

The new coupé will be built on Audi's 'B8' architecture, a platform which is likely to be shared with the forthcoming A4 and A6 replacements. According to the photos, Audi's 3-litre turbodiesel powerplant from the A4 and A6 saloon will find a home under the A5's bonnet, but should be pushed further to the rear for better weight distribution.

A range of petrol and diesel four- and six-cylinder engines will be available in the A5, and be accompanied by versions of the V8 powerplant from the RS4 in the S5 and RS5 models. As rival BMW plans to unveil the next generation M3 in Geneva, it's fair to assume that the S5 variation of the coupé will be alongside the A5 on Audi's show stand.

Transmission choices for the new coupé will likely include the six-speed manual and Audi's S tronic gearbox currently on offer in the TT. There is also speculation that the renowned quattro system will drive the wheels on most models, presumably with a rear torque bias.

The interior of the new Audi A5 is familiar, with supportive leather seats, a stitched leather steering wheel and a reworked driver-oriented dash layout. The instrumentation is a variation of the design first seen in the Q7 SUV, while the next-generation telematics - incorporating Audi's MMI system - also features prominently.

Further details will become available when the car launches on March 6th at the Geneva motor show, and we'll be there to share them with you.

Friday February 23