After 30 years at the top of Audi’s line of gas-powered small executive cars, the A4 is being discontinued. The A5 – formerly the preserve of forward-looking coupes – is now Audi’s gas sedan for the world’s middle managers. Why is A4 gone? Well, it isn’t enough dead; Audi’s even-numbered cars will be electric, and its odd-numbered cars will still use supercharged dinosaurs for propulsion.
The new A5 comes with a fresh look, updated technology and a pair of quirky ICE engines that Audi hopes will keep drivers happy regardless of their budget. The base model has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that sends 268 horsepower to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Variable turbine geometry for the turbocharger increases engine efficiency – although fuel economy figures are TBD.
If the ‘S’ is more your style, the S5 has a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that sends 362 hp to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch. It’s the first time Audi has used this transmission in an S5. Its Quattro all-wheel drive system is mated to a Quattro torque vectoring sports differential.
Paired with those more powerful engines, Audi says it has done “extensive detail work on the [A5 and S5’s] suspension and steering.” You’ll be able to specify adaptive dampers that will allow you to adjust your ride to your liking.
In the US, the A5 and S5 will be available in a single sedan body style. Outside the US there will be an Avant wagon version of each, but there are no plans for a coupe or a convertible. It’s the first of many cars to use Audi’s shiny new Premium Combustion Platform architecture, which is designed for front-wheel or all-wheel drive, as well as gas or hybrid powertrains.
The Audi A5 is bigger, but not as attractive as the old A5 Sportback. Up front, a wide grille is flanked by massive vents, and at the back, the tailpipes are all real. The latest-generation Ford Focus might want a word about the nose, though…
With the new exterior comes new exterior technology. In this case, LED daytime running lights illuminate the front, while second-generation OLEDs illuminate the rear. Dynamic lighting effects are available, with up to eight customizable options. In Europe, they’re adjustable on the fly, but US regulations mean you have to make those lighting changes while stationary.
The same goes for the rear of the A5. OLED panels can also be used as a communication light, letting other vehicles know – by means of unsaturated shapes – of upcoming dangers. But, as always, this is not available in the US.
Inside, Audi has raised four key pillars to anchor the A5’s new design. The first is the ‘human centric’ design, which roughly translates to ‘people fit here and can ride safely’. There’s something called the ‘Digital Scene’, consisting of two MMI infotainment screens, which relay vital information to both driver and passenger. Third on the list is ‘Material Driven Design’, a nod to the sense of space and comfort it offers. Finally, there’s Visual Clarity, or the easy-to-use cockpit layout.
Thanks to the longer wheelbase, there is more space inside the A5. And, even with a flattened rear profile, there’s good headroom in the second row. U.S.-spec A5 and S5 models come standard with a tinted panoramic sunroof—there’s no hardtop—while higher trim packages get a six-segment dimming electrochromic sunroof (it’ll be an option on the lower garment).
The infotainment setup on the Digital Stage looks impressive. It is comprised of a standalone and thin OLED MMI screen and uses an 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit display along with a 14.5-inch MMI touchscreen. An optional 10.9-inch screen is also available for passengers. On top of that, there’s a configurable head-up display that, for the first time, allows drivers to control vehicle and infotainment functions. It’s the same architecture and technology as you’ll find in the Q6 E-Tron and will almost certainly appear in more places over the years.
As with any new car, the A5 and S5 have plenty of toys. The optional passenger display allows the co-pilot to handle navigation or watch streaming content while on the move. Don’t worry, it has a special layer so the driver can’t see the screen. Tick the right boxes and you can have a Bang and Olufsen sound system that puts speakers in the headrests. Not only that, but they are dual-zone, so a passenger can listen to music, watch movies, or do… whatever they want to do, while the driver can take a phone call.
The new A5 builds on the legacy of the A4 with improved features, impressive technology and a slightly new name. Audi’s ICE efforts aren’t slowing down for a while, which should reassure people convinced they’ll be forced into EVs against their will.
If you’re keen, the A5 family will arrive in the US in the spring/summer of 2025. Prices start at $49,400 in Germany (albeit for a spec not available in the US). Pricing, economy figures, option packages and trim details for the US will be revealed soon.