2018 Audi A5 and S5: Sharper, Sleeker, Faster

PORTO, Portugal – Audi has given the A5 and its higher-performance S5 twin a makeover for 2017. In Canada, we’ll only be seeing the new coupes in the spring of next year as 2018 models, but we got an opportunity to drive both of them at their media intro held this week in Porto, Portugal.

The changes are much more significant than the subtly restyled new exterior might lead you to believe. Although the exterior revisions might seem minimal, this is in fact the sporty and seductive coupe’s first major redesign since it was introduced in 2007.

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A5/S5 version 2.0

The A5 sports new lines, and visually the front end greets you with a flatter, wider grille, while the hood’s edges now blend into the undulating shoulder line that spans the length of the car. The new A5 is 4.7 cm longer and the fenders now feature a slight bulge over the wheel wells, giving it a more muscular stance. Wheelbase has grown by 1.3 cm to 276.4 cm. Despite its slightly larger dimensions, the new A5 is up to 60 kg lighter than before, depending on the trim.

The interior has grown in every dimension; there’s 2.6 cm more shoulder room, 1.2 cm more headroom, and 2.3 cm more knee room for rear passengers, though it’s still a bit cramped in the rear, and accessing the rear seat is a small workout. Even the trunk has grown in capacity to 465 litres, an increase of 10 litres.

The larger interior is lavishly appointed, while fit and finish are beyond reproach. Nothing feels cheap to the touch, as smooth leather, soft Alcantara and cool aluminum meet your fingertips. The bright red diamond-pattern leather seats in our S5 test car are exceptionally attractive, and they are comfortable too, offering very good lateral support, keeping you planted when negotiating twisty roads at a spirited pace.

In the driver’s seat you’re now greeted by the Audi virtual cockpit (optional on the A5, standard on the S5), with a configurable 12.3-inch colour screen. A large dash-mounted screen on top of the centre stack displays the menus of the MMI system, as well as the navigation system map.

More power and one new engine

The A5’s undercarriage is based on the new A4, and it shares engines with the sedan. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four returns, but now claims 252 horsepower, up from the current four’s 220 hp. It also produces more torque at 273 lb.-ft., and increase of 15 lb.-ft.

The bigger news inside the engine compartment is the S5’s all-new 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 that replaces the supercharged V6 of the outgoing S5. The new engine boasts more than 800 new components, and now claims 354 hp/369 lb.-ft., up from 333 hp/352 lb.-ft. (Audi uses metric horsepower; the adjusted US numbers are 249 hp for the A5 and 349 hp for the S5).

The added power, combined with the new lighter weight, has dropped the S5’s zero to 100 km/h time by 0.4 seconds to 4.7 secs. That’s just one tenth slower than the V8-powered S6.

The A5’s four-cylinder transfers power to the wheels via a seven-speed automatic, and it is impressive for a base engine, with a good kick in the lower rpm range that doesn’t let up much as the revs pick up. The V6 uses an eight-speed automatic, and it provides a much more invigorating experience, pulling hard at full throttle right up until the transmission shifts gears, where you also get a pleasant exhaust burble.

Both cars are available only with all-wheel drive in Canada. The system sends 60 percent of the torque to the rear wheels when driving normally, but can send up to 85 percent to the rear or up to 70 percent to the front if required. A torque-vectoring rear differential is available on the S5. Although other markets get a six-speed manual option with the 2.0-litre engine, we’re not treated with such frivolities in Canada.

Tweaked chassis

Suspension is revised, with lighter components and stiffer rubber mounts. A five-link axle has replaced the outgoing model’s trapezoidal-link rear axle. Speed sensitive electromechanical steering is new, and a variable ratio steering system is optional. The steering is well weighed in Dynamic mode, with direct, communicative feedback making its way to your fingertips.

For the first time on the A5/S5, suspension with electronic damper control is available, which constantly varies damping to match the driving conditions. This suspension is also adjustable via the drive mode. A quick pace on very twisty road revealed that it is firm enough to keep the car composed and level through turns, while providing a comfortable ride when driving in town.

The new A5/S5 twins enter their second generation in fine form. They are improved in almost every aspect, and they still feature an alluringly understated silhouette that doesn’t attack the senses.

Pricing for the A5/S5 will be available closer to their launch date in the first quarter of 2017, but pricing should be somewhere near the 2016 pricing, which started at $44,700 for the A5, and $57,800 for the S5.