All-New Audi A5 Sedan Debuts as A4 Successor
Munich, Germany—The Audi A4 turned 30 this year, but 2024 is going to mark the end of the German luxury sedan as we know it. With Audi revising its nomenclature to give odd numbers to gas-powered models and even numbers to electric ones, the A4 will become the new A5 moving forward.
Beyond the name change, look for a complete overhaul based on the automaker’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC). The Car Guide was invited to take a closer look at the new Audi A5 and its sportier S5 sibling during a special event in Munich.
- Also: Audi Kills Two-Door A5 Models for 2025
- Also: 2025 Audi Q6 and SQ6 e-tron: New Electric SUVs From Audi Mean Business
No A5 Avant in Canada
In Europe and other markets, the A5 and S5 will be available in sedan and wagon body styles, the latter known as Avant. That won’t be the case on our side of the Atlantic, where only the former will be offered.
We sure thought the success of the RS6 Avant in North America would pave the way for more wagons, but it turns out we were wrong. How disappointing—the A5 Avant and S5 Avant likely would have been a hit. Incidentally, the A4 allroad is not returning, either.
The new sedan stands 4,829 mm long, which trumps the outgoing A4 by 67 mm. It’s also 13 mm wider and 16 mm taller, with a wheelbase that has grown by 80 mm resulting in a roomier cabin.
More Dynamic Looks
It’s not just the A5 coupe and cabriolet that Audi chose to axe. The five-door A5 Sportback will be shown the door, as well, since the new A5 sedan comes with a rear hatch instead of a conventional trunk.
Styling is sharper and sportier, with an excellent drag coefficient of 0.25. The Singleframe grille up front is wider and more upright than before, while super-thin LED daytime running lights are housed in the same clusters as the main headlights. Similar to the new, fully electric Q6 e-tron, A5 drivers can choose from eight different lighting signatures via the touchscreen or the MyAudi app.
On the sides, the wider fenders emphasize the quattro all-wheel drive system and are inspired by Audi’s high-performance RS models. Meanwhile, the flush-mounted door handles are a design cue borrowed from the brand’s latest electric vehicles.
Digital Stage
Inside the car, most of the attention is turned to what Audi designers call the Digital Stage, a curved digital panel combining an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit with the aforementioned touchscreen, which is 14.5 inches in size. Optionally, a third display allows the front passenger to either assist with navigation or watch movies. When the vehicle is in motion, an Active Privacy Mode makes the screen invisible for the driver, thus preventing distractions.
Also optional is an electrochromic glass roof that goes from opaque to transparent at the push of a button. It can even be split into sections allowing a different amount of sunlight to pass through. A 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system featuring four speakers built into the front seat headrests creates a theatre-like experience.
Two Engines
The base Audi A5 is motivated by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 268 horsepower, while the S5 gets a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with mild hybrid technology generating 367 horsepower. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission pairs with all-wheel drive as standard.
Developed with dynamic handling in mind, the suspension benefits from a larger camber angle on the front axle, while new progressive-ratio steering makes for sharper cornering, Audi claims. Engineers have also revised Audi Drive Select to create more separation between Comfort and Sport modes.
The new Audi A5 and S5 will go on sale in Europe this fall before landing in Canada sometime in the first half of 2025. Market-specific pricing and equipment details will be shared at a later date. We’ll keep you posted.