New Models - Audi A5
Audi extends A5 reach
Then there were two: Audi is adding a two-wheel-drive A5 Sportback model, which becomes the cheapest A5.
More affordable A5 front-drivers continue Audi’s massive model roll-out through 2010
30 June 2010
By RON HAMMERTON
JUST a week after topping its A5 Sportback range with the new supercharged V6 S5, Audi Australia is set to bookend the five-door line-up with its first front-wheel-drive Sportback, slicing a cool $13,000 from the range entry price by dispensing with the quattro all-wheel-drive system on this new base model.
The A5 Cabriolet also gains its first two-wheel-drive variant for a similar cost saving, with both of these front-drivers being powered by Audi’s 132kW 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder petrol engine mated with a Multitronic CVT transmission.
This means Audi now offers non-quattro variants in all three A5 body styles – Coupe, Cabrio and Sportback.
The new, more affordable A5s continue Audi’s relentless new-model drive in 2010, which will heat up in the second half with the arrival of the blistering RS5 Coupe, the flagship A8, R8 Spyder and a revised Q7 SUV.
Deliveries of the cheaper 2WD A5 models start next month, with customers shelling out $67,400 for the A5 Sportback 2.0-litre TFSI multitronic – $13,000 less than the current Sportback price leader, the $80,400 quattro with the same 2.0-litre TFSI engine.
This also makes it the cheapest model in the whole A5 range, undercutting the $68,900 two-wheel-drive A5 2.0TFSI Coupe by $1500.
The front-drive A5 Cabrio will debut at $79,400, compared with $92,300 for the quattro version – a saving of $12,700.
But the news just gets bigger for Audi, with the company rolling out some of its biggest-calibre big guns this year.
These include the soft-top R8 Spyder image leader, which is scheduled to join the R8 Coupe here in October – a year after making its public debut at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show.
From top: Audi A5 Cabriolet, Audi A8, Audi RS5 and Audi R8 Spyder.
Unlike the coupe, however, the Spyder will be offered only with Audi’s top-of-the-pile 386kW 5.2-litre V10 sourced from fellow VW Group incumbent Lamborghini, dispensing with the 4.2-litre V8 alternative available in the hard-roof R8 supercar.
Naturally, the Spyder gets quattro all-wheel-drive, and will have a choice of six-speed manual or S Tronic dual-clutch automated gearboxes.
The price is yet to be set, but rest assured it will be north of the current range topper, the $347,500 R8 FSI quattro coupe.
The R8 Spyder will be preceded in September by the third generation of Audi’s aluminium-bodied sedan flagship, the A8, which, for Australia, will debut with two 4.2-litre V8s – one petrol and one diesel. There is no immediate sign of the 6.3-litre W12 petrol and V6 diesel variants offered in Europe, but Audi might have the option to add these at the facelift stage, along with the sports R8.
The A8’s standard FSI petrol V8 is said to develop 273kW – 16kW more than the twin-turbo diesel TDI V8, but the diesel packs a whopping 800Nm of torque, making it capable of accelerating from zero to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds and returning a combined fuel economy figure of just 7.6 litres per 100km.
A new eight-speed auto transmission makes its debut, and quattro will be standard, as will air suspension. A sunroof will be extra.
Audi Australia is also preparing for a freshen for its flagship SUV, the Q7, with updated engines to match those now on offer in Europe.
The line-up will start with a 176kW 3.0-litre turbo diesel (up 5kW) that now features idle-stop fuel saving technology, and top out with the 368kW 6.0-litre V10 – up from 312kW – that continues to pack 1000Nm of torque from just 1750rpm.
But the biggest news is in the middle of the range where the 3.6-litre TFSI and 4.2-litre FSI V8 petrol engines have been axed in favour of Audi's 3.0-litre supercharged 245kW TFSI V6 already offered in the S4, S5 Cabrio and new Sportback S5.
In this case, however, the V6 will be matched with an eight-speed transmission that debuts in the A8 this year. A six-speeder will be standard on other models.
The only V8 in the Q7 range will be the 250kW 4.2-litre TDI diesel, which gains 10kW over the current equivalent.
Audi’s year will be capped with the arrival of the A5 range sports champion, the quattro RS5 Coupe. Loaded with a 331kW version of Audi’s 4.2-litre TFSI V8, the blistering BMW M3 nemesis will hit Australian showrooms in October – around the same time at the R8 Spyder.
The two-door RS5, which made its debut at the Geneva motor show this year, will come armed exclusively with a seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission and 19-inch alloy wheels. Considering the power – 86kW superior to the V8 S5 Coupe that shares the same two-door body – the RS5 is expected to get a full suite of drivetrain traction systems, including quattro sports differential.
Audi Australia will hardly have time to catch its breath over Christmas before the arrival of probably its most important new model in the near future: the Volkswagen Polo-based A1.
This premium three-door hatch is set to be rolled out across Europe in August, and will arrive Down Under with a choice of engines: a 90kW/230Nm 1.4-litre TFSI petrol four cylinder or the 66kW/230Nm 1.6-litre TDI diesel.
A seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch automatic is available with both drivetrains, while a five-speed manual will be available with the diesel.
The A1 will slide into the Audi range below the current entry-level A3, potentially opening at $32,000. This is $3500 cheaper than the base A3, the $35,500 three-door 1.6-litre Attraction, which recently copped a $800 price rise in a round of price rise across several Audi model ranges.
The A1 three-door, which has also been confirmed to span a hot S1 version,will be integral to Audi’s plan to achieve 15,000 sales in Australia by 2015, and is expected to be expanded with five-door Sportback and two-door coupe derivatives over the next few years - all potentially with hybrid power.
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What's coming from Audi:
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| A5 Sportback 2WD Multitronic |
July |
| A5 Cabriolet 2WD Multitronic |
July |
| A8 |
September |
| R8 Spyder |
October |
| RS5 |
October |
| Q7 facelift |
December |
| A1 |
Q1 2011 |
| A7 |
2011 |
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