FIRST DRIVE AUDI A5 / S5:THE PHRASE "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" often doesn't seem to resonate as strongly in the motoring world as it should. The Audi A5 would have been a car you assumed didn't need a lot of mending. But the modern life cycle of a car is now shorter than before and it is broken up with the mid-life refresh, which can range from anything from a new front bumper to total engine changes.
Audi did a mighty fine job with the design of the A5 first time around, and that was under design chief at the time, Walter de’Silva, now the chief designer at Audi’s cousin, Volkswagen. So when it came to fettling with what is an unquestionably beautiful car, there probably wasn’t a lot to do.
They did find something to do, though, to the Coupé, Cabriolet and Sportback. LED lights now come as standard and they sit in new headlight housings which are wedge-shaped and look a little narrower and more aggressive.
The new A5 doesn’t quite give you a dirty look, but you wouldn’t want to spill its pint. The bumper has larger air intakes and a honeycomb grille, and there are more angular fog lights and flared cross-ribs. The rear lights are more angular and feature LEDs too. Audi nerds will spot the differences quicker than most, but the car does looks well and truly “refreshed”. Job done.
But it is from under the bonnet that comes the news that will have officials in the Department of the Environment squirming, because A5 owners will be paying even less motor tax for their chosen engine. It is a broadly new engine line-up and, as usual these days, power is up and emissions are down.
There is an average 11 per cent reduction in emissions. There is a three-engine line-up in the standard petrol range. At the start is a 1.8-litre 170bhp unit with 320Nm of torque which is putting out just 134g/km (band B/€156) and that makes the petrol the cheapest Coupé and Cabriolet.
The big seller will still probably be the 2.0-litre TDi in the Coupé and Cabriolet model. In the Coupé it comes with 177bhp and, with emissions of 120g/km, sits in tax band A. In the Cabriolet there is the option of a 143bhp 2.0-litre TDi alongside the 177bhp version.
The 3.0-litre TDi unit is superb and, thankfully, is possible to consider because, despite having 204bhp or 245bhp, they sit in motor tax band B and C respectively. In both the Coupé and Cabriolet range, the 3.0-litre TDi 204bhp is our pick of the range. You pay €47,850 for the Coupé and €57,650 for the Cabriolet and both are in motor tax band B.
Choose the Sportback and the smart money probably goes on the 177bhp 2.0-litre TDi at €41,965, which has emissions of just 120g/km. With the Sportback, you will probably need to spend a little more (€2,500) to get the SE spec that is standard on the Coupé and Cabriolet.SE grade cars have 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, Xenon lights and Bluetooth.
We tried all engines at the launch event, with the 2.0-litre TFSi proving a surprise hit. Pick that if you want your A5 to stay petrol-powered. Also on show was the new Audi S5. Powered by a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine putting out 333bhp, it is simply brilliant.
While we had found the RS5 to be “overkill” in Ireland, the S5 is the ideal compromise. With quattro and the dual-clutch S-Tronic transmission, it even has reasonable emissions of 190g/km. At €74,700, it is hard to justify given the ability of the 3.0-litre TDi, but it is an awesome car.
The new model arrives in dealerships in mid-November in time for January delivery on four-cylinder versions, with six-cylinder models likely to take a little longer.
FACTFILE
Audi A5 Coupé SE 1.8 TFSI
Engine1,798cc 4-cylinder petrol putting out 170bhp and 320Nm of torque
0-100km/h7.9 secs
Max speed230km/h
Fuel economy5.7 l/100km
Emissions134g/km
Motor tax bandB
Annual motor tax€156
Price€43,020
Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDi
Engine1,968cc four-cylinder diesel putting out 177bhp and 320Nm of torque
0-100km/h8.2 secs
Max speed230km/h
Fuel economy4.7 l/100km
Emissions120g/km
Motor tax bandA
Annual motor tax€104
Price€41,865