by Sam Stockley November 7, 2008 11:19 PM
Filed Under: Audi, Diesel, German
Audi's A5 is already available in a wide variety of petrol and diesel engine options, but not until now has it included a four cylinder diesel variant. And so it is with a 2.0-litre TDI engine that the A5 becomes even cleaner and efficient, boasting an impressive 53 miles to the gallon on the combined cycle - most importantly whilst remaining uncompromising on performance.
Priced at £28,485 and £30,010 on the road for front-wheel-drive and quattro versions respectively, the new A5 2.0 TDI will reach the first UK customers next March, coinciding with the launch of an even more striking S line trim priced at £2,250. Available across the range, the new trim includes exterior and interior styling enhancements, 18-inch S line alloys, sports suspension and xenon lamps with LED daylight running.
The new A5 TDI model adopts the most powerful version of the 2.0-litre powerplant, producing 170 PS and first seen in the A4 range. Utilising a Piezo injection system, the unit generates 350 Nm of torque at an impressive 1,750 rpm.
Pitting the new A5 model against its 2.7-litre TDI sibling and there's little in it for the figures - at least bar efficiency. The 0-62 mph sprint is reached in 8.3 seconds (7.4s for the 2.7) and a top speed of 140 mph is only just short of the higher model's 144 mph. Pulling away from its higher-powered siblings is the fuel consumption figure, the 2.0-litre model offering a 20 percent or 9 mpg (combined) advantage over the 44 mpg-achieving 2.7-litre TDI. CO2 output is 140 g/km - now the lowest in the A5 range.
For all the details including specification for the new A5 S line package, see the Press Release.
Coupé styling now combines with 53mpg-plus economy in new four-cylinder diesel-powered Audi coupé New A5 2.0 TDI available in front-wheel-drive and quattro four-wheel-drive forms priced at £28,485 OTR and £30,010 OTR
Sport and recently introduced S line upgrades also available at premiums of £950 and £2,250 over standard models
Powered by latest 2.0 TDI engine with common rail piezo fuel injection delivering 170PS at 4,200rpm and 350Nm from 1,750rpm to 2,500rpm - initially available with manual transmission only
A5 2.0 TDI - 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, 140mph top speed, 53.3mpg combined, CO2 140g/km, A5 2.0 TDI quattro 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, 140mph top speed, 47.9mpg combined, CO2 156g/km
New S line specification available across the A5 range includes S line body and interior styling enhancements, 18-inch S line alloy wheels, sports suspension and xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights
The cost of cutting a dash in the Audi A5 coupé has just been further reduced by the frugal new 53mpg A5 2.0 TDI, which is available to order now in front-wheel-drive and quattro four-wheel-drive forms priced from £28,485 OTR, and will reach its first UK customers in March 2009. Its launch also coincides with the introduction of the even more striking S line specification for all A5 models, available at a premium of £2,250 over standard trim.
In keeping with its performance coupé positioning, the A5 adopts the most powerful, 170PS version of the new generation 2.0-litre TDI unit first seen in the A4 Saloon and Avant. Enhanced by an advanced common rail piezo fuel injection system, the state-of-the art unit makes its impressive 350Nm torque output available from just 1,750rpm, and by fully exploiting this via the standard six-speed manual transmission the 0-62mph sprint can be dispatched in just 8.3 seconds in the front-wheel-drive version. This strong performance is underpinned by fuel economy that at 53.3mpg on the combined cycle is 20 per cent better than the already sparing A5 2.7 TDI (44.1mpg), and CO2 output that at 140g/km is 9 per cent down on the next lowest producer, the A5 2.0 TFSI (154g/km)
The significantly improved refinement of the new common rail TDI and the sophistication of the aluminium-rich five-link front and trapezoidal link rear suspension makes for unruffled progress in the A5 2.0 TDI, helped by its longest-in-class wheelbase. The repositioned front axle permitting shorter overhangs and much improved axle load distribution also works in favour of handling balance and agility, traits which are especially evident in the quattro version with its latest generation system with 40/60 front-to-rear power distribution.
New S line option
Even sharper response is available to drivers who choose the optional Sport upgrade, which along with 18-inch 10-spoke V-design alloy wheels and sports seats brings sports suspension lowered by 20mm. This suspension set up is also included as part of the new S line specification available for all A5 models, which features 18-inch 5-spoke S line alloy wheels, an exclusive S line front and rear bumper design, side sill extensions, S line treatments for the interior and xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights. S line subscribers also have the option to specify an even more driver-focused S line suspension at no extra cost. A5 Sport models carry a premium of £950 over their standard counterparts in each case, and new S line versions a premium of £2,250 over standard specification.
The addition of the latest generation 2.0 TDI engine brings the total number of units powering the A5 to six. The range includes 2.7-litre and 3.0-litre V6 diesels with outputs of 190PS and 240PS, two 2.0-litre TFSI petrol units with 180PS and 211PS and a 3.2-litre V6 FSI petrol with 265PS.
The new Audi A5 2.0 TDI - OTR Pricing
A5 2.0 TDI £28,485
A5 2.0 TDI S line £30,735
A5 2.0 TDI quattro £30,010
A5 2.0 TDI quattro Sport £30,960
A5 2.0 TDI quattro S line £32,260
Key items of standard specification - A5 S line models
18-inch 5-spoke S line design alloy wheels with 245/40 R18 tyres
Sports suspension (S line suspension available at no extra cost)
S line side sill extensions and front and rear bumper design
Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights
3-spoke S line multi-function steering wheel
S line embossed sports seats upholstered in Milano leather
That's exactly what Topgear said as well. Most Audi's are boring to drive, including the A4, A5, Q5 A3 not to mention the A6 and A8, Q7. Why you may ask, well becasue it is just a VW. They said that you have to drive itthrough a war zone to get some excitement.
Oliver, if your meaning of perfection is poor handling, inferior performance, cheap VW quality, lack of refinement, lack of character, lack of statue and lack of reliability with porr service. Then yes, this A5 is perfect for you. As for most other people in this market, perfect means 100% and no.1 and sorry to say, but only BMW deserves that title.
And where do you see a VW in an Audi? Please be more specific so other people know that you know what you are talking about instead of making redundantly vague remarks.
And what's wrong with a premium VW? Look at the Touraeg and the Phaeton. Yes the latter did not sell well, but both were fantastic cars built to compete on the same level occupied by higher end brands.
I take it you drive an Audi, open the bonnet of your Audi, take a torch and look a the radiator, tubes, fan, etc. All the parts and you'll see that they all have 4 logos: Skoda, Seat, VW Audi. Not convinced? take your wheel out and have a look at the brakes, you'll see the same 4 logo's, sorry bud, you could have bought the same car with half the moany that you paid for yours just because VW successfully made a fool out of you by clapping 4 rings on your car. Don't make tht mistake again. If you want the best, original - BMW is the way to go! That's what you get from a strong independent company - THE BEST!
Well sai people, this is nothing but a VW. That 2.0TDI engine is the same one tthat you get in any VW. This car is really boring, what's the point if you do canot have the fun of driving like a BMW. Boring styling, ugly front and rear design, VW parts and egine. Please go bore someone else. Besides, the VW and Audi engines are well known for their lack of reliability and refinement. Take note of the loud clatter and vibration when you start up engine. It is less powerful, less refined, less green, less reliable than an equivalent BMW or Merc engine wise. So these Audi's can go sleep.
It amuses me GPKH, that while you seem to have no trouble typing crap that makes absolutely no sense at all, you fail to diffrentiate between "A" and "RS". There is no A4 that has a V8. I suggest you go back to elementary school and relearn the alphabet.
And you talk like you've driven and owned an R8. If you haven't, you have no means to talk about its reliability and quality. The R8 has won numerous Car of the Year awards. It has been praised for its handling and overall driveability. BMW has nothing to compete with the R8 and you say that the R8 is the worst car in its class. Hate to break it to you kiddo but BMW doesn't even have anything in this 'class'. I have said this so many times but you have the remarkable ability to look past things that you don't want to see, and observe the things you only want to see. I'm sorry, but the world doesn't work like that. Just because you have issues, stiking your head in a hole doesn't mean that your problems will go away. Grow up and stop tainting the worldcarfans with your pointless comments that just prove how dumb you are.
I have driven the R8, that's why I believe that I am qualified to speak about the poor handling, even if thier so famous 4x4 system, well not that appropriate is it? Of course BMW doesn't have anything in this class now, their time of this class was 30 years ago with the M1, which Audi very clearly took 30 years to copy. As already mentioned in previous comments, BMW does not have to fill every single gap of thecar segement to be the best because by being the best in every segment that it participates in, BMw has made itself the most popular, no.1, largest and only independent premium car company in the world. As for Audi, yes they try to fill more segments, try to copy BMW so hard, but they are still this understated thing that's going no-where.
RS5, where did you get your facts abot the so called good drivability of the R8 from? Maybe it drives better than its sibling VW and Audi, but hell that car is one mission to drive. You'll have more omfort driving a plane (obviously powered by BMW's Rolls Royce engines) than trying to change those awful gears on an R8. I think you should go drive it before you open your monuth here. GPKH is right, whats the point of all these cars that does not fit the Audi brand is you can be good at nothing. In all segments Audi is beaten by the 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, X and M Series. Audi will soon come up with a bike to compete with BMW as well. Whatchout, they'll make that logo only 2 rings because there's only 2 wheels - stupid!
"The waiting list is a bluff to fool people like you"..that is by far the most pathetic, desparate and dumb comment I've read besides a few other by your buddy GPKH. Freudyboy, I'm not even going to bother arguing that..you're too busy living in your own dememted dreamworld where BMW is the best. I live in reality and find it ridiculous that I'm wasting my time talking to delusional BMW fanatics. Hopefully you'll snap out of it someday. Don't even bother replying..I'm not going to see it.
You see, not even the traditional big mouths from the audi fan gallery is defending this car, because they know that this is utter broing rubbish. or else the smll crowd of Audinator and xenomorph would have started their stories here. Shame, but this A5 is a really dead product.
dead project you say..that's why there's a 5 month waiting list for an A5 and an 8+ month waiting list for the S5. Talk about sales figures, so many people have ordered A5s that Audi cannot produce enough to satisfy demand. And with the crap BMW's coming out with recently, I'd have to say that looking at general concesus, there are more people who prefer Audi over BMW.
As mentioned before, the waiting list is a bluff to fool people like you - to create artificail demand. If you do not believe me, place an order and alhtough they'll say the waiting list is 5 months or whatever long, you'll get yours in less than 1 month. Also go to different dealerships and they'll give you differen answers: 2 months, 5 months, 7 months. Don't you know these marketing tricks? If you can get your A5 tomorrow, you'd think twice as clearly no body is buying it. Fools are fools. Thank me for teachin you lesson.
"The waiting list is a bluff to fool people like you"..that is by far the most pathetic, desparate and dumb comment I've read besides a few other by your buddy GPKH. Freudyboy, I'm not even going to bother arguing that..you're too busy living in your own dememted dreamworld where BMW is the best. I live in reality and find it ridiculous that I'm wasting my time talking to delusional BMW fanatics. Hopefully you'll snap out of it someday. Don't even bother replying. I'm not going to see it.
I guess I hit a nerve, woo! I have many rooms to choose from and obviously none is understated. Exceptional people will live life and own things that are exceptional. And The BMW Group's products are all exceptional, they are the best! But I cannot say that for VW and Vw's Audi. You want to be the quiet, understated little introvert, you go Mickey!
Clearly you have bad taste. and you are the minority who would pick this choice when you look at the sales figures. Good Luck bud, whatch out for that huge wall that could crack your head. Not many other cars can give you an ownership experience as pleasurable as a BMW, and most certainly VW and Audi cannot.,
