All-new Audi A5 wants to be known as the new A4

Audi reveals new A5 sedan and Avant

For many years, the Audi A4 is what the 3-series is to BMW, and the A5 is essentially the coupe equivalent. But with all the electrification going on and naming convention changes that go with it, Audi has decided to restructure the naming of its vehicles.

The gas-powered A4, as we know it, will now be called the A5 for its latest generation. The A4, on the other hand, is not exactly being retired. Audi’s even-numbered cars will be known as EVs, and odd-numbered vehicles will have ICEs. Going forward then, the A4 could be the EV equivalent of the all-new A5.

Now that we got that out of the way, it’s time to take a look at the all-new A5. Built in Neckarsulm, the new model is offered in four variants – the A5 Sedan, the A5 Avant, and the S5 Sedan and Avant variants that come with sportier looks and more potent engines.

The new A5 sits on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture and features more dynamic styling with sharper details and a sleeker roofline than the previous A4 sedan. Whereas the A4 used to have a rather bland design, the widened fenders, slimmer grille, and bolder front fascia give the standard A5 Sedan a more athletic look, and doesn’t look far from the Audi Sport models.

Inside, the new A5 also features a completely overhauled interior. Lesser buttons, bigger screens, more leather, and a packed feature list push the A5 into a more premium territory. The curved panoramic display combines an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster with a 14.5-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Audi also installed a heads-up display, while there’s an option for a 10.9-inch screen for the front passenger. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, there’s more cabin space inside the A5.

As with any new car, there’s plenty of stuff to play around with on the options list. Those include navigation systems, watch streamed content, and Bang & Olufsen sound system, among others.

There are three engine choices for the new A5. That begins with the 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder turbo engine that now has a variable geometry turbocharger (VTG). It produces 150 PS in the entry-level front-wheel-drive version and bumps up to 204 PS in the Quattro all-wheel-drive variant.

Surprisingly, diesel is still alive in the new Audi A5, as it offers a choice of a 2.0-liter TDI with 204 PS and 400 Nm of torque. Additionally, the engine is assisted by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system called MHEV plus with a powertrain generator (PTG) that adds up to 24 PS and enables partially electric driving. Paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission, customers have a choice of front-wheel-drive or quattro all-wheel-drive in the diesel variant.

For the sportier S5 models, there’s a 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine with VTG, producing 367 PS that’s also combined with a 48-volt MHEV plus system. Power is channeled to all four wheels via the S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro sport differential with torque vectoring.

Audi says the new A5 will be launched in Germany and other EU markets by November, but orders are already being accepted starting this month. As for its Philippine launch, it could be somewhere around 2025.