New Audi A5 Coupe revealed

Audi has taken the wraps off the second-generation A5 Coupe (pictured in silver) at a media presentation held at its Ingolstadt headquarters in Germany on Thursday, June 5, 2016.

Set to go on sale internationally later this year, the svelte new two-door holds a few surprises. It flaunts a predictably evolutionary appearance that uses many of the stylistic elements established on its nine-year-old predecessor, albeit in a reinterpreted form that gives it a lower and more athletic stance.

Key exterior design details include a wider and lower-mounted single-frame grille, newly shaped headlights with complex LED daytime-running light graphics and dynamic blinker function, a longer bonnet and larger wheelhouses. Farther back, there is a more angular glasshouse graphic, a flatter roof, more prominent shoulders and sharp new tail-lights featuring a new take on Audi’s traditional LED graphics.

Beyond its familiar appearance, the car adopts a new version of Audi’s MLB platform, providing it with wider tracks, a longer wheelbase and a similar increase in size to that of its four-door sibling, the new A4.

Audi is yet to provide details of the exterior dimensions. However, Ingolstadt officials revealed that additional high-strength steel and aluminium in the body has helped reduce kerb weight by as much as 60kg.

The interior adopts a similar look as the latest A4, with a layered dashboard helping to visually widen the cabin and high-quality materials providing a similarly premium impression as that of the old A5.

Audi claims increased interior space owing to a longer wheelbase, although it is yet to go into specifics. The boot, which comes with optional gesture-control opening via foot motion, is also claimed to offer a 10-litre increase in capacity over the old model, at 465 litres.

Audi’s virtual cockpit function includes a 12.3-inch high-definition digital instrument panel as well as the latest evolution of Audi’s MMI (Multi Media Interface) Plus infotainment system which uses an 8.3-inch monitor and touch-sensitive rotary controller, available as options. Other options include Apple Car Play and Android Auto compatibility, a wireless smartphone charger and a Bang and Olufsen sound system.

The A5 coupé will initially be offered with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines. They are claimed to provide up to 17 percent more power and better fuel economy over the units used in the outgoing model.

Included is the latest evolution of Audi’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder EA888 petrol engine. It comes in two states of tune – 190hp or 251hp. On the diesel side is a 190hp variant of Audi’s widely used EA288 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor. It lines up alongside Audi's 3.0-litre V6 diesel, which is offered with the choice of either 218hp or 272hp.

The four-cylinder engines and 218hp six-cylinder diesel are paired with a six-speed manual or optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The more powerful diesel V6 is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and gets all-wheel drive as standard.

 The range-topping S5 Coupe adopts a newly developed turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. With 354hp, it delivers 21hp more than the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 used by the outgoing model.

The engine is paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. Audi claims an official 0-100kph time of 4.7sec, which is a significant 0.7sec improvement over the old S5.

Underpinning the new A5 Coupe and its S5 Coupe sibling (pictured in red) is a newly developed chassis featuring optional damper control and a variable-ratio electromechanical steering system, as seen on the A4 sedan.

While Audi revealed the new A5 Coupe, the manufacturer has imported its four-door Sportback sibling to India with the model spotted testing. The new Sportback is expected to be revealed globally at a later stage. As of now, there is no news if the new A5 Coupe or its more powerful S5 sibling will head to India. Audi currently offers the A5 in India in the form of the fully imported S5 Sportback.