Audi A5 Sportback, 2010

 

Audi A5 Sportback, 2010

Audi is presenting a new vehicle concept - the Audi A5 Sportback. The five-door model with the long, flowing rear end unites the best of various vehicle genres: the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon. The Sportback joins the Audi A5 Coupé and Cabriolet as the third member of the Audi A5 model family.

The Audi A5 Sportback will be rolling into Audi dealerships in September 2009 featuring an emotion-packed design, high everyday practicality, a sporty character and engines that are as efficient as they are powerful. Sales have already begun, with prices starting at 33,650 euros. A further, specially-priced model to follow in 2010 will make the Audi A5 Sportback the entry-level model in the A5 model series.

Audi, the inventor of the Avant, is setting new trends in design with the Audi A5 Sportback. The five-door coupe is defined by elegant lines. It is 36 millimeters (1.42 in) lower than the Audi A4 Sedan; with its short front overhang, long wheelbase, wide track and the four frameless doors with their slender window lines, it is the very picture of sporty elegance.

The interior is spacious, offering uncompromising comfort in all four seats. The large luggage compartment hatch is harmoniously integrated into the long, tapered tail end with the flat C pillars; the spoiler lip underscores the tension-filled character. The luggage compartment volume of 480 liters (16.95 cu ft) nearly matches that of the Audi A4 Avant and increases to 980 liters (34.61 cu ft) with the rear seats folded down.
Audi A5 Sportback

The Audi A5 Sportback follows the consistent path of innovative technologies at Audi when it comes to the drivetrain. All of the engines are highly-efficient direct injection models - TDI for the cultivated diesels, FSI for the gasoline engines - and all comply with the Euro 5 emissions standard.

All models are equipped with a recuperation system that recovers energy during braking and deceleration and stores it temporarily in the battery.

Audi is initially offering three gasoline and three TDI engines, with three more engines to follow by mid-2010. The gasoline engines - the two-liter TFSI with 132 kW (180 hp) or 155 kW (211 hp) and the 3.2-liter V6 with 195 kW (265 hp) - are equipped with the Audi valvelift system for variable control of valvelift. The intelligent technology boosts performance while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption.

The 2.0 TDI produces 125 kW (170 hp) and consumes on average a frugal 5.2 liters of fuel per 100 km (45.23 US mpg). It is coupled with the start-stop system, which further enhances fuel efficiency in city traffic. The 140 kW (190 hp) 2.7-liter TDI offers even more power. The 3.0 TDI, which also features the S tronic, puts out an impressive 176 kW (240 hp).

Like the three gasoline engines, the top diesel engine delivers its power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The two most powerful engines are optionally available with the newly developed sport differential, which variably distributes power between the rear wheels and provides even greater dynamics, driving pleasure and safety. The two TDI models with front-wheel drive - the 2.0 TDI and 2.7 TDI - and the 2.0 TFSI (132 kW / 180 hp) benefit from another Audi innovation: The ESP stabilization program with electronic front differential lock increases agility and prevents understeer.

The perfect complement is the Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system, which enables the driver to freely vary the throttle response characteristic, the shifting points of the seven-speed S tronic, and the boost provided by the servotronic steering system, which comes standard (from power outputs of 140 kW (190 hp) upwards). The system is offered as a modular package with at least one of the following three options: sport differential, adaptive shock absorber control or dynamic steering with variable boost.

Design
With the Audi A5 Sportback, Audi has once again reinforced its position as the leader in automotive design. The five-door coupe features emotional and progressive styling to fascinate with powerful elegance and sporty proportions. It is 4.71 meters (15.45 ft) long and 1.85 meters (6.07 ft) wide, but only 1.39 meters (4.56 ft) tall - 36 millimeters (1.42 in) shorter than the A4 Sedan, for example. With the long wheelbase of 2.81 meters (9.22 ft), the short overhangs and the wide track (1.59 meters (5.22 ft.)) up front, 1.58 meters (5.18 ft.) at the rear), the Audi A5 Sportback cuts a powerful figure on the road.

The front is marked with horizontal lines. The horizontal bars come to the forefront in the single-frame grille, which is framed with a narrow strip of anodized aluminum. Two lateral edges underscore the presence of the single-frame grille and extend over the hood as a powerful V contour.

The wide headlights are like technical works of art. A strut vapor-coated with chrome - the "wing" - separates the individual lamp chambers and imparts an unmistakable look. Typical for Audi, the daytime running lights are standard - as are the fog lights, which are mounted in the side air intakes and framed with a tasteful chrome ring.

Audi uses ellipsoidal halogen headlamps in models with engines below 140 kW (190 hp). The xenon plus units standard on the other models are available here as an option. With these headlamps, the daytime running light is provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in an arched strip. The LEDs are characterized by their distinct appearance and particularly low energy consumption. The dynamic cornering light system known as adaptive light is optionally available for all models.

The Audi A5 Sportback's sporty character is also immediately apparent when viewed from the side. The large wheels - 17-inch wheels are standard with sizes up to 20 inches available as options - are framed by a powerful body with a slender window strip. The C pillar runs rearward in a long, elegant wave. The pillar integrates a narrow third side window with an upward pointing tip - a homage to the Audi 100 Coupé S from 1969.

Typical Audi: the ratio of glass to sheet metal
The ratio of glass to sheet metal surfaces is between one-third and two-thirds, a characteristic Audi proportion. The sharp edges in the sheet metal are also characteristic of the brand. They mark the edges of tautly muscular, convex/concave surfaces and subdivide the profile - the elegantly curving shoulder line runs below the window sill; the dynamic line above the door sills. The exterior mirrors with their LED turn signals add further fine touches.

Horizontal lines also emphasize the width at the tail. The spoiler lip on the large luggage compartment hatch has a contrasting look. Except for the 2.0 TDI, the exhaust system's tailpipes run separately down the left and right sides. All models feature straight pipes, even with the TDI engines. The pipes are thus a visual cue indicative of the low emissions - after all, particulate filters have long been standard on Audi models.

The two-piece tail lights taper inward; if equipped with xenon plus headlights, LEDs form a distinctive ring-like light pattern. The third brake light is integrated into the vehicle contour as a narrow strip on the upper edge of the rear window. 24 individual light-emitting diodes produce a homogenous light here rather than point lights. With this new technology, Audi once again underscores its leading role in the world of LED technology.

Audi A5 Sportback buyers can choose from a palette of 15 paint colors. The solid colors are called Ibis White, Brilliant Black and Brilliant Red. The effect finishes go by the names Ice Silver, Amethyst Gray, Dakar Beige, Sphere Blue, Condor Gray, Aruba Blue, Lava Gray, Phantom Black, Garnet Red, Deep Green, Deep Sea Blue and Meteor Gray.

For many Audi customers, the design is a prominent factor, and often the primary factor, in the buying decision. This will certainly also be the case with the Audi A5 Sportback. Its future buyers are expected to be somewhat younger than the customers for the A4 Sedan and Avant. They enjoy a high standard of living, are oriented toward sport, prestige and lifestyle, and are often self-employed in creative professions. They are technology enthusiasts and appreciate new intelligent concepts.

The mid-size premium segment is Europe is stable - emotion-packed new models like the Audi A5 Sportback have very good prospects. Audi plans to sell the vast majority of the volume in Western Europe, with a good third of total sales expected to remain in Germany. Great Britain is expected to be the second-largest sales market, followed by France, Italy and Spain.

Body
The foundation for the qualities that characterize the Audi A5 Sportback is the high body stiffness, which provides the basis for the precise, sporty handling, the superior ride comfort, the high crash safety and the tranquility on board. Oscillations and vibrations are practically imperceptible to the driver and passengers - including those transmitted through the steering wheel and the seat, which comprise the interface to the vehicle.

Audi uses a wide range of state-of-the-art technologies to build the body-in-white. These include hot-shaped steel sheets, most of which are fabricated in the Ingolstadt plant where the Audi A5 Sportback is produced. The tailored blanks of boron alloy steel are heated to 950 degrees Celsius in a continuous furnace and immediately quenched and shaped in a water-cooled die.

This imparts them with an extremely high tensile strength. You could hang six Audi A5 Sportback cars weighing a total of ten tons from a strip of this material two millimeters (0.08 in) thick and 30 millimeters wide (1.18 in). Hot-shaped steels are very light, and profoundly impact the weight balance. The Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI weighs only 1,500 kilograms (3,307 lb).

Consistent use of lightweight construction: aluminum front fenders
Hot-shaped steels are used in the side sills, the longitudinal members, the center console, the B-pillars and the front cross members. Audi uses the ideal material in each area. The front fenders of the Audi A5 Sportback are made of aluminum, and they, too, reduce the weight and contribute to the finely balanced distribution of axle loads.

The joining technologies also underscore the state-of-the-art character of the body structure. A structural adhesive enhances strength in many areas. Innovative laser-beam welding is used at the sills and the doors.
The area below the luggage compartment hatch and the invisible joint between the side of the car and the roof, on the other hand, are joined with the utmost of precision by means of plasmatron brazing.

Unlike many of the competitors' cars, the Audi A5 Sportback does not require an overlay on the roof. Here, Audi's high-tech character and quality approach are evident, complemented by close joins throughout the body.

The five-door coupe glides smoothly through the wind. The drag coefficient is 0.29 for the four-cylinder models; the front face measures a uniform 2.18 square meters (23.47 sq ft). Painstaking fine-tuning in the wind tunnel, which includes a paneled aerodynamic underbody, are among the air flow optimizations implemented.

The Audi A5 Sportback protects its occupants with cutting-edge technology. Full-size airbags stand at the ready in case of a frontal collision. A sensor reports the seating position to the control unit so that it can adaptively trigger the belts and airbags - and that means the best possible protection for passengers large and small in all types of collisions.

The side airbags, which are optimally positioned in the front seats, and the large-volume head airbag system provide protection in the event of a side impact. The integral, specially developed headrest system stands at the ready on the front seat in the event of a rear end collision. This technology ensures that the headrests securely support the head early in the crash process and thus help to counter the risk of whiplash.

Interior and trunk
Thanks to its long wheelbase, the Audi A5 Sportback has a spacious interior in which passengers sitting in all four seats will enjoy plenty of room. The Audi A5 Sportback offers much better leg and shoulder room than the Audi A5 Coupé, its dimensions being only few millimeters short of those of the A4 Sedan.

The long doors open wide to afford very easy entry and exit, and the car has a very unique, coupe-specific touch: All four side windows are frameless.

The Audi A5 Sportback is designed as a four-seater. Compared to the A4, the rear seats are mounted slightly lower and somewhat farther forward. An armrest is standard, with two additional cup holders available as options. The front seats are sportily low and sculpted for perfect ergonomics; they can be precisely adjusted and offer perfect control and support. Audi offers a fine array of options, including sport seats with large side bolsters, extendable thigh rests and a four-way power-adjustable lumbar support in addition to fully power-adjustable seats with an optional memory function. The greatest comfort is offered by the climate-controlled comfort seats, in which small fans with an automatic heating function ensure that the driver and passengers neither sweat nor freeze.

There is another option that proves to be very pleasant on long drives: the sliding center armrest with storage compartment and power outlets. There is also an optional storage package with additional nets and compartments under the front seats.

Also typical for Audi is the generous selection of coverings for the entire range of seats. It ranges from the standard Arcade cloth to a combination of leather and Alcantara to fine Valcona leather. The range of colors includes black, pale gray, lunar silver, cinnamon and cardamom beige in a various combinations.

The headlining is available in black, star silver and linen beige; the carpet in black, quartz gray and coriander beige. Inlays come standard in Micrometallic platinum; aluminum and three types of wood - dark burl walnut, light ash and medium-brown laurel, a wood from Chile - are available as options.

Fine materials: luxurious interior

The interior of the Audi A5 Sportback is a treat for the senses. Elegant design touches, perfect ergonomics, high-grade materials and uncompromising craftsmanship impart a harmonious overall impression. Teardrop-shaped chrome frames surround the two large instruments and secondary indicators. The high-mounted, central onboard monitor is standard, as is the three-spoke leather sports steering wheel.

Flowing lines link the cockpit visually to the door linings; the center console is inclined toward the driver. It always comes with the convenient and ingenious MMI operating system. With its intuitive, easy-to-understand menu system, the large buttons and the central control knob on the middle tunnel, it is the best solution on the market. There is a lot of room on the tunnel. Instead of a conventional mechanical parking brake, Audi uses an electromechanical system that gets by with just a small button. The control button for the starting assist function is also located here.

The luggage compartment is another of the Audi A5 Sportback's strengths. The long hatch with the electrically actuated lock opens to provide access to a large, very usable luggage compartment with plane walls lined with fine materials in the same color as the interior appointments. Its pass-through width measures exactly one meter (39.37 in), and the low loading lip is protected by a strip of stainless steel. In its standard configuration the luggage compartment has a volume of 480 liters (16.95 sq ft). If you fold down the rear seat backs - an effortless procedure - this increases to 980 liters (34.61 sq ft).

Among the practical details are the standard hooks for hanging up shopping bags and lugs for securing larger loads. A fixed cover shields the long luggage compartment from curious gazes. Audi has come up with a clever solution to prevent it from being a nuisance during loading: The cover is divided into two parts. The shorter part latches laterally into the mountings integrated into the luggage compartment lining; the longer latches to the hatch. When the hatch is opened, the cover moves upward with it and fits precisely with the shorter part when the hatch is closed.

Audi offers an entire range of additional solutions as options. One of these is a load-through hatch between the rear seat backs that also includes an integrated removable bag for skis and snowboards. The optional reversible mat is intended for the transport of soiled objects - one side is made of velour, the other is rubberized. The luggage compartment package includes a 12V outlet, a storage net, a tie strap, additional bag hooks and a luggage net.

With the optional removable trailer hitch, the Audi A5 Sportback can pull loads up to 2.1 tons (braked, eight percent gradient). Available accessories include roof, ski and luggage boxes as well as bike and kayak racks.

Engines
Audi has also consistently turned to innovative technologies for the engines. The Audi A5 Sportback will be available with three TDI and three FSI engines at launch, with three additional engines to follow by mid-2010. All of the engines prove that efficiency and dynamic performance are not mutually exclusive, but rather build on one another. Audi's success in motorsports confirms the power of this philosophy: The R8 FSI and R10 TDI racing cars have recorded eight overall victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's most grueling circuit course race.

On the road, the TDIs from Audi have been at the forefront of efficiency technology since their introduction 20 years ago. No other power plant can match the ratio of power to low fuel consumption offered by the turbocharged diesel with direct fuel injection.

The 2.0 TDI in the Audi A5 Sportback sets standards. The four-cylinder unit consumes on 5.2 liters of fuel per 100 km (45.23 US mpg) on average, which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 137 grams per km (220.48 g/mile). Yet it is a powerful engine, producing 125 kW (170 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque from only 1,968 cubic centimeters of displacement. The Audi A5 Sportback sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 8.7 seconds and accelerates up to a top speed of 228 km/h (141.67 mph).

The two-liter diesel delivers its power to the front wheels via a manual transmission. A version with quattro drive will be available in the fall. Also appearing at the same time will be a second version of the 2.0 TDI that produces 105 kW (143 hp) and 320 Nm (236.02 lb-ft) of torque. This engine will be coupled with the stepless multitronic automatic transmission.

The 2.0 TDI is a high-tech diesel. Its specially modified fan belt drive, two balance shafts and the shroud reduce vibrations. Dual camshafts actuate 16 valves in the cylinder head. Switchable swirlers in the intake manifold adapt the inflow of air to the prevailing load and engine speed. A highly modern controller manages the work of the common rail injection system, which develops pressures as high as 1,800 bar - far more than the weight of the car on a square centimeter. The high pressure enables extremely fine vaporization of the fuel and thus the excellent mixture preparation.

Precision: tiny injection volumes
The injectors have eight-port nozzles and operate according to the piezo principle, in which hundreds of tiny ceramic platelets are packed on top of each other. When an electric voltage is applied, they change their crystalline structure - the platelets expand slightly and this movement is transmitted to the injection needles.

The injectors close again after only one to two milliseconds - in some cases after having injected less than one thousandth of a gram of fuel. In the 2.0 TDI there are as many as five injections per work cycle. This ensures a finely moderated increase in pressure in the cylinder and a soft combustion process, which is of substantial benefit to the engine acoustics.

The turbocharger also has a part in this concert. Its adjustable vanes on the exhaust side enable the harmonious and agile development of torque. When the driver steps hard on the gas with the engine at low revs, the blades are flattened. The smaller inlet cross-section forces the exhaust gas to flow in at higher speed. The turbine wheel turns faster, the pumped volume of fresh air increases and the boost pressure builds up instantly. A pulse damper reduces the vibrations of the turbocharger.

Thanks to this technology and a special piston geometry, the 125 kW (170 hp) 2.0 TDI units redline at an unusually high 5,400 rpm and feature improved thermodynamics in the combustion chambers. Up to 60 percent of the exhaust gas can be recirculated, resulting in a relatively cool and oxygen-lean combustion and thus low raw emissions of oxides of nitrogen.

The exhaust gas recirculation system achieves particularly effective cooling. Like all of the engines in the model series, the Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TDI complies with the Euro 5 standard.

State of the art: the V6 TDI units
The two V6 TDI units are also state-of-the-art diesel engines. Their serene character, their mighty torque and cultivated running behavior represent a modern, intelligent form of sportiness. Their crankcases are made of vermicular graphite cast iron, a sophisticated type of cast iron that is particularly lightweight and strong. A bundle of complex measures improve efficiency by reducing the internal friction of the crankshaft drive. The V6 TDI units also feature variable geometry turbochargers, common rail piezo injection systems and a high-performance exhaust gas recirculation system.

The 2.7-liter engine produces 140 kW (190 hp) and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) of torque between 1,400 and 3,250 rpm while consuming only 6.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (39.20 US mpg) in the EU driving cycle. The smaller of the two V6 TDI units, it displaces 2,698 cubic centimeters and is paired with front-wheel drive and a manual transmission. It brings the Audi A5 Sportback to highway speed in 8.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 235 km/h (146.02 mph). The multitronic will be available as an option starting this fall.

Displacing 2,967 cc, the three-liter engine generates 176 kW (240 hp) and applies 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque to the crankshaft between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm. The sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes 6.1 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 247 km/h (153.48 mph). The top-of-the-line diesel's average fuel economy is 6.6 liters/100 km (35.64 US mpg). The seven-speed S tronic delivers the engine's power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. A model with a manual transmission will follow in the fall.

Audi A5 Cabriolet, 2010

 

 

Audi A5 Cabriolet, 2010

Dynamic, confident and stunning - the Audi A5 Cabriolet is emotionally evocative. The four-seater with the fabric top combines a distinctly sporty character with the fascination of open-top driving, refined comfort and a great everyday utility. Five efficient engines, an agile suspension and a wide range of high-end options make the new Audi the most attractive convertible in the mid-sized segment.

Delivery will begin in the second quarter of 2009. Prices start at 37,300 euros for the entry-level 1.8 TFSI model with 118 kW (160 hp), which will follow somewhat later.

Crowning the new model series is the Audi S5 Cabriolet. The letter "S" traditionally stands for supreme sportiness - for dynamics, performance and power, but also for amazing efficiency. Powering the S5 Cabriolet is a newly developed, supercharged three-liter V6 that pumps out 245 kW (333 hp) for superior performance.

Like all Audi convertibles, the open-top Audi A5 also has a lightweight fabric top that endows it with a silhouette of dynamic elegance. The fully automatic top opens in just 15 seconds. Audi also offers an optional acoustic top with an intermediate layer of insulating foam that reduces wind noise almost to the sedan level.

When opened, the Audi A5 Cabriolet top folds down so effectively that very little trunk space is used up - leaving 320 liters (11.30 cubic ft) of unused storage volume, clearly the best value in its field of competitors. The soft top compartment lowers automatically when the top is opened. Equally useful is the fold-down rear seat backrest and the large pass-through between the luggage compartment and the interior, which increases the storage volume to a generous 750 liters (26.49 cubic ft).


Rounding out the comfortable character of the four-seater's interior are automatic seatbelt extenders for the front seats and the optionally available head-level heating. A special coating on the optional leather seats reduces solar heating. The Audi A5 Cabriolet seats four comfortably. The refined ambience combines with perfect ergonomics to convey an atmosphere of sporty elegance. Ultra-high-strength steels and selective reinforcements of the body ensure high rigidity and crash safety.

The Audi A5 Cabriolet is being launched with three gasoline engines and two diesel engines ranging between 132 kW (180 hp) and 195 kW (265 hp). All five power plants are fueled via direct fuel injection; four of them use turbocharging. Available powertrains include a six-speed manual, the continuously variable multitronic and the new, lightning-fast seven-speed S tronic. In addition to front-wheel drive, Audi also offers quattro permanent all-wheel drive for the higher-power engines. The innovative sport differential, which variably distributes power between the rear wheels, is optionally available for even greater dynamics and driving pleasure.

Fascinating dynamics: Audi drive select
The perfect addition to this technology package is the Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system, which enables the driver to chose among three different engine maps controlling the characteristics of the fuel feed, the shifting points of the seven-speed S tronic or the multitronic, and the boost provided by the servotronic steering system. If the car is equipped with the MMI operating interface, a fourth, freely programmable map is available. Additional technologies available include adaptive control of the shock absorbers and variable-ratio dynamic steering.

The new Audi A5 Cabriolet features a rich array of equipment in addition to the fully automatic top, including an automatic climate-control system and a CD audio system. Highlights from the long list of options include the innovative driver assist systems and the latest generation MMI operating interface, which offers many attractive navigation and entertainment features.

As the dynamic open-top Audi S5 model of the new production series, the S5 Cabriolet occupies a very special position. Its three-liter TFSI - a V6 with mechanical supercharger - unfolds its 245 kW (333 hp) and 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) of torque with impressive results: It responds tenaciously to the throttle and delivers excellent driving performance. The quattro drivetrain, a sport suspension with 18-inch wheels and a number of special equipment details underscore the athletic character of the Audi S5 Cabriolet.

The exterior design
Open-top cars are bought with the heart - they are supposed to express the personality of their drivers: their independence, their individuality, their joie de vivre. Design is a particular important factor in this emotional decision, and Audi underscores its leadership in this area once again with the Audi A5 Cabriolet. It appeals to young, highly educated customers with a good income and sporty lifestyle.

The Audi A5 Cabriolet combines the brand's progressive styling with the fascination of an open-top car. Measuring 4.63 meters (15.19 ft) long and 1.85 meters (6.07 ft) wide, but only 1.38 meters (4.53 ft) tall, the Audi four-seater wraps the sportiest proportions in its class in classic elegance. The stretched hood, the long 2.75 meter (9.02 ft) wheelbase, the sharp lines and muscular sweep of the shoulder contour draw a distinctive silhouette. The broad track of nearly 1.60 meters (5.25 ft) front and rear, the large wheels, the distinctive front end, the expressive tail and the sculptured, curving surfaces interact to create a harmonious whole.

The styling of the front end is dominated by the single-frame grille bordered by a strip of anodized aluminum. The bars are painted Stone Gray; in the two top V6 models - the 3.2 FSI and the 3.0 TDI - these are painted a high-gloss black. Three air intakes - the center one beneath the grille - emphasize the width of the front end.

The exquisite design of the headlights makes them look like technical works of art. A plastic strut vapor-coated with chrome - the "wing" - separates the individual lamp chambers. The high-efficiency daytime running lights of the xenon plus headlights comprise a sickle-shaped strip of eight 1 Watt, high-performance LEDs. Halogen fog lights are standard on all models, and Audi offers adaptive light dynamic cornering lights as an option.

Lines, surfaces and contour edges - an athletic sculpture
Two lateral lines extending beyond the hood underscore the presence of the single-frame grille. An aluminum molding lends high gloss to the windshield frame, and LED blinkers are integrated into the new exterior mirrors. As with every Audi, the flanks are marked by taut surfaces and two light-reflecting edges - the dynamic line above the side sills and the tornado line below the window shoulder. The broad, muscular arched shoulders, the pronounced wheel arches and the large wheels - forged 17-inch wheels are standard - underscore the power of the Audi A5 Cabriolet.

Horizontal lines and a distinctly colored diffuser insert emphasize the wide, sporty appearance of the tail end. The trunk bears an unobtrusive spoiler lip. LEDs in the taillights creative a distinctive, ring-shaped light pattern. All models feature a dual exhaust system, with the larger engine version having a tailpipe on the left and the right. Even the TDI engines come with straight pipes - a subtle indication of zero particulate emissions thanks to the standard diesel particulate filter (DPF).

The Audi A5 Cabriolet is available in 15 colors: Aruba Blue, pearl effect, Brilliant Red, Brilliant Black, Ice Silver, metallic, Garnet Red, pearl effect, Ibis White, Meteor Gray, pearl effect, Quartz Gray, metallic, Phantom Black, pearl effect, Sahara Silver, metallic, Sphere Blue, metallic and Deep Sea Blue, pearl effect. New colors are Amethyst Grey, metallic, Aurum Beige, metallic and Teak Brown, metallic.

The outer skin of the top is available in a choice of four colors, Blue, Brown, Red and Black, which form attractive combinations with the paint shades.

The convertible top
The fabric top with the large, flat glass rear window fits into the elegant design profile of the Audi A5 Cabriolet perfectly and much more harmoniously than a folding steel roof could. It is also much lighter, thus reducing total weight and lowering the center of gravity. A metal top would have brought with it additional disadvantages that Audi fundamentally rejects - wide, obvious body joints in the roof and tail end area and reduced trunk space.

The soft top comprises three layers: top covering, cushioning pad and headliner. In the optional acoustic top, which reduces wind noise almost to the level of a sedan, this is replaced by a foam layer up to 15 mm (0.59 in) in thickness. The acoustic top comes with an LED light for the rear seat - a feature usually found only in the luxury convertible segment.

A high-pressure hydraulic pump and four operating cylinders that move the top are actuated when a pushbutton on the center console or on the optional advanced key is depressed. It takes 15 seconds to open the top, 17 seconds to close it. Both actions can also be performed while driving at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph) - a major convenience in city traffic or on country roads.

Large trunk: 320 liters (11.30 cubic ft) with the top open
When opened, the top is retracted under a fixed cover, where it is folded down into an extremely compact, trifold configuration. Its storage compartment, which is made of a robust textile mat and adorned with aluminum trim, takes up just a few centimeters of height and only 60 liters (2.12 cubic ft) of the 380 liters (13.42 cubic ft) of luggage space. The remaining 320 liters (11.30 cubic ft) with the top open are by far best in class. Rivals equipped with a folding steel roof offer at least 100 liters (3.53 cubic ft) less.

A number of clever solutions bring even more convenience to the Audi A5 Cabriolet. The driver does not have to do anything before opening the top - the top compartment lowers itself automatically into the trunk. If there isn't enough room, a sensor annunciates an alarm and the top does not open. A master switch with one-touch function also makes it very easy to actuate the four power windows simultaneously.

The 50:50 split folding rear seat backrests can be easily unlocked by actuating two levers in the trunk. Pretensioned with springs, they drop automatically onto the seat cushions. The standard pass-through is 70 centimeters (27.56 in) wide and 30 centimeters (11.81 in) high. The loading space behind the front seatbacks is thus 1.76 meters (5.77ft) long, providing a total storage volume of 750 liters (26.49 cubic ft). A ski bag is optional; a 12-volt plug in the trunk comes standard.

The rear trunk lid with the electric lock reveals an opening large enough to stow two golf bags. The low loading lip also makes loading and unloading easier. The standard wind deflector, which is stretched over the rear seats, can be stored in the spare-wheel well when not in use, provided that the optional compact temporary spare wheel is not on board.

The body
Like every Audi, the A5 Cabriolet has an extremely rigid body. This is the prime reason for its precise, sporty handling, superior ride comfort and high crash safety. Hardly any oscillations or vibrations can be felt in an open A5, not even at the steering wheel or on the seats - the "comfort points."

Several innovative technologies are used in the construction of the body-in-white. A prime example are the ultra-high-strength steels, which Audi largely fabricates in-house using hot forming. Combining low weight with extremely high tensile strength, they are used in the side sills, the longitudinal members, the center tunnel, the B-pillars and the front cross members.

A whole array of additional reinforcement parts compensates for the absence of a solid roof. In the front section, diagonal struts run from the side sills to the auxiliary frame for the suspension mounts. In the rear section, similar components are integrated beneath the floor of the trunk. The side sills have particularly thick walls. The hydroformed tubes that reinforce the A-pillars from the inside are particularly high-strength and capable of bearing extremely high loads.

Another important component is a solid aluminum frame with integrated roll-over protection located between the cabin and the trunk. When a rollover threatens, electric actuators release aluminum braces pretensioned with powerful springs, which shoot up fast as lightning behind the rear headrests and lock into place, thus expanding the passenger survival space.

Seat-mounted head and thorax side airbags with a volume of 18 liters (0.64 cubic ft) each provide protection in the event of a side impact; full-size airbags protect the driver and front-seat passenger in the event of a frontal collision. Because the control unit knows the seating position, it can adaptively trigger the belts and airbags to provide the best possible protection for passengers large and small in all types of collisions. In a rear-end collision, the integral head restraint system averts the danger of whiplash injuries.

The front fenders of the Audi A5 Cabriolet are made of lightweight aluminum to reduce weight and optimize the axle load distribution. Sophisticated details such as a fully-enclosed underbody improve the airflow and thus the acoustics and also fuel efficiency. With the top closed, the four-seater has a drag coefficient of 0.31 and a frontal surface area of 2.17 m² (23.36 sq ft).

The interior
With its long wheelbase of 2.75 meters (9.02 ft), the Audi A5 Cabriolet offers a roomy interior; the open four-seater has plenty of room for longer trips. That's also true for the sportily sculpted rear seats, which can be optionally supplied with a center console with a beverage holder with two cup holders and roller cover, including a storage compartment beneath the front passenger seat.

The front seats are sportily low and sculpted for perfect ergonomics, offering perfect control and support. Electric seatbelt extenders provide assistance with fastening the belts. Integrated into the B-pillars, they move forward automatically when the ignition is activated. The seatbelt extender returns to its ready position once the tab engages in the buckle.

Audi offers a broad range of optional seats for special requirements - sport seats with extendable thigh rests and electric lumbar support, all-electric adjustment and heating, including heating for the back seats as a separate option. In the high-end climate-controlled comfort seats, small fans and an automatic auxiliary heater ensure luxurious comfort.

Another luxury feature integrated into the climate-controlled comfort seats is the new neck-level heating. A three-level adjustable fan blows warm air through ducts on the topside of the seatback to warm the back of the head and the neck. The neck-level heating, which is also available for sport seats, prolongs the open-air season.

Another special feature is the optional leather upholstery: a special coating inhibits solar heating while the Audi A5 Cabriolet is parked in the sun with the top down. This heat-up resistance function reflects the warming infrared radiation and thus lowers the surface temperature by up to 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

Audi offers a choice of several seat coverings for the entire range of seats, from the standard Arcade fabric to a combination of leather and Alcantara to a particularly soft version of Fine Nappa leather. Seven colors are available: black, lunar silver, pale gray, luxor beige, cardamom beige, cinnamon and red. Inlays come standard in Micrometallic platinum; aluminum, burl walnut, ash and laurel are available as options. The headliner is available in three colors: black, star silver and linen beige.

Flowing elegance - the interior design
Elegance in flowing lines, perfect ergonomics, high-grade materials and uncompromising craftsmanship characterize the interior. Like in every Audi, the interior is a treat for the senses - for the ears, nose, fingertips and of course the eyes. The teardrop-shaped surrounds of the instruments have already become modern classics. The central, high-mounted onboard monitor is standard equipment. The sculpted cockpit is oriented toward the driver. Flowing lines link it to the center tunnel and the door linings.

If the customer has ordered either one of the two navigation systems, it comes with the sophisticated MMI operating system. With its intuitive, easy-to-understand menu system, the large buttons and the central control knob on the middle tunnel, it is the best solution on the market.

The engines
Audi has also consistently used innovative technologies for the engines. All five gasoline and diesel engines initially available for the Audi A5 Cabriolet use common rail direct injection. They are impressive evidence that efficiency and dynamics are complementary and interdependent. Audi has demonstrated the potency of this philosophy in motor sports for a number of years now. At the Le Mans 24 Hours, the toughest test of them all, Audi R8 and R10 TDI race cars have claimed eight overall victories in the past nine years.

The most powerful gasoline engine in the Audi A5 Cabriolet is the 3.2 FSI. Installed in the head is the innovative Audi valvelift system (AVS) - a technology that varies the lift of the intake valves in two stages as a function of load and engine speed. The AVS improves the gas exchange and adjusts the volume of intake air over a wide range. The throttle can also remain wide open even at part load, reducing throttle losses. Torque and power increase, which permits a somewhat longer gearing; fuel consumption is improved by up to ten percent.

Displacing 3,197 cc, the V6 delivers 195 kW (265 hp) and 330 Nm (243.4 lb-ft) at between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm. With front-wheel drive and multitronic, it accelerates the Audi A5 Cabriolet to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 6.9 seconds on the way to a top speed of 246 km/h (152.86 mph). Its fuel consumption averages just 8.6 liters per 100 km (27.35 US mpg). quattro all-wheel drive combined with the new seven-speed S tronic is available as an option.

The 2.0 TFSI displacing 1,984 cc is also a high-tech engine. The four-cylinder combines FSI direct fuel injection with turbocharging and crowns this combination with the Audi valvelift system. Here AVS manages the variable opening of the exhaust valves, reducing flushing losses in the combustion chamber and ensuring an optimal flow of exhaust gas to the turbocharger. The effects are the same as in the V6 - increased performance and lower consumption. Another key feature of the four-cylinder are the two balance shafts, which are a major factor for its smoothness.

Two versions of the 2.0 TFSI are available. In the entry-level version, which comes with front-wheel drive and multitronic, the turbocharged four-cylinder unit delivers 132 kW (180 hp) and 320 Nm (236.02 lb-ft), with the powerful torque available between 1,500 and 3,900 rpm. This version completes the standard sprint in 8.9 seconds and has a top speed of 219 km/h (136.08 mph). Average fuel efficiency is an excellent 7.4 l/100 km (31.79 US mpg).

The more powerful version of the 2.0 TFSI delivers an impressive 155 kW (211 hp) and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) over an even broader range between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm. It is available with three powertrain versions: with quattro all-wheel drive combined with the seven-speed, dual-clutch S tronic transmission, and with front-wheel drive and either a multitronic or a six-speed manual transmission. In the latter version, the Audi A5 Cabriolet achieves performance that just a few years ago would have been worthy of a six-cylinder version: It sprints to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 241 km/h (149.75 mph), making its average fuel consumption of just 6.8 l/100 km (34.59 US mpg) all the more astonishing.

TDI from Audi - the world's most successful efficiency technology

The TDI engines, which offer a unique combination of power and fuel economy, have been the world's leading efficiency technologies since their debut in 1989. The two V6 diesels in the Audi A5 Cabriolet also set the standards in their class. With their composed character, massive torque and consistent running smoothness, they represent a modern, smart type of sportiness.

The two four-valve engines, part of the modern family of V-engines from Audi, feature lightweight, yet high-strength crank cases. A number of sophisticated measures significantly reduce internal friction. Fast and accurate down to the smallest injection volumes, the piezo injectors in the common rail injection systems ensure a "soft" combustion process that benefits not only the engine acoustics but also the raw emissions. Thanks to sophisticated exhaust gas recirculation, both V6 TDI engines satisfy the limits of the Euro 5 standard.

Displacing 2,967 cc, the three-liter engine generates 176 kW (240 hp) and applies 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque to the crankshaft. The sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes 6.4 seconds. Top speed is 247 km/h (153.48 mph). This top-of-the-line diesel, which powers all four wheels via the seven-speed S tronic transmission, consumes only 6.8 liters/100 km (34.59 US mpg).

The second TDI in the program is even thriftier: The 2.7-liter unit with 140 kW (190 hp) and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) between 1,400 and 3,250 rpm boasts an average fuel consumption of only 6.2 liters/100 km (37.94 US mpg). The smaller of the two diesels, which displaces 2,698 cc, is paired with front-wheel drive and a manual transmission. The key data: 0 - 100 km/h (62.14 mph) and a top speed of 230 km/h (142.92 mph).

The entry-level diesel engine is the 125 kW (170 hp) 2.0 TDI. Its average fuel consumption is a mere 5.6 liters/100 km (42 US mpg) (preliminary figure). The four-cylinder unit displacing 1,968 cc combines driving enjoyment and refinement with high efficiency.

Dual cam shafts actuate 16 valves in the cylinder head. The common rail injectors are managed by the most advanced controllers on the market. Modern piezo injectors with eight-hole nozzles are also used in the 2.0 TDI. The fine modulation of up to five injections per cycle significantly reduces noise. The single-piston high-pressure pump develops a system pressure of 1,800 bar.

The fan belt drive was also acoustically redesigned; the shroud now includes more noise-damping structures. Two balance shafts reduce the vibrations generated in the crankshaft drive.

The four-cylinder includes a number of special features for improved performance. The turbocharger uses adjustable vanes for rapid generation of torque, and a pulsation damper reduces its vibrations. Electric motors control the position of the swirlers in the intake tube to adapt the inflow of air to the prevailing load and speed.

The optimized air management and modified piston geometry result in a high maximum engine speed of 5,000 rpm and improved thermodynamics in the combustion chambers. The two-liter TDI can be operated with an exhaust gas recirculation rate of up to 60 percent, resulting in cooler and leaner combustion and lower nitrogen oxide levels in the raw emissions. The EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) unit provides high cooling performance.

The refined 2.0 TDI generates 125 kW (170 hp) and delivers 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque to the crankshaft between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. That suffices to launch the Audi A5 Cabriolet to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 9.3 seconds and to a top speed of 222 km/h (137.94 mph).

Efficiency in stop-and-go traffic: the new start-stop system
Sporty power and high fuel efficiency are not contradictory at Audi - quite the contrary: The one necessitates the other. The brand with the four rings has also used its new technologies from its modular efficiency system in the Audi A5 Cabriolet. Cars equipped with the six-speed manual transmission in combination with either of the two 2.0 TFSI engines or the 2.0 TDI engine come with a new solution as standard equipment: a highly efficient start-stop system.

When the Audi A5 Cabriolet comes to a stop at a traffic light or an intersection, the shift lever is in neutral and the driver's foot has been taken off the clutch, the system's control unit shuts down the engine. A message to this effect is displayed in the display of the central instrument cluster. On a hill or a downgrade, the brake system maintains the brake pressure automatically unless the slope is greater than 10 percent.