- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr
Audi S5. Three faces of one model
The Audi S5 Sportback is a sports version of the Audi A5 manufactured since 2007. The S5 is available in coupe, cabriolet and liftback variants with different engines. The cars share aggressive and memorable front end design, all-wheel drive like all the S-models, stylish design, superb equipment and driving pleasure as the highest goal of existence.
The first generation
In March 2007, the manufacturer introduced the Audi S5 coupe simultaneously with the A5 model. The coupe was produced until 2017 and was restyled in 2011. The car was equipped with a 4.2-liter petrol V8 FSI engine, which developed 354 hp at 6,800 rpm and a torque of 440 Nm at 3,500 rpm. There were two 6-speed manual and automatic Tiptronic gearboxes. A car with such equipment accelerated to 100 km/h in 5.1/5.4 seconds (manual transmission/automatic transmission), to 200 km/h in 19.1 seconds, while the maximum speed limit was traditionally set at 250 km/h. The ESP could be disabled in two levels (simply disabled and completely disabled), which allowed an experienced driver to use the full potential of the car in a suitable situation. The 4-seater car was 4,718 mm long, 1,854 mm wide and 1,380 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,751 mm.
The Audi S5 liftback debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and went on sale in the spring of 2010. This version was equipped with a 3-liter V6 FSI direct injection engine with 333 hp at 6,500 rpm and a torque of 440 Nm in the range of 2,900 – 5,300 rpm. The engine was paired with a 7-speed semi-automatic transmission. The liftback was also exclusively all-wheel drive, and accelerated to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. The S5 liftback had almost the same dimensions as the coupe. It was 4,713 mm long, 1,854 mm wide and 1,382 mm high, with a wheelbase slightly longer than that of the coupe: 2,811 mm.
The Audi S5 is an all-wheel drive coupe, sportback and cabriolet based on the Audi A5. The cars had different engines, but all of them ensured driving pleasure.
The Audi S5 cabriolet is a powerful version of the Audi A5 cabriolet, which was also unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, while its sales started in 2010. In terms of equipment, the car was reminiscent of a liftback, as it was equipped with the same 3.0-liter V6 FSI engine with 333 hp and a torque of 440 Nm. The S5 cabriolet accelerated to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, 0.3 seconds behind the S5 sportback. The maximum speed was 250 km/h. The engine was paired with a 7-speed semi-automatic transmission. The Audi S5 cabriolet, like all the S series cars, could only be all-wheel drive. The car was 4-seater. It was exactly like the coupe in terms of size. It was 4,718 mm long, 1,854 mm wide and 1,380 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,751 mm.
All Audi S5s had equally good interiors, featuring a leather sports 3-spoke steering wheel, upholstered sports seats, aluminum accents in the interior trim. The list of standard equipment for all S5s included: sports suspension, stability control system, dual-zone climate control, front and side airbags, curtain airbags, bi-xenon headlights, etc. The options included: cruise control, adaptive headlights, electric sunroof and etc.
2011 restyling
Restyling took place in the autumn of 2011. The restyled models started featuring Stop-Start technology for better fuel efficiency. According to Audi, the coupe’s average fuel consumption dropped to 8.9 liters. The S5 acquired redesigned headlights with new LED DRLs, as well as a new grille and other fog lights. The taillights were redesigned. Moreover, some interior elements were upgraded (steering wheel, gear knob), and the MMI multimedia received an updated interface and now had Google Earth maps.
The second generation
The second generation Audi S5 is also a four-wheel drive coupe, sportback and cabriolet, produced by Audi since 2017. The cars started looking more modern and started featuring new engines, while becoming lighter.
The second generation Audi S5 coupe was unveiled on June 2, 2016 at a special event in Ingolstadt. The new body provided a weight reduction of up to 1,615 kg, the lines were even sharper and the radiator grille was larger. The elegant car had a low drag coefficient of just 0.25, one of the best in the segment. The Audi S5 coupe was 4,692 mm long, 1,846 mm wide and 1,368 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,765 mm.
The car started featuring a completely new, more powerful, 3-liter turbocharged V6 petrol direct injection engine with two spirals (354 hp). This engine was equipped with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission with manual mode (tiptronic). The declared fuel consumption ranged from 9.9 l/100 km in city mode to 7.4 l/100 km in suburban mode. The S5 coupe also had a 3-liter turbocharged diesel engine with different boost options (190, 218 or 286 hp). The quattro all-wheel drive system included a new lockable interaxle clutch, which distributed the torque as follows: 40% forward and 60% back, but could redistribute differently: up to 70% forward or up to 85% back. It took the new model just 4.7 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h. The maximum speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h.
The new Audi S5 started looking more modern and started featuring new engines, while becoming lighter.
In November 2016, Audi presented the S5 cabriolet on the Internet. The model was publicly unveiled at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The model with an open body was similar to the coupe, with the exception of a multi-layer fabric top, which hid the trunk in 15 seconds and rose in 18. The model was 4,692 mm long, 1,368 mm high and 1,846 mm wide. The wheelbase was the same as that of a coupe, reaching 2,765 mm.
The Audi S5 liftback, traditionally named Sportback, made its appearance via an internet presentation in September 2016, and its world premiere took place at the Paris Motor Show a few weeks later. It was 4,752 mm long, 1,843 mm wide and 1,384 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,825 mm. The car came with the same 3-liter engine.
In terms of design, all S5 cars did not differ too much from the standard A5 model, based on the same MLB evo platform with a double-wishbone suspension at the front and a multi-link at the rear. By default, the Audi S5 had adaptive electromechanical power steering and ventilated disc brakes on both axles. The standard equipment included a set of 6 airbags, lane keeping assist, dynamic cruise control, adaptive road lighting, blind spot monitoring and other functions.
2019 restyling
Exterior upgrades include a new grille, a different bumper shape and air intakes, a body kit, etc. The main feature of the 2019/2020 Audi S5 is new matrix LED headlights with dotted running lights and the same lighting pattern for the taillights. LED headlights are now standard equipment, with matrix optics and even laser-phosphor high beams as options.
The engines of the new Audi S5 depend on the country of sale. Thus, coupes and liftbacks come to Europe with a 3.0 TDI V6 engine, while a 3-liter petrol engine is offered to other countries. There is a 7-speed S tronic semi-automatic transmission, whereas a V6 diesel engine is coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Inside, the 2020/2021 Audi S5 features a digital dashboard on a 12.3-inch display (standard). The new MMI media system has a more powerful processor, voice control and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. For this reason, all new S5s no longer feature control units.
