This is the first picture of Audi’s new A5 Sportback, essentially an (oxymoronic) four-door version of its A5 Coupe. It’s the first time Audi has officially acknowledged the existence of the car, and along with the solitary photo, the company has also issued a design sketch and video to drum up interest ahead of the A5 Sportback’s launch later in 2009.
Let me guess… Audi reckons the A5 Sportback is as elegant as a coupe, and as practical as an Avant.
Bingo – that’s exactly Ingolstadt’s catchphrase for the new car. But while the 480-litre boot almost matches the 490 you’ll find in the Avant, when you fold the rear seats there’s only 980 litres of load-lugging capacity to the 1430 you’ll find in the Avant.
We’ll have to wait to see the car in full before we decide if the Sportback is a gorgeous as the A5 Coupe though – we can’t see much in the teaser photo beyond the hatchback boot and integrated lip spoiler. But we do know the Sportback will only be 36mm lower than the A4 saloon, and Audi promises ‘comparable headroom and legroom’, thanks in part to the car only having seating for four and the 2810mm wheelbase being 59mm longer than the Coupe’s.
Is the A5 Sportback a Mercedes CLS rival?
No, it’s smaller than the Merc that started the trend for four-door coupes – it’s C-class rather than E-class size. Think of it as a swoopier and sexier A4 with frameless doors.
Is it the usual mix of engines?
Yes. At launch this autumn you’ll be able to choose between two petrol (2.0T and 3.2 V6) and three diesel engines (2.0, 2.7 and 3.0 TDI). Both petrols come with Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system, as does the range-topping diesel, while an entry-level Sportback, expected to be the cheapest in the entire A5 range, will appear in mid-2010.
UK prices have yet to be announced, but in mainland Europe the 2.0 TDI will be priced from €36,050 (£30,400), making it cheaper than the equivalent Coupe model. Expect UK prices to start around £27k.
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