2007 GENEVA AUTO SHOW- Audi makes a prettier coupe than the Mercedes CL, BMW 6 and 335? First real photos

That is not it. This is fake stuff as the real A5 will be shown in 14 days, 8 hours, 56 minutes and 10 seconds.

JK, someone will be fired for sure, maybe not. I like the outside, inside and everything.

YES, this IS it.

Where is he link to the story?

Doesn't the side profile kind of look like the new Skyline GT-R?

I am refering to the A to C Pillars

Mazman, if anything the side prfile looks Audi all he way and the Skyline GT-R looks like this new Audi.

EL34, how could the Skyline GT-R look like the A5 when the A5 was released after the GT-R's design? You need to make some sense here.

I am sorry to break your heart man, but the back of this thing looks just like the new 3ser coupes from Bimmer it even looks like the upcoming M3.

If anyone recalls the Audi Nouvalari concept from 2003 they will clearly see the design comes from that. Of course there are similar desing elements among vehicles today - nobody wants to stick out like a sour thumb in the luxury segment. While it does look similar at the rear to the 3 Series to say they copied it is really rediculous.

If this is the car, they sure have done a good job...at blending audi with 3-series design.

If you audi people can't see a bmw from the rear-then you guys are blind.

All honesty its a great looking car.

I must be Stevie Wonder..I don't see it. It looks good though.

I think it has an Aston Martin touch to the rear quarter. I don't like the side profile of the rear quarter windows, they look too long. Looking at this car closer, you can see that the roof is longer than a typical coupe to support better rear headroom. Unfortunatley this long roof design detracts from the sport image this car is trying to portray.
I think I will wait for the 2008 G35 Coupe, lines are much sexier. Probably less headroom for the rear passengers in the new G35 coupe than this A5 but I would sacrifice the space of my rear passengers to add style to my car.

Every car is similar to evry car these days. The Acura MDX and RDX both share Q7 Elements especially in the tail lights. I think this looks better than the BM and while I do see similarities it's overall a different car. It will be closer in size to the 5 series as well so the difference become even greater.

BLAND BLAND BLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLANDBLAND BLAND

NO PERSONALITY AT ALL, NO CHARACTER LINES. UNDESCRIPT REAR END

Nice! Thanks 001. Hmmm.. . I like it! Just looking at those seats is making me comfortable.

I’m waiting for show debut for better judgment; but one thing kinda worries me. Why the Saab-esque placement on the Start/Stop button? That’s always been a peeve of mine about Saab and not a trait that any car company should mimic. Ever. I don’t want to reach for seat heating, or navigation or any of the other 20 controls next to the shifter, and accidentally turn the car off.

thers got to be a safety program where the car cant turnoff by the button if its not in park

Better design than a CLS?or a 6 series?. you have to be kidding me, this is a straight knock-off off the new 3series coupe', which i must say is such a beautiful car, everytime i see the new 3 series coupe' i stare with amazement, i have an M6 and me here driving in my badass car lol and along comes a hot chick driving the new 3series coupe'lol best sight ever!! This AUDI does look nice though, but come on not better than those that were mentioned!

It's nice but I'm honestly a little disappointed with how it turned out.

The back looks like a mix of the G35 & 3er coupe, & it’s just not as nice as I thought it was going to be. Though I did feel the same way when I first saw the new 3-series coupe. As far as being nicer than the CL, 6-series, & 335i...I don’t think so.

The CL is a very elegant looking vehicle, the 6 is such a fascinating design to look at (I find new angles in which to look at it everyday), & the 3 coupe manages to looks way more striking than the new A5.

The 6 series BMW is one of the ugliest of all. The rear is just not very good. The A5 looks good in almost all angles in the first photos. It will definitely look better in real life photos and in real life.

Too similar with the 3 Coupe's back.It's nice though but i think the 3 is much better.It has more personality.

3 series coupe is so much more in one, this has some wrong lines, if you follow the one along the top of the side and bottom and look at the window line, i dont like that. It is a A6 indside and borring.
335i for me:)

When I look at this car, I am reminded of the first generation Mercedes-Benz CLK. I do like how Audi has morphed the grill once-again and taken a step closer to the feel of the original Auto Union grills.
I'm anxious to see the A5 offically debut.
-Alex

While this is a great looking car the photos don't see real. Check out the interior photos and the moving MMI interface, doubt audi would release photos like this.

They are real. But I agree it is great looking. It would be very hard to make around 30+ official-like photos of a brand new car. There are two interiors featured. One base with no MMI control and one with MMI control.

its looks kinda plain, stretched tt. but gotta wait for the real pics or in person to judge.

If you are going to go to this much trouble to produce a Nuvolari concept and the end result is basically the old A4 convertible with the A6 front and interior and TT seats, why bother?

Too plain, interior should be way more funky, not last gen A6.

Audi is not competition for BMW, and Mercedes, Audi is more like Saab, Volvo. The only people in the US that Buy audi are people who can not afford a better car.

Let me tell you how wrong you are.. I've worked at Mercedes for 5 years and have owned 3 Audis. I could've owned a Mercedes for less than I paid for my Audis, but the Audi's are just better cars.

Even the 2008 Accord coupe looks nicer than this one.

I see now that you people are a bunch of blind biased knuckleheads who couldn't be honest about the way a car looked it your life depended on it. I've never been an Audi fan. It looks good. It doesn't remind me of the BMW 3, G35 coupe or any of the others and I love both of those cars.

Just like all the other Audis except the R8.

maybe but it still looks better then your 3 series coupe

I am not sure what all of you consider a good looking car? There should be an unsaid rule when commenting on the way a car looks for this blog. Once you say something bad about the car, you then have to say what car in that same class is "good looking" and why? I think your criteria's elude me? As for Larry, Audi always eats away at Merc's and Bimmer's bottom line and they are knocking on both those companies doors.

i agree with you, looks are based on personal opinions , but for these other guys to sit here and say its ugly, blows my mind.

I like it, and I like the interior.
But at least we're getting the 3.0tdi as well.
Bit chunky in side profile though, but many current coupes are.

the front looks pretty cool!but for the rear... ...
looks just like an 3 serise coupe, but not as pretty as it. the interior is cool too. i like it.
overall, i think it is pretty, maybe prettier than the CL,but not the 335.

Audi makes a prettier coupe than the Mercedes CL, BMW 6 and 335???

No, simple.

However it is a good looking car, simply looks like a larger TT. Front and side look okay, back looks a little messy compared to A4.

IMO Audi are in danger of making their cars too similar. Yes they look okay, and yes it's good for brand identity which Audi will need to help achieve their desired growth... but I remember when BMW were criticised for just making the same car in 3 different sizes... people get bored with predictable looking cars - Audi should to be wary of this.

This car is beautiful from every angle inside and out. I can't wait until there are enough of them on the streets that I see one or two a day to brighten my morning commute. Nice job Audi!

This is certainly not the real thing! This is a poor photoshop that doesn't even come close to the CLS. Even the M6 looks better albeit marginally. The link immediately below shows the official pictures from Fourtitude (they tend to publish reasonably accurate pictures)

http://www.fourtitude.com/gallery/gallery3.php?mode=view&album=/Design/Photoshop%20Illustrations/George@Fourtitude&pic=022.jpg&start=&dispsize=800

Now edmunds has this below as the 2008 A5, but it is really the 2003 Nuvolari concept which was the A5 precursor anyway... Now that's a kick-ass coupe that blows away the CLS

http://www.edmunds.com/vehiclepicture.100543719.f.20103766.html

Now compare the original Nuvolari concept picture below to the fourtitude pictures and you'll see why I'll put my money on those pictures...They're close enough

http://www.seriouswheels.com/2000-2003/2003-Audi-Nuvolari-Quattro-Concept-F-1280x960.htm

its not suppose to compete with the CLS, thats a 4 door coupe, this is a 2 door. The A7 is suppose to compete with the CLS, if they come out with it

OMG! It looks like an Audi!

It's pretty apparent from the number of pictures of the mechanical bits visible beneath the skin that this is the real thing.
I think it's a nice car overall, okay profile (I particularly like the very thin roof line above the side windows), nice swoopy character line (unfortunately that line brings to mind the Toyota Solara), clean rear styling; on whole it's fairly cohesive. The front end is the best element of the design, it's interesting and aggressive and though I was an early critic of the huge grill, I guess I've become accustomed to it and it works with this car. However, the front design seem to fit the theme of the rest of the car. This design, like other Audi's, is a little too clean and sanitized, to the point that it's kind of plain (except the front end).
Also, why can't any other automakers build pillarless coupes like M-B?
Is it prettier than the other coupes? That's highly subjective, I think the Audi fans here will love it, it does look modern and distinct and will be received well by enthusiasts. I think Audi will sell everyone they can build.
BW

Edit: The front design does not seem to fit with the rest of the car.
BW

THis is sort of............plain.

I like it. More could of been done with the headlight treatment.

Audi is mostly Front wheel drive rebadged Volkswagens

Exterior = very nice

Interior = a little boring (maybe it's the color?)

Sorry about the double post. Damn computer.

This car sort of looks beautiful and I'll bet it's fast.

I don't know if the words beautiful would come to mind when seeing it. Its okay at best. Looks like the 335 which itself isn't the most beautiful car on the roads.
T

This is supposed to be in a higher class that the 335i but i can't imagine myself spending more for this.

It's not. Why does everyone get the notion that it's a step above the E92? The name?

It's a direct 3 Series coupe rival.

I agree with you js576! The car just looks plain, chunky, not appealing at all. The front has boring square headlights and the side looks a "clone" of the first gen Chrysler Sebring Coupe.I was expecting WAY much better lines. Boring car....

Yeah considering that the engine is 5 inches back of previous models...yeah you are right and have a lot of credibility...
Looks like you never drove an Audi before.

have you ever been in an AUDI, Rock hard seats? The seats are just as comfotable as MB or BMW. Harsh ride? you must be a lexus fan, sorry its doesnt float on Clouds, its a luxury sports car.

i agree with most on this topic about it being a pretty nice car, but it is in now way a better looking car than the 335coupe, CLS or the 6-series ... The key to Audi's success with this car will be the pricing and the engines that are available. If they come out with a price more than the 335 coupe and less powerful, this car will fail ... This is a very touchy moment for Audi and its followers. As a side note, I dont really care for the mmi controller to be up on the dash the way it is. Why would they do that? For someone tall like me, it is a bit un-ergonomical to be reaching to change and adjust nav & radio settings while driving .....

In the last pictures is at the left/rear side of the stick, just like the Bmw. But in the first pictures is on the dash .. something weird over there ..

actually, now that I look at where it is positioned, it is plain dumb to its location. If Audi is going to put it there, why have it at all? It is right above the climate knobs and not conv at all. I liked where it is on the other models of Audi

And Audi-fans make fun of Lexus SC430.
Just put it this way.Even Dated SC430 looks better than this Hyndai Sonata coupe.

Yuck.Soooooo ugly,boring.Pure crap.

BTW i notice that headlights are straight from New Toyota Aurion Sedan.

This shows,Audi copying Toyota,BMW,Infiniti G...etc

Very bad.As good the R8 is,this is the complete opposite.

BTW BMW 3 Coupe rules.Accept it.


JUGNU

The more I look at it the more I like it, but even still I thought it was going to have more of a fastback coupe look to it. It looks stronger than a 3-series coupe but not as good.

The interior is great as usual, however Audi needs to quit making them all look like the A6's interior, they're starting to loose points on originality & ultimately in character too.

Meh...it looks uneventful. Nothing really to write home about. However, I will say it does look better than the new 3-series. It's a bit more suttle, and refined than the 3-series.

I'd stick with a CLS though, personally.

Or a CL. And the 3 should be replaced with a 6. Sorry about that.

Here folks, compare the two side by side. I think the end result becomes clear when the A5 and the 3 series coupe are put side by side.

http://bil.feber.se/feber/art/11639/vi_jmnfr_bmw_3serie_coup_med_a/

I hope this car is not similar reletive to the A8 cost. Example, I hope the A5 does not cost $70K for base. Even as a BMW fan, I don't think the 6 series is worth the price.

this will not even be close to 70k, its a 3 series competitor, not a 6 series competitor. The RS5(if they make it) will be close to 70k, but not the A5

What I love about Audis are the perfect clean lines. This has the whole Elantra/Solara curviness going on. Not feeling it. And the A6 interior (which this mirrors) is my least favorite. I much prefer the one pod shape of the A4 or A8, not the swooping down the center stack combo in the A6 (and now A5). It's a good thing I always take covertibles over coupes, because the A4 still looks good.

Audi really has to evolve their front end design, I do like how the back tapers off. Not too bad, I still rather have the Bimmer.

I think this will look much better in person than the 335i. Well, at least in silver. I love those twisted rims. Audi always designs amazing OEM rims.

Most Audi rims are from Ronal.
But I don't know how they split design functions...

This Audi A5 is nice but it no where near the beauty of the MB CLS or BMW 650i.

Lexus

i prefer the looks of the A5 over the 650i, but your right about the CLS, but thats a 4 door coupe, and the A5 will not compete with either one, so who cares

diffrent class of cars sorry

loof for the A7 for that

BMW 335 killer!

Well maybe.

F for FAIL

Beautiful. Certainly better looking than the MB, the 6-series, and perhaps even the 3-series. I'm still sticking with the 335i coupe that I ordered tho.

Very, very well done. I'd like to see a higher-level interior, perhaps with wood trim- that would look more exotic.

Otherwise, boys, if you think this looks like a 3 Series coupe from the rear, think again. That slim headlight design started at Audi four years ago, with the introduction of the Nuvolari concept and current-generation A8. This is just an evolution of the theme.

Excuse me, slim TAILLIGHT design.

By the way the interior look very inferior if you compare it the Lexus IS350. The interior look nice but in no way close to the Lexus interior.

Not really. The interior is nice and is not inferior to the IS350.

However, I'm still not used to Audi's hideous grill. Just get rid of it once and for all.

Audi convertible interiors get less wood, because they are likely to get wet. ... you need some practicality in a rag-top if you don't want it looking like an old dog-house when its 5 years old.

my next car

Yes, that Tiburon is swoopy, but there's way too much metal between the side glass and the rear wheel ... and ugly trend that is spreading all over.
It doesn't help that metal costs less than glass.....

This is going to be one amazing looking drop top.

its has the A6 interior, which is GREAT but getting kinda overused, i.e. Q7, A6, and now this. Looks awesome though, Audi amazing!

The interior design language is getting plain boring; we see it in every new audi now. and then's that ugly grill that is anything but classy. besides its hard to get to get excited about this car when u have a series of super hot japanese coupes (supra, gt-r, nsx and lf-a) about to hit the market.

this car isnt bad, its only problem is that it is an overpriced audi that cant perform. please try again!!!!!

Its a piece of crap overpriced car that cant keep up with a TL

ronsscooby-you just proved you are all about badges! this car is better then thing subie could ever make. Your a joke

its a A4 based coupe.

Looks like a BMW 3-series coupe/Accord coupe/Skyline GT-R...added RX-8 rims.

Can you say BMW 8-seies

OMG ........... drooling.......................speechless..............

it looks great

Not to kill a dead horse, but I wish that the side body lines were not killed in head/tail lamp edges.

Who knows what it would have looked like and maybe they tried it and saw it didn't work any other way.

Not that it is not obvious but some of the reflections along the body are not accurate to what the surfaces might indicate. The highlights are exagerated for effect. This is obviously because these are not actual pictures.

Josh

audi is a joke

You're a joke.

This car is the beginning of the end for BMW. Historically, image conscious yet brand ignorant bought BMW because of their performance advantage. Now, Audi is offering for the first time Quattro with 40/60 RWD bias and an engine placed behind the front wheels, rather than infront.

Better handling, more of a sports car feel, and domination in rain, ice, or snow. Add the fact that Audi's interior materials and MMI blow away BMW's cheapo, Fisher Price interior and challenged I-Drive, there's really no reason to consider the 328/335i.

Of course you will have those who are blindsighted and will continue to see BMW as the better brand, but this car is better than the 3 in every way. Just wait until the sedan and Avant come out.

What a fantastically un-biased opinion from somebody who obviously isn't an Audi fan-boy.

If I were one of the blindsighted people who would still choose a 3 series coupe over this maybe it would just be because I have a different opinion to you and like the BMW more? ever think of that? that maybe some people don't share your opinions...?

IMO this car is not better looking than the 3 coupe, IMO Audi's interiors are not actually that much better than in the BMW (although that extendo-seatbelt feeder for fat people is a poor effort). I have no problem with i-drive and for the 5 days a year we have snow in the UK if I really felt the need for 4WD I could always get my 3er with xDrive!

I am sure this will take sales from the 3 coupe, because Audi is only entering into these new markets (A1, R8, A5, Q7) after others have already established themselves they are always likely to steal sales away from their competitors. If BMW now produced a mid-engine sports car to rival the R8, it would be safe to say that it would steal sales away from Audi.

BTW, I'm gonna assume fan boys that don't listen to logic are gonna -boost me for explaining my different personal opinion.

How come people become attached to brands as if they were there limb. You can appreciate, enjoy, like, and critique without cutting off that limb.

I like some BMW cars, some Audi cars, etc... etc...

Why let your mind carry you away in this brand bliss which forces you to like one thing or another.

That being said I feel your comments shortchange the current state of BMW, and its lineup of automobiles. It is obvious from your passionate comments that you yourself are implying your desires out of a car on others.

You mention:
"there's really no reason to consider the 328/335i. "
Lets be mature people here and assume that not everyone shares your opinion, and therefore not everyone might feel that there is 'no reason' to buy anything but the Audi.

To sum it up, you don't have to sell your soul to any given brand, you can like multiple brands, for multiple reasons. You can see each brand for what it is, and what it does best, without cutting down people who own that other brand.

It's a sense of brand bigotry that is hugely prevalent on these boards. The idea that instinctively one brand is inherently better is a useless concept to progress.

Brands change, as staff changes, and staff changes as company's grow, and visions shift. Very few things stand as pillars in these company's which we worship with a lust like loyalty, a loyalty founded in what?

Give up the brand bigotry for logic, reasoning, and critical thinking.


Josh

p.s. Some company's were founded on certain concepts which are still seen today. Some companies directly reflect the culture of there employees, and some things maybe never change, but I chose to leave this stuff out of the argument until a later date, when the bigotry has cleared and logic can be applied to these concepts.

I also predict that the A5/S5, TT, and R8 will drive up sales of the Q7 and A6. A4 sales will drop because that car is very old.

All of Audi's new products will utilize the setup I described above. The A4 sedan I predict will come very close to beating the 3 in sales and performance.
Audi will sell atleast 120k units in the US for '07.

Be AFRAID.

Agree, Audi can sell 120k this year. The new TT will sell that much. The A5 will probably come towards the very end of the year. The R8 won't have much real sales, but I agree it will help marketing. Audi will market the R8 as a halo vehicle. The new A4 should come in about a year.

Audi might as well be called hyundai, thier cars are boring and plain. they lack performance and are way over priced. The tt will bomb just like it has in the past. if you want a real coupe, go buy a 350Z

have you ever said an intelligent thing in your life? Dont be upset because you cant afford an Audi. i love how a guy who loves subie is talking crap against Audi. Audi makes cars that are 10x better then anything subie has ever mad.

Its not overall that bad,,,but i definetely LOVe the Q7,TT and R8 design WAY more,,,im a bit disappointed about this,,it looks a bit, ordinary. but i dont hate it.
so much for 'reinventing the coupe'.....

Try the wheel

and why do some people think audi design is boring? IMO its interesting and,,so much better than ANY toyota, hyundai, daihatsu or mitsubishi design.

ronnsscooby is just jealous he cant afford an audi and has to settle for a subie. he thinks its boring caus it doesnt have a huge ass spoiler or have a cheap ugly interior. I guess nice luxurious things are boring to him

Wow, Audi strikes back at Honda (Acura)...in a good way. This coupe is very nice, but certainly has some styling cues of the new Accord Coupe and the new 3 Series Coupe...nothing wrong with that, as all of these designs look very good. Should sell well...for a coupe.

I am relatively ambivalent about the design of this car. It’s okay. Would I describe it as sexy? No, I really don’t think so; to me sexy is lithe as well. Pretty? Sure. There is something about the rear-end that looks sedan-like in a way. Of course, I would like to actually see it in person before really commenting on it.

Nice car. Nice lines.
But what I see is a VW EOS with a hardtop (nice hardtop, mind you) and bigger wheels.
And I think the EOS has too much metal between side-glass and rear wheel arch (a predominantly Asian design trend).
But somehow they created a nicely balanced design.
Interior looks somewhat dated, and anything resembling a joy-stick/selector knob in a car turns me off (thoughts of "I-drive").
But at least it appears to have a useful rear seat ... unlike my buddy's 645 that I rode in yesterday.

Does anyone know about pricing?

What's the point of arguing which looks better when it's just personal opinion anyways? It's a good looking car, so after that who cares about this flame war garbage. I'm more interested in the technical specs to see how it stacks up against the 3-series coupe.