Audi A5 Sportback Photos: Is It A BIG MISTAKE Not Making It Available In The USA?

Audi A5 Sportback Photos: Is It A BIG MISTAKE Not Making It Available In The USA?
INGOLSTADT, Germany, Jul 15, 2009  -  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 Coupé and Cabriolet as the third member of the A5 model family.

The A5 Sportback will be rolling into Audi dealerships in September 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 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 A5 Sportback. The five-door coupe is defined by elegant lines. It is 36 millimeters (1.42 in) lower than the 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 A4 Avant and increases to 980 liters (34.61 cu ft) with the rear seats folded down.

The 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 gasoline-powered models are equipped with the innovative, seven-speed S tronic transmission for lightning-fast gear changes.

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 two 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 the 2.7 TDI, benefit from another Audi innovation: The ESP stabilization program with electronic front differential lock increases agility and prevents understeer.


kuvakas1kuvakas1 - 7/15/2009 7:15:43 PM
+2 Boost
The car looks great and the interior is drop dead gorgeous but, I have to say, I think Audi made the right call here. If hatchbacks are going to break in to the market in the USA, it will have to happen elsewhere other than the premium coupe/sedan market. Audi is on a strong roll and will sell every A5 Sportback they make without going to the expense of certifying it for our market and risk having them just sit on dealer lots.


GermanNutGermanNut - 7/15/2009 7:26:07 PM
+3 Boost
This car looks awesome. Audi has taken the already sexy A5 coupe and basically added more practicality (4-doors), greater rear leg room and a huge trunk. I predict Audi will sell just about every single A5 Sportback they can produce.

Look at the red A5 Sportback. Now that is what I call HOT!

I don't think this is a mistake because Americans have never liked wagons/hatchbacks/sportbacks. Americans also never saw the RS6 wagon or the RS4 wagon.




AlleVierAlleVier - 7/15/2009 11:53:08 PM
+2 Boost
As kuvakas1 suggested, it's not about the perception of the American public as about cost. First of all, it looks as good as the A5 coupe. Second, it only looks like a hatch when you open it. I think Audi doesn't think this is distinct enough to entice buyers who don't already like the A4. They're not about to spend money in this economy to cannibalize A4 sales UNTIL they open a U.S. factory and thus enjoy the competitive flexibility of Mercedes and BMW. C'mon, Audi, you could probably pick up a gently-used factory for a few mil in this market.


chewychewy - 7/15/2009 7:33:54 PM
+3 Boost
Depending on market conditions Audi can bring it in a year or two.


kuvakas1kuvakas1 - 7/15/2009 7:50:15 PM
+2 Boost
I agree. Once the initial demand is satisfied and the market evolves some, it would be nice to see it over here.


dumpstydumpsty - 7/17/2009 11:32:00 AM
+1 Boost
Agreed. And it may depend on how well the Panamera does in the next 2 years also.

I've seen a lot of VW CCs in the Mid-West. I'd bet that the A5 SportBack would take some market share from the CC.


EL34EL34 - 7/15/2009 8:55:56 PM
+3 Boost
The front wheel drive ES is nothing more than a stretched Corolla.

lol


schnell330ischnell330i - 7/15/2009 9:03:07 PM
+2 Boost
yeah its a huge mistake on Audi's part because now BMW will have one less gt to compete with


JMB1013JMB1013 - 7/16/2009 1:21:11 AM
+4 Boost
I think they're still planning a more luxurious and distinctive A7 for the CLS type market


JUGNUJUGNU - 7/15/2009 9:09:55 PM
+3 Boost
looking very nice especially in red colour and still offering similar cargo room as A4 wagon is great. But i thought 3.2 V6 is discontinued totally.

JUGNU


AnthonyAnthony - 7/15/2009 9:32:05 PM
+4 Boost
Mercedes brought the CLS here. VW has the Passat CC here. It is not that America wont accept another 4-door coupe-looking thing. Audi should understand that these are not meant to be door-busters in terms of sales. If there is any reason as to not bring it here then it is the economy, though the economy sucks all over the world, not just America.


VISOVISO - 7/16/2009 1:23:38 PM
0 Boost
The A7 is coming to compete agains the CLS. The A5 Sportback is not a competitor to the CLS so the comparision makes no sense.


AnthonyAnthony - 7/16/2009 7:31:15 PM
+2 Boost
I didn't call them competitors. I was making the point that other manufacturers are already selling 4-door coupes in North America, therefore this move by Audi makes no sense. Who knows if Audi will even bring the A7 here?


t_bonet_bone - 7/15/2009 9:40:43 PM
+4 Boost
I see this as the end to the sedan as we know it. A natural evolution...look at how long trunks were 20 years ago. You could even argue that with a short trunk it too ambiguous, and this "sportback" completes the look properly. Super practical, and looks great too.


sdcarguysdcarguy - 7/15/2009 11:03:02 PM
+3 Boost
Good discussion. MISTAKE!. In isolation it would be understandable not to offer it here, given our historic aversion to hatches. However, as has been stated, MB has the CLS, BMW the GT, Porsche the Panamera and Aston will have the Rapide. Heck even VW has the CC. (Not to mention the Caddy TS Wagon) All of a sudden Audi, a brand known for design innovation, is left behind? Even compared to its downmarket stablemate?

Audi (and other car makers) has to give people a reason to stop nursing their 5 year old cars and get people into the showrooms with something different and more exciting than what they have. This is it.

Personally, I like it better than all the other cars mentioned above and would buy one if I could, an S5 Sportback would be perfect.


rxh8me9000rxh8me9000 - 7/15/2009 11:13:37 PM
+2 Boost
Car looks great,but Audi made the right choice.It would be a big risk bringing the car over and they would have to price it low enough to get peoples attention. The A4 and A6 are fine,no need to fill the gap.


BondMI6BondMI6 - 7/15/2009 11:42:18 PM
+2 Boost
As others have already pointed out, it would be a mistake to bring it over here. Why?.........easy enough- it would directly compete with the A4 sedan and.....Yanks are not big on hatchbacks.....
However, if enough interest is generated it is possible we might see it come here.............


rigidrigid - 7/16/2009 8:04:04 AM
+1 Boost
I like the idea of a smaller sedan hatchback (I refuse to call these things coupes because they have 4 doors). VW should jump on this and make a Jetta version.


ddkk10ddkk10 - 7/16/2009 11:16:35 AM
+1 Boost
I can't believe I'm saying this because I'm such a huge fan of the A5/S5 but I'm glad it's not coming to the US. Had the A5 been a 4-door only model from the very beginning I'm sure I would find it attractive but it almost seems like an insult to the coupe now to essentially blow up its rear end and slap 2 more doors on it. It looks bloated and if Audi had stretched the roofline any more, the rear decklid would all but disappear and it would bear a incredibly frightening resemblance the monstrosity that is the 2010 5-series GT. Personally, I'm glad it'll be out of sight, out of mind. For some reason, this thing irks the hell out of me.


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