SPIED: FIRST Spy Shots Of The All-New Audi A5 Go LIVE — What Does It Need To Be Best-In-Breed?

Although we've been keeping an eye on Audi's upswing of success in recent years, we've had a feeling the company has seen its peak. One car that brought the company to its meteoric success was the A5 and S5. Though it's a bit too early to tell if it's an icon, there's no question that its simple yet sleek design enticed many and was a big part of conquests from the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

But, it's clear that in recent years the car's become quite dated. With the launch of all-new BMW 4-Series and Lexus RC on the way, Audi needs to get cracking. That's where the all-new A5 comes in.

Though we're anticipating an all-new A4 to appear first, we know the A5 won't be too far behind. It seems that the car's research and development is just getting underway as this is clearly a mule — the all-new chassis is hiding under the Plain Jane body.

That said, this got us doing a bit of thinking: what will the next-gen A5 NEED to edge out its competition in form of the all-new BMW 4-Series and upcoming Lexus RC?

Any suggestions for the four rings?

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MattDarringer - 8/23/2014 11:16:51 AM

-1 Boost

It needs:

1. rear wheel drive
2. a 2.0T not prone to catastrophic failure
3. a conventional 8-9 speed automatic rather than the current tranny that has a high failure rate.

MattDarringer - 8/23/2014 12:48:41 PM

0 Boost

On the other hand, all of the reliability issues Audi's have make the dealer a lot of money...so maybe reliability isn't a good thing for the business.

scenicbyway12 - 8/23/2014 1:20:32 PM

+7 Boost

A design that's more than just new headlight, taillights, and a grill.

MattDarringer - 8/23/2014 4:07:00 PM

+5 Boost

Indeed. The gaping hole face with squinty eyes is kinda played out.

TauronB2G - 8/23/2014 8:53:30 PM

+3 Boost

Originality...

chewy - 8/24/2014 12:03:23 AM

+2 Boost

The A5 was quite an original shape. The second will follow a lot of its style but it has a high bar to keep.

Autopinion - 8/24/2014 12:21:00 AM

+3 Boost

Stupid title and comments. First spy shots of all new A5 go live? It's a friggin mule. And Audi should go RWD? After spending decades building Quattro? Replicate the rest is a strategy? It's going to be a refresh, conservatively Audi, heaps of refinement on all fronts.

MattDarringer - 8/24/2014 6:27:20 PM

0 Boost

Yes Audi should go RWD/AWD instead of FWD/AWD. Quattro is a crutch to help the front wheel drive biased platform get power to the ground.

Quattro is just a marketing name for Audi's AWD. The same is true for Acura and SHAWD. Both are just marketing names for AWD.

No matter how hard Audi tries to graft fixes onto their FWD platforms, they just can't win. An S4 with quattro is not as nice a car to drive at the limit as a BMW M3--that does not even need AWD. The S4 is a very numb drive. The same is true with the S5 versus an M3/4 coupe. Ditto S6 vs M5.

If Audi were RWD first with AWD as an option--they can still call it quattro--their cars would be able to challenge the BMW M cars and the Mercedes AMG cars.

If I were buying a high power sedan, I'd consider the coming ATSV and CTSV Cadillacs, any BMW M, any Mercedes AMG, any Lexus F (i.e. ISF...), 300C Hemi, Hemi Charger, and Hellcat Charger over ANY Audi.

Why? All those cars drive the rear wheels as their default and most are as fast--some faster--around the track than an Audi and they are more satisfying to drive.

I am fortunate to be able to drive many cars. But if I were buying something German it would be BMW or Mercedes.

MattDarringer - 8/24/2014 8:23:27 PM

+2 Boost

You clearly have never driven an S Audi back to back with an M BMW. I have. It ain't pretty. The German Mercury shows its ass too easily.

focal - 8/25/2014 9:54:31 AM

+3 Boost

most buyers do not drive at the limit. it's a vanity play and 0-100 times.

if anything, most drivers don't know how to drive at the limit nor will explore that limit properly at a track (learning).

GermanNut - 8/25/2014 10:22:13 AM

+1 Boost

Audi doesn't need rear-wheel drive. Audi has already been hugely successful with front-wheel drive and Quattro AWD vehicles. The slight increase in sales to driving enthusiasts by switching to rear-wheel drive is not worth the added cost. Even though Audi can borrow from the stable of Volkswagen Auto Group brands to reduce the cost of a rear-wheel drive platform, the business case for such a decision is extremely poor considering Audi's strong global sales growth and the fact it is on the verge of surpassing BMW in global sales for YTD.

Audi knows its strengths in front-wheel and Quattro AWD and has utilized that to its advantage. To think Audi will switch now to gain some driving enthusiasts is silly.

rumnyc - 8/27/2014 4:58:15 AM

+1 Boost

all i see is slightly tweaked headlight graphics. i.e. its a test mule in current chassis and a useless pic...