Audi Planning To Steal The 4-Series Thunder With 2017 A5 Coupe

Great news. Although the new Audi A5's changes will be similar to the new Audi A4's changes, which is to say basically nothing has changed exterior wise except for a new grille, headlights and tailights, it should be enough to hold Audi's sales momentum until the new A8 arrives.

The 2017 Audi A8 will be Audi's most important new model since the original R8 because of what it is intended to do for the brand from a design and technology perspective.

Unfortunately Audi will arrive to the party only to find Benz has already stole the show with the C Coupe, While I am fond of the A5 and its been one of my favorite audi's of late, the changes will be too little too late...

The A5's predecessor/current model was able to take advantage of the vulnerable and mediocre at best design of the previous C Coupe, however the tables have turned and the C Coupe is eating the 4 series/A5's breakfast, lunch, and dinner

C-class coupe is ugly. Now, if we're talking about the S-class coupe then that's one sexy coupe.

Just like the A4, I don't think Audi is differentiating this enough from the outgoing model. So, I don't see it challenging either the 4 Series or the C-Coupe at this point.

Well-The changes are so subtle you need a microscope to see them. If the driving dynamics were actually improved that might be some solace. However I read that even though the A5 will offer a similar rear suspension to the new A4 it is really being marketed as a style choice vehicle rather than a drivers car like the BMW 4 series. So obviously the V8 engine is now totally gone. It will have a combo of turbo fours and a turbo six as well as probably a diesel for Europe. Yawn

It's one thing to minimally change something that is wildly successful, i.e, the 3 Series, vs. minimally changing something that is only moderately successful.

The problem is that Audi - like BMW - are small vehicle manufacturers - who have drifted into larger car production -sort of. I agree that BMW and AUDI look like they have hardly changed over the last 15 years. THe difference is that MB brings the styling change in FIRST with the S-class - BMW does it with the 3-series - Audi with the 4 series. Until BMW and AUDI bring new - obviously more substantial styling to their large cars - they will still be known as small vehicle makers - because that is what they sell. It virtually impossible to tell the difference between most Audi and BMW cars just looking head on from the front (Or in a rear view mirror).

If the A8 comes through with the same styling - again - it will be a failure even if it is technically and technologically good. It is one thing when MB makes a smaller car that LOOKS like an S-class (where the styling originated) - and when BMW and AUDI make large cars that look like a 3/A4 - again where the styling originated.

Yawn...

Why are we discussing Audi VS BMW when the game is Benz?

This car will sell...just not to me.

Yes, with $20K on the hood

Both the A5 and c-class coupe have nothing on the 2017 Infiniti Q60:

http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/2017-infiniti-q60-coupe-spy-photos-future-cars#3

Why the A5 Sportback has not come out in the US is beyond me. They are about 3 years too late to the game and now they're playing catch-up. In addition to the 4-Series, C-Coupe, they also have the RC to compete with... Audi was a little too safe in their latest design scheme and I think with that compounded with dieselgate, they may see some struggles soon.

I'll be buying one and actually, I will be glad that I don't see 50 of them at the light. The outgoing car still looks good to this day, can you say the same about the C-Class or the 3 series from 08. It doesn't matter though, we like what we like. The car will sell just like the everything else (except the A8) that they put out.