Audi
A5
The Audi A5 is a luxury coupé produced
by the German automobile manufacturer Audi. The Audi
A5 was unveiled simultaneously at the Geneva Motor
Show and Melbourne International Motor Show on March
6, 2007. Audi bills the coupé as a grand tourer,
to compete against the likes of the BMW E92 (BMW 3-Series
coupé), and the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class.
The A5 is the coupé variant
of the 4th generation A4 (B8) sedan and estate that
was launched at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show. The A5
marks Audi's return to the mid-size coupé market
since the (B3/B4) Audi 80-based Coupe model ended production
in 1996 - the Mk 2 (B6/B7) A4 spawning a convertible
variant but not a coupé.
The A5 debuts the new Audi MLP platform
(Modular Longitudinal Platform) which is planned to
underpin the next generation A4, A6 and A8 models.
The platform is notable for its departure from Audi's
trademark "overhung" engine mounting position
over the front axle, in favour of the powertrain being
located behind the front axle - in an effort to achieve
a more even weight distribution (55:45) between the
front and rear wheels.
The Audi A5 is the next model to be
released following the second generation TT and R8
models. The A5 has adopted many elements of the Nuvolari
quattro concept. The A5 debuted with the 3.2-liter
FSI V6 engine delivering 265 PS (261 hp/195 kW). |