Audi A5: Successor to the A4 only comes with combustion engines
After nine years, Audi presents the successor to the A4. The new A5 remains surprisingly conventional, especially in the drive area.
(Image: Audi)
Audi has held up surprisingly well on the domestic market. Considering that the introduction of new models in the core segment took place some time ago, the sales figures were not bad. The brand now wants to make a name for itself again with an offensive. The technically exciting Q6 e-tron made the start, now the A5 is following, which is the successor to the A4. Progress has been made above all in the area of entertainment electronics, while the drive system and exterior design have been rather limited.
After so many years on the market, some people would certainly have expected a radical break in the design. This has failed to materialize, which is not necessarily surprising. After all, despite the consistency of the design, Audi was still able to keep up with the sales figures. However, the brand has partly overturned the nomenclature. In future, all models with a combustion engine will have an odd number in their designation, while all battery-electric models will have an even number. The A4 is therefore history; in future, the saloon, estate and hatchback will be sold as the A5.
Exterior growth
The model change is also accompanied by considerable growth. In future, the saloon and estate will be 4.83 m long - that is 6.7 cm longer than the A4. The wheelbase has increased by 6.8 cm to 2.9 m. This means there should be considerably more space than before, especially in the rear. The trunk volume has actually decreased slightly. The sedan holds 445 liters (minus 15), the estate 476 liters (minus 19). These are clearly below-average figures for a car with these external dimensions. Even the two main competitors from Mercedes and BMW, both absolutely unsuspected of being heroes of space economy, offer slightly more trunk space with somewhat smaller external dimensions.
Audi takes a big step forward in terms of electronics. Basically, what has already been presented in the Q6 e-tron is also offered here. The system offers powerful hardware in the car on the one hand and a close cloud connection on the other. Questions to the infotainment system are also answered in this car from the Volkswagen Group using ChatGPT. Above all, however, the system can be flexibly expanded via an app store.
Maximum electrification: mild hybrid
Audi boss Döllner recently emphasized that the future belongs to the battery-electric drive. However, this has not yet begun in the A5. It is based on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC). This platform is intended for conventionally powered vehicles with longitudinally installed engines. Audi emphasizes that this platform allows for the gradual electrification of drive systems. In a first step, however, this will be fairly straightforward. The engines are equipped with a mild hybrid system with a battery that is only just large enough for electric maneuvering. For the time being at least, there is no plug-in hybrid on this basis, let alone a battery-electric drive. It remains with petrol and diesel engines, which seems bold to say the least for a completely new model generation. In this respect, BMW and Mercedes are more broadly positioned in the 3 Series and C-Class.
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The mild hybrid's electric motor is located on the transmission output side in the A5. It can contribute up to 18 kW to the drive and recuperate with a maximum of 25 kW. This is intended to reduce consumption in the WLTP. Audi cites two examples. In the A5 with the two-liter diesel, the fuel consumption in the cycle is to be reduced by up to 0.38 to 4.7 to 5.6 liters. In the three-liter petrol engine, the savings are said to be up to 0.74 liters. In the WLTP, it is specified at 7.4 to 7.9 liters. The 48-volt lithium iron phosphate battery has liquid cooling.
Four drive systems at launch
The A5 will be available with four different engines at launch. The basic petrol engine has 110 kW and front-wheel drive. One step up, the four-cylinder engine already has 150 kW and can also be ordered with all-wheel drive. The most powerful petrol engine has no alternative and is offered under the S5 label. The V6 has an output of 270 kW. For the time being, the only diesel will be a four-cylinder with 150 kW, with the customer also having the choice between front-wheel and all-wheel drive.
The new A5 can be ordered from July, but deliveries will not begin until November. The standard equipment includes a navigation system and an inductive, cooled charging cradle. Audi will presumably follow the path of the competition and only offer some special requests as a package. A sunroof is no longer available. Instead, a fixed glass roof with individual shading options can be ordered. It is a development that is becoming more and more widespread - Renault and BMW, among others, are also following this path.
Prices are rising
Prices are rising, and quite sharply at that. Previously, the A4 was available from 41,800 euros; in future, the A5 entry-level model will cost 45,200 euros. Audi can expect that, including the extras that are usually ordered as a minimum, hardly any A5 will cost less than 50,000 euros. This is hardly any different for the competition and hardly seems to irritate the target group. However, if Audi continues to maintain that there is no electrification in the A5 to make the private use of company cars attractive from a tax perspective, it will not be easy for the A5 in this market.
(mfz)