2008 Audi A5 Compact Coupe

The success of the Mercedes CLS coupe has proven that there is a market for big coupes and Audi is joining the party with the 2008 Audi A5 Compact Coupe. The A5 is intended to sit between the A4 and A6 sedans, and is the first full size coupe since the Audi 100. There is a 236 Horsepower 3.0 litre TDi V6 model, as well as a 261 horsepower 3.2 litre FSI V6. The V6 gains what Audi calls Valve lift, which allows the intake valves to lift to two different positions to provide better torque characteristics across the rev range. There is a six speed manual gearbox available in the A5, as well as the continuously variable transmission used in the A4, which in the A5 has a manual mode with eight speeds.

The 2008 Audi A5 Compact Coupe is not based on the A4 platform, but is instead a new platform the A4 will adopt in its own next generation, and will be used in other Audi’s with longitudinal engines. The new platform houses the engine further back within the wheelbase, making for a better weight distribution than all current big Audi’s, which have engines hung out over the front axle.

The front suspension is now a five link set up with upper and lower wishbones, while the rear trapezoidal link suspension has entirely new kinematics that Audi claims combines good ride with agile handling.

Inside, the cabin is pretty much standard Audi design, apart from the MMI control, which has been relocated higher on the centre console for a more ergonomic position.

The S5, like all ‘S’ models in the Audi range, has quattro all wheel drive, and it is powered by a 348 horsepower 4.2 litre V8 engine. Audi claims the car will sprint from rest to 100km/h in 5.1 seconds. As with all recent performance versions of Audi’s the S5’s quattro all wheel drive system has a normal torque split of 40 percent front, 60 percent rear, to eliminate the power understeer that plagued earlier quattro models.

As with all S cars the S5 gets a subtly altered body to mark it out from other A5 models, including LED daytime running lights in a similar position to those in the S6 and R8 super car. The front spoiler is deeper, with larger air intakes for better cooling, while at the back of the car there are four exhaust pipes.

The next car in the A5 range will be the RS5, and there are rumors that the 572 horsepower V10 from the new RS6 may make it into the platform.

Source: http://www.newcarpark.com

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