Audi A5 Sportback: full details
* Five-door hatchback * Costs less than A5 Coupe * Prices start at 25,440...
This is the all-new Audi A5 Sportback - a five-door version of the Audi A5 Coupé.
The A5 Sportback shares its front end with the A5 Coupe and, like that car, it's closely related to the A4 saloon and Avant estate under the skin. Audi says it combines the best parts of all those models, and describes it as being 'emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a saloon and as practical as an Avant'.
It is similar in concept to Volkswagen's Passat CC and the larger Mercedes CLS, with one significant difference it has a hatchback rear rather than a saloon-style boot. That's enough for Audi to proclaim it as 'a milestone in car design' that 'creates a new (market) segment'.
The A5 Sportback has a lower roofline than the A4, but it's almost as practical. Maximum boot capacity is 480 litres with the seats in place, or 980 litres with them folded-down.
Cheaper than the A5 Coupe
From launch, the Audi A5 Sportback will be available with a choice of four engines. The 208bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine will be available with only four-wheel drive and Audi's S tronic semi-automatic transmission initially.
The 168bhp 2.0-litre diesel comes with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. It also has an engine stop-start system to cut fuel consumption and emissions.
Two six-cylinder engines will be also available a 3.2-litre petrol with Audi's Multitronic continually variable transmission (CVT) gearbox, and a 3.0-litre diesel with the S tronic transmission.
A wider choice of engines, transmissions and drive layouts is expected to be introduced during 2010.
Prices for the A5 Sportback are lower than the A5 Coupe: 975 less for four-cylinder models and 660 cheaper than four-cylinder versions. Audi says that's partly to protect the Coupe's greater desirability and partly because it expects to sell more A5 Sportbacks than Coupes.
**Audi A5 Sportback price list in full:
Standard**
2.0 TDI 6-speed manual 25,440
2.0 TFSI quattro 7-speed S tronic 28,625
SE Models
2.0 TDI 6-speed manual 27,140
2.0 TFSI quattro 7-speed S tronic 30,325
3.2 FSI quattro 7-speed S tronic 33,910
3.0 TDI 7-speed S tronic 34,020
S line Models
S line models
2.0 TDI 6-speed manual 29,340
2.0 TFSI quattro 7-speed S tronic 32,525
3.2 FSI quattro 7-speed S tronic 36,110
3.0 TDI 7-speed S tronic 36,220
Deliveries of the Audi A5 Sportback will start in October.
