Faster, sharper, more frugal Audi A5

It’s no mid-life crisis as far as these refreshing facelift tweaks go for Audi’s A5 range; with performance, economy and styling all getting a little more glamorous in the right places. Sportback, Coupe and Cabriolet models all get the makeover ahead of their available to order date in September, with prices starting at £25,540 OTR for the Sportback.

Start-stop technology now features right across the range and the hydraulic power steering system is replaced with a new electromechanical unit that demands no engine-powered input when the steering wheel is dead ahead.

There’s a new entry-level petrol engine which will be available across the body styles; a 1.8-litre TFSI unit with many new features including variable valve timing and lift, thermal management and an integrated exhaust manifold – all economy-extenders. And while power is up from 158bhp to 168bhp, in Coupe form, CO2 emissions are actually down 21 per cent to 134g/km CO2, with economy at a class-leading 49.6mpg. This motor, and all the others, utilize high-pressure fuel injection and forced industion. 

Next up we have another revised-for-economy fave; the entry-level, 175bhp 2.0-litre TDI which, under the hood of the A5 2.0 TDI Coupe and mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, has a combined economy potential of up to 60.1mpg with emissions of just 122g/km. Small numbers for a big car. 

Climbing up the performance scale but still with an eye on the fuel bill is a new 270bhp version of the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol unit in A5 Coupe and Cabriolet variants, replacing the existing naturally aspirated 3.2-litre V6 motor, while the existing 328bhp version of the supercharged engine, which already powers the S5 Sportback and S5 Cabriolet, will now replace the 349bhp, 4.2-litre, naturally aspirated V8 in the S5 Coupe. Forced induction is the new key to performance, over pure cubic capacity. 

And, with this new and 20 per cent more efficient engine and with standard S tronic twin clutch transmission as seen in the Sportback and Cabriolet, the new S5 Coupe can beat 62mph in 4.9secs, which is 0.2sec improvement over its V8-powered predecessor. Top speed remains a restricted 155mph. Combined fuel economy now stands at 34.9mpg, a significant improvement over the tiptronic V8 Coupe’s 26.4mpg. 

Crucial, of course, to any line-up refresh is diesel power and there are now four oil-burners to compliment the new A5 cars. New in town is a 201bhp version of the 3.0-litre V6 TDI from the A6 Saloon, A7 Sportback and A8, which replaces the outgoing 2.7-litre, 188bhp V6 TDI. The new motor can deliver up to 57.6mpg at the expense of 129g/km of CO2 when powering the front-wheel drive A5 Coupe. The same new V6 is also offered with a 242bhp output. 

Apportioning the power are the same transmission options, namely a 6-speed manual, 7-speed S tronic twin-clutch and 8-speed multitronic CVT ‘boxes and quattro all-wheel-drive, depending on engine choice. The new A5 enjoys the latest quattro system utilizing the crown gear centre differential - first seen in the RS 5 - with torque vectoring for more effective torque distribution. A5’s mostly aluminium suspension also gets revisions, as do the damper settings and rear suspension bearings. 

Styling-wise, the A5’s suit is sharpened by re-shaped bumpers, grilles, bonnets and front and rear light clusters, bringing the A5 look into line with the latest Audi design language. The styling-focused S line models now feature LED strip daytime running lights outlining the headlights and newly designed LED strip lights at the rear. This fashionable lighting set-up is an optional extra on all other A5 versions as part of a package that also includes adaptive swiveling headlights for improved corner illumination. 

Inside we’ll see new steering wheels, including an option for a flat-bottomed wheel, new steering column stalks and narrow chrome clasps framing the control elements. Also updated are the ignition key, the selector lever for the automatic transmission, the buttons for the optional Audi drive select system and seat heating/ventilation and the air conditioning and multifunction steering wheel controls. The bezels on the instrument cluster and centre console have a new finish, and there is a new selection of upholstery and inlays. 

Tech-lovers will enjoy a new, high specification mobile phone interface with online services bringing a Google-powered Points of Interest search and navigation using Google Earth images, as well as the power to create a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) hotspot within the car so occupants can connect phones and computers to the internet wirelessly. A cloud in your car, as it were. 

But, the cherry on top of the revised A5 cake look to be the new optional 20-inch alloys that'll fill those wide and flared wheel arches up with the traditional Audi understated style we’ve grown to love. A5 fans will have to wait until December to get the new good stuff.



Here and above, the new A5 Coupe



Drop-top action in the Cabriolet. Note the aggressive new LED running lights 






Two extra doors with the Sportback variant 






New interior features further refinements 



The full Audi A5 range - what's your favourite?


By Daniel Anslow

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