Audi Freshens Up A5

Audi has unveiled the refreshed the A5 model line with a new engine option, revised exterior and a different engine in the S5. The car will be getting a new 1.8 liter, petrol four-cylinder engine with turbocharger in the base model. In all the A5 can now be equipped with four diesel engines, three petrol engines, three transmissions and two drivetrain layouts.

The new A5 might appear slightly larger due to the new front grill, which attempts to give the car a more sculpted look. It adds one millimeter to the car's length and width. The car has revised taillights with optional LEDs and LED daytime running lights in the front with optional xenon headlights. Also optional is a sports suspension, which lowers the car a further 10mm.

The interior remains mostly the same with the exception of a new steering wheel with revised steering column stalks and redesigned shift lever for cars with an automatic transmission.

The new base engine is a 1.8 liter TFSI petrol engine making 170hp. It consumes 5.7l/100km of petrol and produces 134g/km of CO2.

Also new to the A5 is the top of the range petrol engine – 3.0 TFSI. In the A5, it produces 272hp.

The A5 is available with the same four diesel engines as the previous model, but Audi promises another in the coming year. Audi says that it will be a high-efficiency diesel engine, and it will be the first coupe on the market to meet the Euro 6 diesel standard. However, Audi did not reveal any technical specs for the new engine.

All A5s now receive a start-stop system and electric power-steering to improve fuel economy.

The S5 is also being updated. The 4.2 liter V8 will no longer be available, and in its place will be the 3.0 TFSI. The supercharged V6 makes 333hp in the S5 about 19hp less than the V8, but the V6 uses 20% less fuel and sprints to 100kph in the same 4.9 seconds. 

The new base A5 Sportback with the 1.8 TFSI starts at €33,350, which is €650 more than the outgoing car. However, Audi says that the 2.0 TFSI-equipped A5 Coupe will cost €200 more than the outgoing model, which is about €35,100.