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Audi’s sporty S5 Coupe has arrived in Australia, spearheading the all new A5
model range.
This entirely new model is Audi’s interpretation of a classic touring coupe,
marrying dynamism with refined elegance to produce an undeniably stylish
vehicle.
The new S5 is the company’s top-of-the-range model, arriving ahead of its A5
siblings Downunder and signalling Audi’s strong focus on performance. The sporty
S5 4.2-litre V8 quattro Coupe with 260kW and 440Nm arrives first in manual
guise, with a swift six speed manual transmission, priced at $131,900. A
tiptronic version, priced at $134,900, will follow in May 2008.
Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Mr Joerg Hofmann, says the new A5/S5
range heralds a clear step forward for the brand in terms of desirability.
“This new Coupe is a stunning vehicle and we believe it is the best in its
class. With competitive pricing, advanced engine technology and elegant design,
the A5 and S5 models will surely turn the heads of the luxury car-buying
public,” Mr Hofmann said.
“Audi is a brand on the move in Australia and this new model will help propel
us towards yet another period of record sales growth.”
With a length of 4.63 metres, the new Coupe is capacious, with four
comfortable seats and an ample load volume of 455 litres. Its generous
proportions are another nod to its purpose as a genuine long-distance tourer.
The complete A5 range will feature powerful and economical FSI, TFSI and TDI
engines, mated to a completely new high-precision running gear, which, along
with innovative, luxury-class equipment features, make this coupe peerless in
its segment.
For design chief, Walter de’Silva, the Audi A5/S5 is a very important car,
successfully combining sportiness, power, sophistication and elegance – the core
elements of the Audi brand’s genetic code.
“The A5 is of course a very powerful and superlatively sporty car,” said
Walter de’Silva. “It is the most beautiful car I have ever designed.”
“Nevertheless, it doesn't come across as the least bit aggressive or
arrogant.”
There is a classic elegance and a harmony of proportions, lines and surfaces
that set the Audi brand’s new two-door model apart.
“It is especially the way the shoulder line extends, with the back roof
pillar flowing into it and the long transition to the short rear, which gives
the A5 and its S5 sibling the identity of a typical gran turismo, a
sophisticated touring sports car,” de’Silva added.
At the very top of the range, the first vehicle to arrive - the purist Audi
S5 with manual transmission - is a superb athlete with an unique character
amongst high-performance coupés, thanks to its combination of V8 FSI technology,
quattro permanent four-wheel drive, dynamically-tuned S sports suspension and
mighty high-performance brakes. Subtle but clear design elements inside and out
serve to visually reinforce the sporty character.
With these qualities the S5 follows in the footsteps of the legendary Audi
quattro. As the pioneer of permanent four-wheel drive for the road, the Audi
quattro was nothing short of a revolution in handling at its launch in 1980.
High levels of standard specification, vehicle security and safety are
assured with this new model. Alongside the 18-inch wheels and the electrically
adjustable S5 sports seats, the standard equipment specification for the S5
features items such as the swivelling Audi adaptive light, in conjunction with
xenon plus headlights and daytime running lights in the form of an LED light
strip, Bluetooth telephone preparation, DVD-based Navigation System and
three-zone automatic air conditioning. All luxury-class options from the A5
program are also available, including the Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Launch Timeline for Australia
| Engine & Transmission |
Pricing |
Introduction Dates |
| S5 4.2 FSI quattro manual |
$131,900 |
October 2007 |
| A5 3.2 FSI multitronic |
$91,900 |
November 2007 |
| A5 3.2 FSI quattro tiptronic |
$95,900 |
April 2008 |
| S5 4.2 FSI quattro tiptronic |
$134,900 |
May 2008 |
| A5 1.8T FSI multitronic |
Approx. $70,000 |
May 2008 |
| A5 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic |
Approx. $100,000 |
August 2008 |
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