Audi is ushering in a new era in the mid-size luxury segment with the launch of its revamped A5 family.Thirty years after the debut of the iconic Audi A4, the A5 now takes center stage, showcasing a refined design language and premium proportions. Available in both Sedan and Avant body styles, the new A5 captures the essence of Audi’s sporty design philosophy, blending performance with elegance. Inside, a fresh interior layout emphasizes spaciousness, while cutting-edge digital displays enhance user interaction. With partially electrified engines and high-performance S models, the A5 range is both efficient and exhilarating.
New Naming Structure and Model Expansion
As of 2024, Audi has restructured its model names to differentiate between electric and combustion-engine vehicles. Even numbers now represent electric models, while odd numbers signify combustion engines. Under this system, the Audi A4, a long-standing bestseller, has evolved into the Audi A5. Produced in Neckarsulm, the A5 comes in four variants: A5 Sedan, S5 Sedan, A5 Avant, and S5 Avant. These models are the first to debut on Audi's Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), offering a sophisticated driving experience.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner emphasized the brand's dual focus: "While expanding our all-electric portfolio, we’re introducing a new generation of models with efficient combustion engines. The Audi A5 family, featuring a sporty design, cutting-edge interior, and advanced electronics, leads this charge. Our MHEV plus technology enables partial electric driving, improving efficiency.”
Enhanced Size and Comfort
Both the A5 Sedan and Avant boast an impressive length of 4,829 millimeters, positioning them firmly in the upper midsize category. This marks a 67mm increase from previous models, enhancing cabin space and long-distance comfort. A wheelbase of 2,900 millimeters, paired with short overhangs, contributes to the A5’s dynamic yet refined proportions.
Audi has also increased the A5’s standard features to meet customer expectations. Now, elements such as navigation, an electric trunk lid, and a wireless charging tray come as standard. Additional options like a 10.9-inch passenger display, Bang & Olufsen Premium sound system, panoramic glass roof, and electric steering adjustment allow for personalized luxury.
Bold, Dynamic Exterior
The A5 family sports a striking, muscular exterior. Its long wheelbase, large wheels, and sleek body shape embody Audi's progressive dynamism. The Sedan features a compact, coupe-like rear design, while the Avant showcases a sloping roofline and integrated spoiler, emphasizing the vehicle's sporty DNA.
At the front, the Singleframe grille, with its 3D honeycomb structure, creates a commanding presence. Slim, precisely crafted headlights add to the vehicle’s focused, modern look. Below, air curtains further enhance the bumper’s sporty feel, especially on S-line models, where larger intakes and bold accents set them apart.
S-Line and S Models: Sporty Upgrades
The A5 lineup offers three exterior versions: basic, advanced, and S-line, with the S models featuring their own unique design elements. S-line versions come with larger air intakes, sportier rear diffusers, and color-contrasting sill trims. Eleven color options, including new shades like Grenadine Red and Horizon Blue, allow customers to tailor their A5's look. Audi Sport also offers the exclusive Ascari Blue and Magnetic Grey for special Edition One models.
Cutting-Edge Interior and Technology
Inside, the A5 combines human-centered design with advanced digital technology. The **Audi MMI panoramic display** and optional passenger display create a "digital stage" that brings both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. The **curved OLED display** ensures easy accessibility, while ambient lighting enhances the cabin’s premium feel.
Audi’s "Material Driven Design" philosophy introduces a seamless flow of high-quality materials throughout the cabin. From soft-touch elements to precise control surfaces, the interior strikes a perfect balance between comfort and technology. The **Softwrap**, spanning the width of the dashboard, adds a cozy, modern touch, while customizable interior materials allow owners to craft their ideal space.
Enhanced Lighting and Safety Features
Audi has also taken lighting to the next level with second-generation digital OLED rear lights. These lights not only serve as a visual statement but also improve road safety through car-to-X communication. Equipped with 60 segments per OLED panel, the rear lights can display dynamic light signatures and even alert surrounding vehicles to hazards. Audi’s commitment to lighting innovation continues with **Matrix LED headlights**, providing superior visibility and design.
New Equipment Packages for Personalized Luxury
Audi offers three equipment packages: Tech, Tech Plus, and Tech Pro. Each package builds on the previous, adding more premium features such as Matrix LED headlights, adaptive damper control, and a heated steering wheel. With these options, customers can tailor their A5 to suit both performance and comfort preferences.
Conclusion: A New Standard in Mid-Size Luxury
With its advanced design, cutting-edge technology, and a commitment to both combustion and electric powertrains, the new Audi A5 represents a bold step forward in the mid-size luxury segment. Whether in the sporty Sedan or versatile Avant, the A5 is ready to captivate drivers with its blend of style, performance, and innovation.
The latest Audi A5 and S5 models set new benchmarks in personalization and safety, offering drivers an unparalleled experience in terms of both appearance and functionality. With Matrix LED headlights and digital OLED taillights, Audi introduces eight customizable digital light signatures, allowing drivers to personalize their vehicle's look like never before. These settings can be selected via the MMI touch display or the myAudi app, enhancing the A5 and S5 models' futuristic appeal.
Audi’s innovative OLED taillights also integrate **Car-to-X communication**, enabling the vehicle to interact with its surroundings. For instance, these lights can warn nearby vehicles of potential hazards like accidents or breakdowns. The advanced safety features include proximity detection, where the OLED rear lights automatically adjust to alert road users of critical driving situations. Notably, the brake lights are integrated into the OLED panels, creating a 3D effect that spans the car’s width, further enhancing its safety and visibility on the road.
Audi MMI Panoramic Display and Head-Up Display (HUD)
The cabin of the new A5 is equipped with cutting-edge technology. The 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and the 14.5-inch MMI touch display combine OLED technology and a sleek, curved design that is driver-oriented. This layout provides an intuitive interface, minimizing the need for drivers to take their eyes off the road. Additionally, ambient lighting makes the display appear as if it’s floating, adding a sophisticated touch to the driving experience.
The **new Head-Up Display (HUD)** is a major advancement, projecting crucial information, such as speed, navigation, and assistance system updates, directly onto the windshield. Drivers can even control infotainment features through the HUD, and with 85% more display space than before, visibility and clarity are dramatically improved.
AI Integration with ChatGPT
Audi introduces seamless integration with **ChatGPT** via the Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, allowing drivers to interact naturally with their vehicle. The AI can answer general knowledge questions, assist with vehicle functions, and even offer weather updates, making the driving experience more interactive and intelligent.
E³ Electronic Architecture: The Backbone of Digitalization
The Audi A5 is powered by the E³ 1.2 architecture, featuring **five high-performance computers** that manage everything from infotainment to safety systems. This **end-to-end electronic architecture** enhances vehicle connectivity, integrating real-time data from multiple systems to offer features like swarm data for car-to-x communication. This scalable architecture allows for future upgrades and ensures the car stays digitally up-to-date.
Comprehensive Driver Assistance Systems
Safety remains a top priority in the A5. Standard features include **rear parking aids**, **cruise control**, **lane departure warnings**, and **attention assist**. Additional packages, like **Adaptive Cruise Assist Plus**, offer more advanced functionality, including high-resolution map data and cloud-based swarm data, improving traffic sign recognition, speed assistance, and lane guidance. Other available systems include **Active Front Assist**, which combines emergency brake assist, evasive maneuvers, and cross-traffic warnings for heightened safety.
Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) and Efficient Hybridization
The Audi A5 series is built on the **Premium Platform Combustion (PPC)**, allowing for traditional combustion engines while supporting gradual electrification through mild hybrids (MHEV). This platform, in conjunction with the E³ architecture, ensures optimal performance and efficiency.
MHEV Plus: A Leap in Efficiency
Audi's **MHEV Plus system**, powered by a 48-volt electrical system, delivers significant reductions in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. The system supports partial electric driving, improving fuel economy by as much as **0.74 liters per 100 km** for the V6 3.0 TFSI model. The **Powertrain Generator (PTG)** adds up to 24 PS of electric power, recovering energy during braking and using it to drive the car in certain low-speed situations, such as in city traffic or on slight inclines.
In summary, the new Audi A5 family redefines driving with a harmonious blend of **personalization, safety, and cutting-edge technology**. From customizable digital lights and advanced displays to AI integration and efficient hybrid powertrains, the A5 sets a new standard for the modern luxury vehicle.The new Audi A5 family offers improved efficiency, comfort, and performance with its enhanced **MHEV Plus system**. The **Powertrain Generator (PTG)** delivers up to 25 kW of recuperation, recharging the battery faster to power the vehicle, electrical system, and air conditioning, even when the engine is off. This reduces fuel consumption and improves agility.
Audi’s **integrated brake control** system uses recuperation for deceleration, reserving friction braking for stronger pedal pressure. The 48-volt **MHEV Plus system** ensures the battery operates efficiently with rapid charging cycles, supported by a cooling system that keeps it at an optimal temperature.
Engine Options
The A5 offers a range of engines, starting with a 2.0 TFSI delivering **110 kW (150 PS)** or **150 kW (204 PS)**. The **2.0 TDI (204 PS)** includes MHEV Plus tech for better efficiency and comfort. The sporty **S5** boasts a **3.0 V6 TFSI** with **270 kW (367 PS)**, incorporating MHEV Plus for reduced emissions and sharper performance.
Advanced Chassis and Steering
The new A5’s suspension and steering have been fine-tuned for better handling, offering optional adaptive dampers and **progressive steering** for enhanced comfort or sportiness. **Quattro ultra** all-wheel drive is available across the range, with **torque vectoring** improving dynamics in higher-end models like the S5.
Pricing and Availability
The Audi A5 family will launch in **November 2024** across Europe, with orders starting in **July 2024**. Pricing begins at **€45,200** for the A5 Sedan TFSI 110 kW, which includes features like navigation and inductive phone charging.
