Much to our surprise, the next-generation Audi A5 and S5 Sportback have finally made their media debut tonight, however, it is the styling that arrives as expected. With the speculation coming from spy photos and artist renderings since October last year, the visual revisions are on a subtle level, as already foreshadowed by the A5 Coupe.

Seven years in the making, and just ahead of its public debut in Paris next month, this second generation five-door coupe features a stretched wheelbase, short overhangs, wraparound domed hood, and a singleframe grille that is flatter and wider than the previous model. The shoulder line is deeply accentuated with a protruding double crease traveling just above the door handles. The rear end is a bit more shapely with the focal point being the arched luggage lid with its almost spoiler like lip edge.







The new Audi A5 Sportback interior, which has carried over from the new A4 sedan, has grown significantly. Length has increased by 17 millimeters (0.7 inch), driver and passenger's shoulder room is up 11 mm (0.4 in), and rear knee room has 24 mm (0.9 in) more. Judging by the photos, the interior is typical Audi sophistication with premium materials, precision of fit, and luxurious color blends. The instrument panel features a large 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit while the MMI comes with an 8.3-inch screen, touch-sensitive, and rotary control buttons for versatile operation of the infotainment system.







At market launch two TFSI and three TDI engine versions will be available. They will produce between 190 horsepower (140 kilowatts) and 286 hp (210 kW) of power. The most powerful version at launch is going to be the S5 with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that produces 354 hp (260 kW). This is 21 hp (15 kW) more than the outgoing S5. The sprint from standstill to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) arrives in just 4.7 seconds and continues on up to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). Transmissions include six-speed manual, seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch, and eight-speed tiptronic. New to the range is a bivalent A5 Sportback g-tron which includes a 170 hp (125 kW) 2.0 TFSI engine and can run on Audi e-gas, natural gas as well as gasoline.







Somehow, the new Audi A5 Sportback is the lightest in the segment as the overall weight of this new generation riding on the MLB Evo platform has fallen by as much as 187.4 pounds (85 kilograms) to just 3,240.8 lb (1,470 kg) despite its larger size.

The new Audi A5 and S5 Sportback arrives in Germany and Europe in early 2017. The A5 Sportback starts from EUR 37,800 ($42,500). The price for the S5 is EUR 62,500 ($70,285).