Audi A5 Sportback teaser

Audi have released this teaser image of their upcoming A5 Sportback. The car will have its European launch in September, presumably at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Australians will get their first chance to see the car in the metal in the first quarter of 2010, with Audi scheduled to launch the car locally with turbo diesel and normally aspirated petrol powered models.

AUSmotive is aware of at least one of these cars being in existence at the Ingolstadt factory for the best part of this year. Given the way things get leaked all over the net these days it’s amazing all we have to go on is the above image and a couple of sketches.

Speaking of which, a video of Wolfgang Egger, Audi Group Head of Design, sketching the A5 Sportback can be seen after the jump.

With 480-litres of luggage space Audi reckons this is the wagon you have when you really want a sedan. Described as a genuine four seater it looks like families will still need to opt for the stylish A4 Avant.

The usual range of TDI, FSI and TFSI engines will be on offer in Europe, with all meeting EU5 emissions standards. At this stage the most powerful engine planned is the 195kW 3.2 V6 quattro. (Hmm, interesting, so why can’t Volkswagen use this engine for a Mk6 Golf R32?)

The A5 Sportback will also include the Audi drive select dynamic driving system. This offers three driving modes which alter throttle response, steering sharpness and shift points for the 7-speed S tronic or multitronic transmissions. The option of a fourth mode, programmable by the driver, will also be available. That sounds pretty nifty.

UPDATE: Audi UK press release added below. It is essentially the same as the Australian blurb, however, it does give pricing for the UK market. While not foolproof it will give some idea as to the expected ballpark costs when the car goes on sale in Australia (albeit, a very conservative ballpark!). That’s assuming their model lineup resembles Australia’s. Looking at the models on offer for the UK launch, I wouldn’t count on that.

The New Audi A5 Sportback: As Stylish as a Coupe, as Versatile as an Avant

Audi’s completely new A5 Sportback has broken cover.

The Audi A5 Sportback combines the style and sophistication of a coupe with the comfort of a sedan, and the versatility of an Avant. The Sportback now joins the Coupe and Cabriolet as the latest member of the A5 model family, creating a new segment at the same time. With an exciting design, everyday practicality and highly efficient yet powerful TFSI, FSI and TDI engines, the A5 Sportback will launch in Europe from September 2009.

The A5 Sportback represents a milestone in car design. The five-door coupe excels with its stylish and sporty profile. The spoiler lip and diffuser insert provide contrast and emphasize the sporty characteristics of the body contour. The coupe-like silhouette is the result of a roof section with a long, tapering roofline and of the short overhangs at the front and rear as well as the long wheelbase of 2,810mm and the four frameless doors with their slim, dynamic window styling.

With the Sportback, Audi presents a functional concept that creates a cutting-edge mix of coupe and Avant-like qualities. The luggage capacity of 480 litres is almost equal to that of the A4 Avant, and has an impressive 980 litres with the rear seatbacks folded down.

The A5 Sportback is a genuine 4-seater boasting a full measure of comfort for driver and each passenger and ample head and legroom.

Each engine in the A5 Sportback range features direct injection with the choice of either petrol or diesel variants. All engines meet the EU5 exhaust emission standard, and diesel versions are equipped with particulate filters.

In Europe, a total of two FSI petrol engines and three common rail TDI engines are available. The petrol engines are equipped with the Audi valvelift system producing more power and higher torque but offering lower fuel consumption. The 2.0 TFSI quattro has a power output of 155 kW and 350 Nm of torque and the 3.2 V6 quattro generates 195 kW.

The diesel engines range from a 2.0 TDI up to a three-litre V6. The 2.0 TDI is paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox and produces 125 kW of power and 350 N of torque. It also features a start/stop system. The 2.7 TDI with 140 kW and 400 Nm, and the three-litre V6 TDI with 176 kW plus an enormous 500 Nm of torque and quattro all-wheel drive round out the range.

The newly developed ESP control with electronic differential lock on the front axle ensures noticeably improved steering response and compensates effectively for change-of-load reactions to increase driving safety.

The perfect addition to this technology package is the Audi drive select dynamic driving system – this allows the driver to choose between three different modes which influences the throttle response characteristics, the shift points for the seven-speed S tronic or multitronic transmissions, and supports the servotronic steering. If the MMI operating system is fitted, a fourth, freely programmable level is also available.

Audi UK – The new Audi A5 Sportback: As elegant as a coupe, as practical as an Avant

The Audi A5 Sportback combines the best of different automotive worlds. It is as emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a saloon, and as practical as an Avant. The Sportback joins the Coupé and Cabriolet as the third member of the A5 model family – and at the same time creates a new segment. With an exciting design, great everyday utility and highly efficient and powerful TFSI, FSI and TDI engines, the A5 Sportback will arrive at UK Audi Centres in October. OTR prices will start from £27,140 for the 2.0 TDI SE version.

The A5 Sportback represents a milestone in car design. The five-door coupe excels in its elegant, elongated, sporty profile. The large hatchback fits perfectly into the tail-end styling. The spoiler lip and the diffuser insert provide contrast and emphasize the athletic tautness of the elongated contour. The coupe-like silhouette is the result of a roof section with a long, tapering roofline that is moderately lower by 36 mm (1.42 inches) than the A4 Sedan and of the short overhangs at the front and rear as well as the long wheelbase of 2,810 mm (9.22 feet) and the four frameless doors with their slim, dynamic window styling.

The unusual hatchback design is distinctively emblematic of the vehicle’s excellent functionality. With the Sportback, the designers of the Avant are setting trends in tail-end design while combining sportiness, comfort and utility in a completely new way.

The unique functional concept in conjunction with the emotion-packed design creates a cutting-edge mix of coupe and Avant. The luggage volume of 480 litres (17.0 cubic feet) nearly equals that of the A4 Avant, and it has an impressive 980 liters (34.6 cubic feet)with the rear seatbacks folded down.

The A5 Sportback provides a full measure of comfort on all four seats and convenient entry and exit through every door. Despite the fact that its exterior height is less than that of the A4 Saloon and that its roof tapers at the rear, the Sportback has comparable headroom and legroom.

The powerplant of the A5 Sportback is another advance along the path of innovative technologies Audi has been charting: All engines are of the direct injection type – the diesel versions are sophisticated common rail TDI units while the petrol engines are based on the FSI concept. All engines meet the EU5 exhaust emission standard. The diesel versions are equipped with particulate filters.

Initially the A5 Sportback will be available with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines. The two petrol versions, the 2.0 TFSI quattro with an output of 211PS and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque and the 3.2-litre V6 quattro generating 265PS are both equipped with the Audi valvelift system. This feature can produce more power and higher torque as well as lower fuel consumption.

Start-stop system
The following engines are also available right from the start: the 2.0 TDI with 170PS, 350 Nm (258 lb-ft), a 6-speed manual gearbox and start/stop system, the 2.7 TDI with 190PS and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft), and the three-litre V6 TDI with 240PS plus an enormous 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of maximum torque and quattro all-wheel drive.

The newly developed ESP control with electronic differential lock on the front axle ensures noticeably improved steering response as on the Coup̩ and Cabriolet and compensates effectively for change-of-load reactions Рwhich increases driving safety.

The perfect addition to this technology package is the Audi drive select dynamic driving system – this allows the driver to choose between three different modes which influences the throttle response characteristics, the shift points for the seven-speed S tronic or multitronic transmissions, and supports the servotronic steering. If the vehicle is equipped with the MMI operating system, a fourth, freely programmable level is also available.

Audi drive select can only be ordered in conjunction with one or more of three additional technologies – adaptive shock absorber control, dynamic steering with continuously variable assistance and quattro with sport differential for the 3.0 TDI and 3.2 FSI versions

Audi A5 Sportback OTR Prices (initial launch phase)

• 2.0 TFSI quattro SE (211PS) 7-speed S tronic £30,325 (approx AU$62,500)
• 3.2 FSI SE (265PS) 8-speed multitronic £33,910 (approx AU$70,000)
• 2.0 TDI SE (170PS) 6-speed manual £27,140 (approx AU$56,000)
• 3.0 TDI SE (240PS) 7-speed S tronic £34,020 (approx AU$70,500)