Sure cars like the R8 and their RS range have no difficulty in stirring up octane fuelled emotions, but Audi has struggled to draw attention to itself. That has changed with the recent introduction of the new A5, which has managed to stir up a lot of hype around the brand. The A5 is a stunning car but what if you want a bit more in terms of presence and performance?
Enter the S5. Audi’s S range has fast become the middle ground between the standard and RS cars. I was excited to find out just what the new S5 is like to live with, because it needs to be both usable and sporty. Let me start with the looks. It remains a stunner from every angle. For starters, the front features a sharper design which is further emphasised by the car’s newly designed grille. It is significantly flatter and wider than before and on my test car was finished in silver.
The car also makes use of Matrix LED headlights which are set slightly higher than the grille. However, it is the power bulges on the bonnet and sportier front bumper that really adds a sense of attitude. From the side, the wheel arches have been flared a bit more, while at the rear, the S5 gets the signature quad exhaust layout along with a redesigned bumper. Step inside, and the S5’s interior is nearly identical to that of its more sedate sibling.
It does however feature some slight performance reminding details. My test car had carbon fibre trim as well as a few S5 badges. The sports seats were also finished in quilted deep red leather which looked absolutely fantastic against the black bodywork. A highlight though is Audi’s popular Virtual Cockpit display, which makes use of a 12.3 inch TFT display allowing the driver to customise which information should be viewed.
This new car gets a turbocharged 3.0-litre TFSI V6 which develops 260kW and 500Nm of torque, transferred to the road via Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel drive system. This also means a claimed 0-100km/h time of around 4.7 seconds. Audi has also decided to ditch the S tronic dual-clutch gearbox in favour of a eight-speed torque converter Tiptronic.
The S5 also comes with Drive Select, a program used to set the car up depending on the driver’s specific requirements. Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual modes all feature different characteristics for the engine and gearbox. But let me talk about the real point of the S5, the driving experience.
After a week behind the wheel, I can clearly tell that Audi is positioning this car as a GT. It is comfortable and even in Dynamic mode, the suspension remains compliant over rough roads and thanks to the eight-speed gearbox, it remains surprisingly economical. I averaged 9.5-litres/100km over my time. Don’t let its subtle looks fool you though, the S5 is still fast. Once it catches second gear, you can hear the turbo sucking in air as it covers ground at a rapid pace.
The addition of a sports differential also gives it incredible grip and the drive is rewarding. At the end of it all, the Audi S5 does play that middle ground between the 2.0-litre range and the much anticipated RS5. It is a restrained sports car with grand tour underpinnings.
It cocoons you in luxury and shields you from the outside world. It has a big boot for your luggage and despite its two-door coupe design, has space for four, fairly nimble people. It is expensive though but if it is anything to go on, then the RS5 is going to be a force to be reckoned with.
