The A5 is dead. Long live the A5!

Audi Announced A5 Facelift, New Engines   

Whenever an Audi A5 passes me I have to reach for my special A5 Drool Towel. But now the Ingolstadt, Germany, based Audi AG is going to change my beloved design. That is playing with fire, Mr Audi!

The A5, in S-Line spec, with 19" wheels, funky LED running lights, with hunched forward coupe good looks, is exquisite. It is even better in S5 and RS5 spec. It is a recipe not to be messed with.

But they have! Look at it, those lights are piddly and it's all over-designed again, just like when Audi broke the A4 by spending too long on the lines and the curves, The lights on the current (now-old) A5 are sublime, just-complicated-enough to be pretty. This new fluorescent strip light thing that Audi are pushing on us poor Vier Kreis drivers looks daft by comparison. Stop it!

This always happens to me. I always hate what Audi do when they first do it, then later I become their biggest advocates. So I'm sure it won't take too long before I love the new shape and I've forgotten why I ever liked the old fashioned one.


New Engines

Actually, I think I'm starting to see the light already. It's mostly due to a new engine in the range; the new A5 will be available with a 3-litre, V6 petrol churning out 272bhp. That sounds amazing.

That's not all though, there are new engines across the entire range, each one no less than 10% more efficient than its predecessor, the 3-litre TDi (putting out 204bhp) will be the most fuel-efficient in its class. VROOM!

That's not all, from 2012, Audi will be racing in the DTM series in the A5. Here's a concept pic of what that might look like (drool towels at the ready, petrolheads!):





Although, those look an awful lot like the current (old) A5 lights to me... Maybe there's time for me to perv on the old shape yet!!