2008 Audi S5
On Sale Date
Fall 2007
Body Style
Coupe
Category
Sports Cars
Drivetrain
Quattro all-wheel drive
Engine
4.2-liter 350-hp V8
Estimated Price
Not released
Overview MSN Autos
The stylish and powerful Audi S5 coupe debuted at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show and was shown for the first time at the auto show in New York. Finished in bright Misano Red paint for the New York show which highlights the beautifully sculpted design, the S5 coupe and the A5 join the redesigned Audi TT coupe and the Audi R8 supercar as Audi offers a complete line of performance coupes.
An all-new four-seat coupe, the high-performance S5 and the A5 sibling incorporate many elements from the Nuvolari concept of 2003 for a combination of elegance and sportiness that Walter de’Silva, head of Volkswagen Group Design describes as “the most beautiful car I have ever designed.”
Design elements from the Nuvolari concept include Audi’s trademark trapezoidal grille framed by rectangular headlights, very thick C-pillar, frameless windows, and a waistline that flows upwards around the wheel arches to give the car a dynamic, sporty character.
The high-performance S5 is powered by a 4.2-liter V8 engine with FSI direct gasoline injection that produces 354 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. Power is delivered through a 6-speed manual transmission and Audi’s famed quattro all-wheel-drive system. During normal conditions, quattro distributes torque 40 percent to the front and 60 percent to the rear but can adjust the distribution to deliver more torque to the axle or wheels for best traction. According to Audi the S5 will accelerate from zero to 62 mph in just 5.1 seconds; an impressive statistic for the level of style and refinement that the S5 possesses.
To deliver on the promise of sporty driving dynamics, the Audi S5 also includes sport suspension, precise steering, more aggressive front and rear bumpers and quad exhaust outlets.
Audi interiors have been widely praised for their design and elegance. While the interior of the S5 is practical for a coupe, it continues to build on Audi’s reputation as the benchmark in interior design. With a focus on ergonomic design and functionality combined with high-quality materials and excellent build quality, the S5 interior is focused on the driver, the instruments and the center console forms one unit.
Another example is the door panels where the controls, metal trim, leather trim, armrests and storage compartment all form a single unit. The instrument panel includes familiar Audi styling elements for the speedometer and tachometer but the details are a new design. The Audi Multimedia Interface screen is positioned high on the center stack to make it easy to read.
Technology includes partial LED lighting, an electromechanical parking brake, an all-plastic key and three-zone climate control.
The Audi S5 and A5 will both go on sale in the U.S. in the fall of 2007. Both versions will be initially offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox and an automatic transmission will be offered later. Engine specifications for the A5, as well as other details will be released closer to the on-sale date.
Print | posted on Monday, August 20, 2007 10:49 AM