2008 Audi A5
2008 Audi A5 gets its first taste of the Nürburgring
By Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor | Published Oct 30, 2006
0 Ratings
Caught for the first time in production form, the 2008 Audi A5 is an all-new midsize luxury coupe slated for a 2007 debut. Based on the Nuvolari concept shown in Geneva three years ago, the A5 will introduce an all-new chassis design while maintaining Audi's signature styling cues.
Audi's 4.2-liter FSI V8 will be the standard engine. Rated at 350 horsepower in the current A6 sedan, the A5's version should have at least that much power if not more. Three different transmissions will be offered — manual, automatic and DSG — and all of them will send power through Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
During a recent conversation with Johan de Nysschen, head of Audi in North America, we were given some insight into the new chassis design that will debut in the A5 and eventually make its way across the Audi line. Unlike Audi's current models which have their engines hung out in front of the front axle, de Nysschen explained that the A5 will feature a revised design that moves the engine farther back so it sits directly over the front axle. This will not only give the A5 better balance, it will allow Audi to meet pedestrian crash safety standards without resorting to ridiculously ill-proportioned front-end designs.
With its 2+2 configuration the A5 will seat four, although judging by its size there won't be much room in back. Interior trim should be typical high-quality Audi stuff with a mix of A6 and TT design cues. We'll be interested to see if Audi sees fit to cram its MMI system into the cockpit as it tends to crowd tight cabins.
Sales of the 2008 Audi A5 are expected to begin in Europe by the summer of 2007 with U.S. sales getting under way in the fall. A cabriolet version will follow about a year later.
See new Audi models
Audi's 4.2-liter FSI V8 will be the standard engine. Rated at 350 horsepower in the current A6 sedan, the A5's version should have at least that much power if not more. Three different transmissions will be offered — manual, automatic and DSG — and all of them will send power through Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system.
During a recent conversation with Johan de Nysschen, head of Audi in North America, we were given some insight into the new chassis design that will debut in the A5 and eventually make its way across the Audi line. Unlike Audi's current models which have their engines hung out in front of the front axle, de Nysschen explained that the A5 will feature a revised design that moves the engine farther back so it sits directly over the front axle. This will not only give the A5 better balance, it will allow Audi to meet pedestrian crash safety standards without resorting to ridiculously ill-proportioned front-end designs.
With its 2+2 configuration the A5 will seat four, although judging by its size there won't be much room in back. Interior trim should be typical high-quality Audi stuff with a mix of A6 and TT design cues. We'll be interested to see if Audi sees fit to cram its MMI system into the cockpit as it tends to crowd tight cabins.
Sales of the 2008 Audi A5 are expected to begin in Europe by the summer of 2007 with U.S. sales getting under way in the fall. A cabriolet version will follow about a year later.
See new Audi models