INGOLSTADT, Germany — The new Audi S5 Sportback will join its more prosaic sister, the A5 Sportback on the Audi stand at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, along with a new high-mileage TFSI variant of the Audi A3.
The S5 Sportback, which is not expected to reach U.S. shores any time soon, features a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 rated at 328 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Audi claims 0-60 acceleration takes less than 5.4 seconds, with top speed limited to 155 mph.
The high-output engine is mated to a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, driving all four wheels through Audi's Quattro system. Somewhat surprisingly, average fuel economy is 29 mpg.
The S5 Sportback features stiffer suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 245/40R18 tires.
Sales in Europe begin next spring, with prices starting at $83,000.
Audi's focus on lower emissions and higher mileage has not rested solely on clean diesels. A new A3 variant to be unveiled in Frankfurt features a new 1.2-liter TFSI turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder gas engine rated at 104 hp and 129 lb-ft.
With front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, the A3 1.2 TFSI ambles from 0-60 in around 11 seconds, but returns a remarkable 51 mpg on the combined European driving cycle, with CO2 emissions of only 127 g/km.
Inside Line says: We just flipped a coin. We'll take the one that gets 29 mpg and does 0-60 in 5.4. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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