Audi's Coupe de'tat: Audi A5 / S5 Part III

First thing we see when we enter the room:


yummy chocolate macaroons and a model car of the A5... pity about the colour though

we pick up our press kits and route books at this creatively designed counter:


new key design for Audi, certain models can be specc'd with full keyless operation:



and the test cars...a mix of A5 3.2q / 3.2 / S5 variants

these cars have the phat stance, aggressive snouts and little addenda to set them apart from the rest of the neighbourhood hoodlums. the only thing is we all saw different bits of other cars in the design of the A5 / S5. Elements from the Bentley Continental GT, BMW 3-series and even Aston Martin could be spotted in the sleek aesthetics of the car.

The A5 is the first in Audi's line-up to be based on this new platform.



the ignition button:


gear-lever:


and rev counter (note the low red-line):


Predictably enough, being the hardnosed petrol-heads that we are, our quick bee-line was for the S5. :)



thumb the ignition button and the S5 awakens to an idling rumble. however, cabin insulation is so good you hardly hear any of its addictive V8 symphony.

So to really appreciate the guttural exhaust note and mechanical rasp, one needs to stand by the treacherous twisties of the mountainous roadside as the 'test-pilot' hurtles around switchbacks and straights with reckless abandon! LOL

the ride is firm, gosh, but never crashy even when we alternated between the 18- and19-inch rim options. clutch operation is heavy and this is a car that excels in the low to mid-range but runs quickly out of puff at 7000rpm. Smooth shifts are best executed leisurely, since this gear-box does not like to be rushed.

the S5 is effortlessly fast, even deceptively so to a certain extent, but it never feels special or raw in the same way as a RS 4, with steering that is disappointingly inert for a car with such sporty pretensions.

The quattro drive offers abundance of grip and it's unlikely you'll ever breach its limits unless you're really manhandling the controls. The brakes are stupendous and can be hammered repeatedly without them ever throwing in the towel.

The A5 / S5 are intended to be direct rivals to BMW's 3-series Coupes but personally speaking, the Bavarian propeller offers more driving high-jinks as an overall package. the A5 excels only in quattro guise and the 3.2q is a great all-rounded bundle in terms of driving thrills for those who may balk at bridging the S5's price gap and may want something more than a 325i.

So it's easy to see the appeal this pose-worthy car will have for a driver who may enjoy something different from the usual blue-white roundel and isnt looking for something that requires a hard thrashing during his everyday commute.

The car is expected to arrive in Singapore only in 2008, so there's plenty of time to start feeding the piggie bank!



p.s. this was not shot with the phone. i actually do work occasionally too LOL

Fast Facts: Audi S5
Engine: 4163cc, 32-valves, V8
Maximum power: 354bhp at 7000rpm
Maximum torque: 440Nm at 3500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds
Top speed: 248km/h
LxBxH: 4635 x 1854 x 1369 mm
Wheelbase: 2751mm
Agent: Premium Automobiles