More 'Ring Spyshots: Audi A5

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
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Well certainly part of the reason for BMW's success is that they don't have to answer to a higher power when it comes to building a new car. Unlike Audi and Mercedes, both of whom have to take concern for their bigger siblings like Bentley and Maybach when constructing a luxury vehicle, or to models like the SLR or Gallardo when building a sports car.

BMW can pretty much do whatever they want, however they want to. It certainly puts them in a powerful position in Germany, letting them make design changes long before Audi and Mercedes ever would given that they are often playing catch-up years after BMW has moved on.

...That said, BMW being alone in their decisions can cause problems too. Chris Bangle's designs anyone?

If indeed Audi has chosen to diversify their lineup as much as they say, they clearly would be targeting Mercedes more than anyone else. Interestingly enough, the idea is becoming more popular to build niche models in low volumes to bolster sales in given markets. Here in the US, GM has been considering doing so, but with more tools on hand (given the different brands), they may be more successful with the same basic idea.
 
YSSMAN
If they offer 40 distinct models that cover various parts of the market they certainly could be successful... It has worked out well for Mercedes over the past few years. But given the Audi/Volkswagen track record of offering essentially the same car but with a small price difference between the rings and the letters, they may be shooting themselves in the foot here.
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I don't think Audi has a "track record" of this so much as a "recent track record". I rant about this often enough to put it in my sig, but they are getting very close to losing both feet. If they actually come up with a R10, above the R8, where does that place the Murcielago? Should it up things to 800HP and a massive reduction in weight (something VAG is still struggling with)? And then there's Bugatti, who -- with respect to all other VAG brands -- has nowhere to move for new models. Moving up is nigh-impossible, and moving down results in platform-sharing with some other, more affordable. This could be the reason there's no announcement (or even rumors) of a new model. Now that cars are being developed and the press is hot, this is the perfect time to annouce something, even if it's 4 years away.

Having 40 distinct models (or sub-models, as I consider the A4 3.2 and 2.0T the same "model") in a lineup is no big deal, so long as you're the only major brand, as is the case with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. I don't see much in the way of overlap with Mercedes and Chrysler. The closest thing seems to be the Pacifica & R-Class, but those two are still worlds apart.

I wonder if VAG's trying to play Mercedes' and BMW's game of fill-in-the-gaps, only forgetting that they don't have to do that for all brands. I remember that there used to be a natural progression between VW and Audi, at least in the US. The old Passat would feed you into the Audi 80...and that was it. Even in the late 90's, it was pretty much the same way. The gap between the Golf/GTI and A3/S3 was good enough up until this new generation. The telling news is when it becomes a part of every VW/Audi review: "it's good, but 90% of this could be had from VW/Skoda/Seat for $X,000 less..."
 
Mhmmm.... Seat Octavia vRS... whut? :lol:

Nice point about Bugatti... nowhere to go, really... will that make it a one-model marquee that will close shop when the Veyron is gone?

Here's a thought, though... Use Bugatti as a showcase for VAG technologies. You could have a Bugatti turbodiesel motorbike, for example, or a Bugatti one-seater.

What about an A8 or Phaeton based 8-liter turbodiesel locomotive luxury car? Or is that too Maybach? :lol:

I've ranted about VAG's strange insistence on competing itself out of existence myself... Too many Golfs, too many midsizers... too many of... everything. Right now, their approach is impinging on their rivals really well, but when they start to fall prey to cross-shopping, they'll lose big.

BMW's niche filling doesn't seem to hurt them... they're not filling all available niches, just the niches in their product line, where they believe they need to bulk up. Merc has it bad, though, especially with the A, B, R, M, ML, ETC... cluttering their line-up and scattering their focus.

VAG should keep Audi where it is, as a maker of fast, luxurious cars. They may be no threat for sporting Beemers (except, I guess, with the amazing RS4), but good pricing and comfort ensures that they'll be in a good position for years to come. Not everyone in the luxury car market craves RWD, and it's starting to show.
 
niky
Here's a thought, though... Use Bugatti as a showcase for VAG technologies. You could have a Bugatti turbodiesel motorbike, for example, or a Bugatti one-seater.

What about an A8 or Phaeton based 8-liter turbodiesel locomotive luxury car? Or is that too Maybach? :lol:
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This may be the best idea yet, and although it's not really Bugatti's history. My vague knowledge of Bugatti recalls that it's been nothing but sport coupes/roadsters since day one. This hasn't stopped VAG from doing whatever they want with any brand, of course (Hello, Phaeton? It's reality calling...). Not sure about the diesel thing, but considering that fuel efficiency is in everyone's future, what better place to prove that supercars and frugality can't coincide?
 
From AutoCar

"Powerplants to include V6 and V8 petrols, and a diesel

These are the best pictures yet of Audi’s new coupé, the A5.

The A5 is the first model to use a new platform that Audi hopes will improve the driver appeal of its cars. The all-new chassis will also form the basis of the next A4.

Compared to the layout of today’s Audis, the engine and transmission have been shifted backwards to improve weight distribution and handling. In some current Audis the engine hangs over the front axle, making the cars nose-heavy and harming steering response. The new platform is called MDS (modular design system) and will be used in all Audis with a longitudinal engine layout.

The long wheelbase and big rear window hint that the A5 will offer decent space in the rear for two adults; expect it to be a proper four-seater, rather than a 2+2.

From the proportions and shape of this development car, it seems likely the A5 will retain a lot of the Nuvolari concept’s looks. Audi has a good track record of turning its concepts into production cars, such as the original TT and the new R8 supercar.

Entry-level models will be front-wheel drive, probably powered by a 3.2-litre V6, while more expensive A5s will come with four-wheel drive and the option of a petrol V8. Expect a diesel, too, and optional DSG transmission.

The A5 goes into production next year, and we’ll see the finished article at the Geneva show. An RS5, designed to evoke the original Quattro coupé, will follow in 2008."
 
I like the idea of a returning Quattro coupe. It all sounds pretty good. Now that the rumor mill has the TT-RS moving about with a Turbocharged 2.5L I5 (from the Jetta/Rabbit), I would wonder how likely that kind of engine option would be maybe in an S5 or something like that...?
 
I think the RS5 would be most likely to use a 4.2 V8 with about 480hp, or a 5.2 V10 with 480hp.

Oh sorry you said S5, then yeah I think that 2.5 would be considered, but the 4.2V8 or a 3.2V6 Biturbo would probably get the nod.

Audi have so many new performance engines on the way, things are getting confusing. The R8 will need a power boost before any S5 or S4 hits the street really.
 

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