More 'Ring Spyshots: Audi A5

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YSSMAN

YSSMAN

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Here it is Audi Fans!



(MORE IMAGES HERE)

LLN.com
Spy photographers have snapped the first photos of the 2008 Audi A5 coupe on Germany's famous Nürburgring test track. The images provide the best look to date at the car's roofline, which differs greatly from the Nuvolari Concept, which is otherwise the basis for the A5.

In May, Audi announced the new model would begin rolling off the production line at Ingolstadt for 2008. Audi is expected to unveiled the car in mid-2007 or earlier. The car will be positioned somewhere between the BMW 3-Series coupe and the 6-Series. It will have similar engine offerings to the A6 line.
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Progress looks good so far, like a civilized sibling to the R8. Lets hope they make it fun, as the 335i is tough competition, and you can bet that the M3 will give the S5 or RS5 a run later down the road...
 
Do you think this means that there will most likely be a Passat Coupe? Im not sure if it is the same platform but with VW already extending the Passat's model line, why not include a coupe in a few years.
 
Looks like an A6 to me, disguised as a coupe. It's pretty thick, but I'm seeing a rear door line in there.
 
Jim Prower
Looks like an A6 to me, disguised as a coupe. It's pretty thick, but I'm seeing a rear door line in there.
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6oct24audia5kb0.jpg


Nah, look at the rear edge of the front door, at the bottom.
 
It looks a bit 'banglelated' from that rear view.

Thats one hell of a disguise - it's like one of those cars that crack-pots with too much time on their hands cover with dimes or coke bottle tops.
 
Will be riding on the highly anticipated audi uber chassis which can be stretched and therefore used on other models like a a3 or a8 if they wish.
 
95GTIVR6
Do you think this means that there will most likely be a Passat Coupe? Im not sure if it is the same platform but with VW already extending the Passat's model line, why not include a coupe in a few years.
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Word is that a Passat Coupe is comming down the line, but I believe that will ride on the current platform, no longer shared with the A4. The current setup it a half-breed between it's own design and that of the MKV, codenamed the PQ46 chassis. Chances are, the Passat Coupe will still ride on the PQ46 platform, and probably would only be sold with AWD and a choise between the 280 or 300 BHP VR6 engines. I'd also assume DSG would be standard as well.
 
YSSMAN
Progress looks good so far, like a civilized sibling to the R8. Lets hope they make it fun, as the 335i is tough competition, and you can bet that the M3 will give the S5 or RS5 a run later down the road...
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I'm thoroughly unimpressed. It looks nice, but assuming this is A4-based, it's going to need the magical development the RS4 benefitted from to even consider going up against the 328Ci/335Ci. In fact, all of Audi's lineup could use that development. Imagine how sweet an A4 2.0T would be with the RS4's balance? Without it, this A5 will be just as underwhelming -- yet popular for different reasons -- as the A4/S4 is.
 
harrytuttle
I'm thoroughly unimpressed. It looks nice, but assuming this is A4-based, it's going to need the magical development the RS4 benefitted from to even consider going up against the 328Ci/335Ci. In fact, all of Audi's lineup could use that development. Imagine how sweet an A4 2.0T would be with the RS4's balance? Without it, this A5 will be just as underwhelming -- yet popular for different reasons -- as the A4/S4 is.
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This car is gonna be using a whole new chassis.
 
Poverty
This car is gonna be using a whole new chassis.
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New from the ground up, or new as in modified from something else? Audi hardly ever creates an entire new platform. Everything in the last 15 years has either been co-developed with another division, or an evolution from a previously existing model.
 
...Everything I've heard has been that the platform is "all-new," but I wouldn't be surprised to see it dip into the A4 and A6 parts bins now and again. It is a good question that I don't have a good answer for, as of right now, only the folks in Ingolstadt will know for sure...
 
It is a brand spanking new chassis, something that the world has never seen before from what my sources tell me.
 
It looks like a Bangle-ized, slightly larger TT for people who want to look "more mature than a TT driver". I dunno, not too impressed, the roof profile is awkward in relation to the shoulder line (though it could be the odd plastic bits). I'm curious what it'll look like without all the disguising.
 
Im not too sure if audi would offer this car in FWD form as it wouldnt make sense TBH.

It will most likely debut with a 4.2 V8 or possibly a bi-turbo 3.2 V6 with valvelift. Rumours also hint at a 2.6 biturbo and a 2.8 biturbo.
 
Is this car 3-sized or 5-sized? I mean, is it a coupe A4 or a coupe A6?

I like the general lines, but there's still too much disguise on it for me to have an honest opinion...
 
If it comes with the extended roof in some of the concept pics / photochops, it should look good.

Probably not the performance option that a BMW would be, but I'll be willing to retract that statement when the final numbers and specs come out... but still, it's not a bad addition to the line-up.

Audi TT = yuppies/enthusiasts

Audi A5... RS5? = older ones... sport / GT

Audi R8 = supercar

To be honest, I don't know if Audi's current market direction is any more reasonable than VW's crazy upmarket swing, but at least they're going in a direction I actually like... :D :D :D
 
About the chassis; The chassis is all new, and can, as Poverty stated, be stretched, so the same chassis will be used in most A series Audis (A4, A5, A6, A7, A8. TT and A3, A2 are based on Golf V and IV chassis).
The A5 is merely a coupé A4, nothing more, but since I like coupés, I´d have an A5 over an A4 any day!
 
Team666
About the chassis; The chassis is all new, and can, as Poverty stated, be stretched, so the same chassis will be used in most A series Audis (A4, A5, A6, A7, A8. TT and A3, A2 are based on Golf V and IV chassis).
The A5 is merely a coupé A4, nothing more, but since I like coupés, I´d have an A5 over an A4 any day!
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I feel the same way, I hope the A5 will be a beauty. With this new chassis it should increase audi's profit by reducing research and manufacturing costs. However, I think it will also be safe to say that audi wont beat BMW in driving dynamics with this chassis' but it will be alot closer. I think if you want a audi with class leading dynamics you would have to look towards the "R" range.

Personally I think its a good move.
 
If this is an all new chassis I expect it to be seen in most cars VAG makes rather quickly. Especially with the A4 and A6 being about the same age, with the chassis essentially dating back to 2000. I'm guessing that the A4 and/or A6 will switch over to it's chassis in 2008. And if this chassis fixes the general problem with most Audi's than BMW should be worried.
On the A5 in particular, bah. It's just the Nuvolari, and it was great looking then. Therefore, so long as the new chassis pans out nicely I have nothing to say about it.
 
Toronado
If this is an all new chassis I expect it to be seen in most cars VAG makes rather quickly. Especially with the A4 and A6 being about the same age, with the chassis essentially dating back to 2000. I'm guessing that the A4 and/or A6 will switch over to it's chassis in 2008. And if this chassis fixes the general problem with most Audi's than BMW should be worried.
On the A5 in particular, bah. It's just the Nuvolari, and it was great looking then. Therefore, so long as the new chassis pans out nicely I have nothing to say about it.
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Actually, VAG won´t profit very much (except financially...) from Audis new chassis, since they will be Audi exclusive. The new A4 will see first light sometime next year, as well as the A6 and the A5. A7 is due for 2008, and A8 for 2010. Audi themselves are of course confident that their new chassis will give BMW a fight, but in my opinion, it won´t be much of a fight. BMW will keep their lead. Maybe except in modelrange, since Audis goal is to offer around 40(!) different models by 2011.
I´m sorry, but the A5 will not be very much like the Nuvolari. Not in terms of power anyway, and I´m guessing not in looks either (sad - I like the Nuvolari concept). Maybe the RS version will be somewhere near the concept car, but probably not.
 
Unless Audi is planning to cut the weight out of their cars and have optional RWD, I can't see them "catching" BMW any time soon. Will they top Mercedes? I certainly think that is possible, but after pointing out many times in other threads that although the three companies certainly compete against eachother, they target three completely different markets.
 
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.
 
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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My thoughts exactly. And don´t forget the even cheaper, but about the same Skoda models!
And sorry, the modelrange is not supposed to be 40 models by 2011, but by 2015. Apart from the obvious A-models (in wich I include cabrios, S and RS models), the TT and the Q7 and R8, they will by 2010 make an A2 Shooting Brake, wich will pick a fight with Mini, and a Q5 (BMW X3, Mercedes GLK competitor) and probably Q3 (based on VW Tiguan) as well as a R4. Info taken from the swedish edition of Auto Motor & Sport.
 
then theres also the R2, and it would only make sense for audi to complete the range with a R6 and then maybe a proper supercar entitled the R10!

Its true what yssman says about the aimed markets, they are very different indeed, you only have to look at the consumers. In the UK at the moment BMW consumers are considered to be mainly the type with bleach blonde wives, who live on new build housing estates, and have about a 8yr loan/finance deal just to pay for the car :lol: Then thres also the chav, criminal, estate agent and yuppie stereotype. BMW is becoming a victim of its own success, but its still going strong due to lagging competitors.
 

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