AUDI MARKED its 100th birthday last week with the official unveiling of its new A5 Sportback.
The latest addition to a burgeoning product line-up is a hatchback version of the recently launched A5 coupé.
The new coupé/hatchback may be pitted against the upcoming BMW 5-Series Gran Tourismo, but the Audi retains more coupé lines and is actually shorter by 6mm than the A4 saloon. Unlike the BMW rival, space is not greatly improved because of the revised format, the consequence of retaining those coupé lines. It does, however, have the same bootspace as the A4 saloon.
The engine range consists of two TFSI petrol engines – a 2-litre 208bhp and 3.2-litre V6 263bhp – and two diesels – a 2-litre TDI 168bhp and 3-litre 237bhp. All except the entry level diesel come with the S-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission. The car is due to go on sale in Ireland in the autumn.
At the international launch, attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it was confirmed that the A1 concept will go into production next year in an effort to stretch the Audi brand into the premium small car market, rivalling cars like BMW’s Mini.