Audi continues the rollout of its A4 family of cars with the newest model, the 2018 S5 Sportback. A hatchback with a coupe-like profile and a powerful engine in the mold of the larger S7, the S5 is set to make its debut in the United States this spring.
The powertrain is taken straight from the S4 sedan and S5
coupe. It is a longitudinally mounted, twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6
that spins out 354 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The power is routed
through an 8-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels via Audi's quattro
all-wheel-drive system. Buyers who order the S Sport package also get a Sport
Differential that can send all of the available power at the rear axle to the
outside wheel in turns to improve handling.
Audi says all that power motivates the S5 Sportback to
accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph
when equipped with summer performance tires.
Like the S4, the S5 Sportback uses the brand's MLB Evo
platform and has a five-link front suspension. The Audi Drive Select system is
standard. It has Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual driving modes that
allow drivers to change the steering weight, throttle response, shift points,
and adaptive cruise control settings. The S Sport package also comes with
electronically adjustable dampers that are subject to the whims of the Drive
Select system as well.
The greatest differentiator between the S4 sedan and S5
Sportback is the sloping hatchback body style. It will also be the main reason
buyers choose this car because it looks fantastic. Audi calls the S5 a
five-door coupe, and while that is technically inaccurate, it is emotionally
correct. It is, in fact, a four-door hatchback, but the sloping roofline is
sleek and coupe-like in appearance, while still delivering some of the utility
of a hatchback. This look has never been used on the A4 platform, though it has
had success on the A6 platform in the form of the A7 and S7, cars that have
earned a reputation for being among the most beautiful on the market.
Otherwise, the look is very much current Audi. The lines are
crisper than they have been in the past, but they are evolutionary, not
revolutionary. Details include LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running
lights; a platinum gray singleframe grille with aluminum-look bars; and
aluminum-look side mirrors that are also auto-dimming, power folding, and
heated. The rolling stock is 18-inch double-spoke wheels with standard summer
tires (all-seasons and 19s are optional), and the S5 Sportback also gets quad
exhaust outlets with chrome tips, a unique rear diffuser with a honeycomb
structure, a sunroof, and a power liftgate.
Fold the rear seats down, and the S5 Sportback offers 35
cubic feet of cargo space in the back. Aside from that, the interior is much
like that of the S4. It offers Audi's virtual cockpit digital infotainment and
gauge display in the instrument panel. The virtual cockpit comes with Google
Earth navigation, and it should get the same sport display mode as the S4. This
sport display makes the tach and speedometer prominent and adds a boost gauge
and lap timer. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are standard. Tech and
entertainment options include the MMI touch interface with handwriting
recognition, a color head-up display, and a Bang & Olufsen 3-D sound
system.
The cockpit is also nicely appointed. It has three-zone
automatic climate control and heated 8-way power-adjustable front sport seats
with 4-way power lumbar support, power side bolsters, and a massage function.
The upholstery is diamond-stitched leather and Alcantara. A heated steering
wheel and heated rear seats are available in a Cold Weather package and
ventilated front seats are available in a Warm Weather package.
Standard safety features include forward collision warning
with emergency braking and pedestrian detection; blind spot warnings; and a
system that prepares the car for a crash from the rear, warns the occupants
when exiting the car if a cyclist is approaching, and includes rear cross
traffic alerts. Also available are adaptive cruise control with stop and go,
active lane assist, and active high beams.
The 2018 Audi S5 Sportback is set to hit dealers this spring
with a price of $55,375 for a Premium Plus model and $59,775 for a Prestige
model.
source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1109036_2018-audi-s5-sportback-carries-stuff-hits-60-mph-in-4-5-seconds-for-55375
by Kirk Bell
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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