Audi is fundamentally changing its flagship performance compact lineup in 2024, replacing the long-running A4 nameplate with a pair of new A5 models. This coincides with Audi’s new naming convention that separates its combustion and electric ranges. As the next-generation A4 goes electric, the A5 moniker will be reimagined as a new Sportback and a new Avant, with our exclusive photo preview of what it might look like.
The new Audi A5 pair will act as direct rivals to the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series, but won’t extend into other body styles, killing off the two-door A5 Coupe and Convertible. However the Sportback and estate models will still have a low and stylish style. They will also each get high-performance S models with the all-new Audi RS 5 Avant on course to join the range next year.
The new all-electric A4 E-Tron, as it will be called, is still a few years away but we know it will rely on Audi’s PPE electric system when it arrives in late 2026 or 2027. This will go away. The A5 performs duties in the compact executive class using a variety of powertrains, many including mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid technology.
Audi A5: exterior and interior design
As the Sportback name would suggest, the A5 will adopt a sleeker, more rear-facing silhouette instead of the more upright three-box design like the old A4 saloon. As our spy shots confirm, the new A5 will differ significantly from existing models, adopting Audi’s new design language. This is evident in new features such as the slim lower-mounted grille, as well as slim LED headlights that help portray a wider and more aggressive stance. Sleek door handles, clean alloy wheel designs and a rear light bar round out the exterior changes.
The interior of the Audi A5 will be completely new, introducing a more modern interior layout dominated by a new generation of digital interfaces. We’re not expecting a triple-screen setup from the new Q6 e-tron here, as Audi will reserve this for its top-tier EVs and more premium offerings. Physical controls will be kept to a minimum, but key control functions surrounding the air conditioning and driver assistance systems are understood to be easier to access than in current VW Group products.
Powertrains and platforms
The next A5 will sit on a more refined version of the previous MLB platform, although it will carry the PPC badge. This will support a series of highly updated combustion engines, which Audi’s Chief Technical Officer, Oliver Hoffman, describes as “the best (the company) has ever launched”.
Most of the range will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s new EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Improvements will include new cross-section chargers that claim to improve throttle response and a high-pressure fuel injection system.
The hybrid will play an important role in the A5 range. The petrol engine will be offered with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology at the lower end of the range and full-hybrid technology at the higher end of the range. The latter option will likely bring a new and more powerful battery pack to match rival systems found in comparable Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series models, so it will need to offer an electric-only range of around 60 miles to compete.
Diesel engines will also remain, although they will be a better option compared to Audi’s range of electrified petrol engines. The bulk of the diesel range should rely on the same 201bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit also found in the Q5 SUV, with the S5 below offering the only V6 in the previous A5 range.
Audi S5: power training and body style
The current S4 switched from petrol to diesel in 2019, using a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 producing 342bhp and delivering a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds. Despite the sharp decline in diesel sales, the new S5 will continue to deliver this strong performance, with a strong focus on cruising and impressive economy.
Prototypes of the new S5 Sportback and Avant show a design that will be almost identical to the S-Line versions of the A5, but feature a few S-style elements including the standard quad exhaust tips. Later in 2025, Audi will also show a new version of the RS 5 Avant, this time with a new V6 plug-in hybrid.
It will also feature a more distinctive body with flared arches and sharp design details, with a strong emphasis on making it feel more distinct from the base cars. This will compete with the Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance and the pure combustion BMW M3 Touring when it arrives, potentially splitting the two in power.
Audi A5 and S5: price and launch date
We’ve seen tests of the A5 and S5 for several months now, so a 2024 reveal for both cars is possible. We expect a rise in the price of the new A5, not only over the A4’s starting price of £38,985, but the current entry-level A5 price of £44,010. The sportster S5 should start well above the £50,000 mark.
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