?2018 Audi A5 2.0T Coupe?
A5 Coupe Offerings Ideal Addition to Sporty Lineup
Over the next three-year period, Audi will deliver the biggest roll out of new product with the introduction of fourteen all-new or significantly enhanced. The German automaker Audi has not only doubled sales over the last five years, but has also increased product quality. Among the new vehicles to bow in the marketplace are two new coupe models ? the Audi A5 2.0T Coupe and Audi S5 Coupe, and two new Sportback models ? the Audi A5 Sportback and Audi S5 Sportback. There are also new Cabriolet models.
The Sportback models are essentially 4-door sedans that appear to be Coupes, but with a large rear hatch. The Coupes are actual two-door coupes.
Each design of any product starts off as a single line that then progresses into a series of lines that culminate in the final product image. The styling of the A5 Coupe and Sportbacks are quite similar, while displaying certain distinctions.
The 2018 Audi A5 Coupe begins pricing at $42,800 and will draw its power from a 2.0-liter TFSI? four-cylinder engine that produces 252 horsepower in a range from 5,000-6,000, while developing 273 pound feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. The transmission is a seven-speed S tronic? dual-clutch automatic with more responsive and quicker shifts. Its 0-60 mph time is 5.7 seconds, with top speed electronically limited to 130 mph.
Standard fare for the Audi A5 Coupe includes: Audi smartphone interface (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), Xenon plus headlights with LED DRLs and LED taillights with rear dynamic turn signals, leather seating surfaces, Audi pre sense? city, a rearview camera, three-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior LED lighting, a Panoramic sunroof and a power tailgate.
An available S Sport package provides Sport adaptive damping suspension, a Quattro sport differential, available dynamic steering and large, fixed, six-piston brake calipers.
New for the 2018 model year, every Audi A5/S5 Coupe comes with Audi?s quattro all-wheel drive system as standard fare. Models with the 6-speed manual gearbox also get ultra@ technology with their Quattro system. Also new is a redesigned lightweight front five-link suspension that enhances steering precision through optimized steering rack positioning direct at the wheel centers. Audi?s available virtual cockpit features a 12.3-inch display screen that delivers vibrant color at 60 frames per second with NVIDI quad core processing power and two unique modes for viewing vital data: Classic and Infotainment.. S5 models add a Sport mode. MMI? touch? with handwriting recognition technology is available for the first time in the A5 model line, which includes a simplified function-key layout, with two touch-keys for horizontal menu control logic.
The A5?s styling language, leads off with a wider, flatter Singleframe? grille, along with longer, lower hood lines. The distinct wave-design shoulder line is more pronounced than before and wider wheel arches serve up design cues to the vehicle?s quattro? DNA. Rear horizontal design lines are joined by slim, sculptural three-dimensional LED taillights, and display a distinctly powerful look, emphasizing the vehicle?s width.
Standard feature highlights include: Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights, and LED taillights with dynamic rear turn signals; Audi Drive select with comfort, auto, dynamic and individual modes; a full color HUD; available Bang & Olufsen? sound system with 3D sound; newly available Audi connect? features (supported by 4G LTE where available) include online traffic info, weather updates, fuel prices, Apple Siri? Eyes Free integration for compatible devices, internet radio streaming as well as picture navigation, read-aloud personalized news headlines and Twitter? alerts; Audi pre sense? basic and city; and Audi smartphone interface for compatible devices provides Apple Car Play? and Google? Android Auto integration via USB connection.
My 2018 Audi A5 Coupe 2.0T Quattro S tronic test vehicle featured a Glacier White metallic exterior finish, with the interior done in Black with machined metal trim accents. The base price was $42,800., while adding the metallic paint, Premium Plus Package, Navigation Package, S line Sport Package, Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound, 19-inch S line wheel package and Destination Charge. Moved the final total up to $52,950.
SUMMARY: The 2018 Audi Coupe 2.0T Quattro S tronic delivers exemplary drive experiences. The A5 is a huge cut above simply adequate, while the S5 example proves superior in terms of performance traits, sportier appearance, as well as ride and handling characteristics. The addition of the S line Sport package to the base A5 Coupe enhances throttle mapping, modifies shift points, sweetens the exhaust note and enhances braking performance as well. Steering feedback is more pronounced as well.
The A5 Coupe adheres to the road and stays flat during even the most spirited maneuvers, covering the mountain roads and freeways with equal aplomb.
In the final scheme of things, the new Audi A5 Coupe is highly desirable in virtually every aspect. Safety features are state of the art, the visual appeal rates high on the scale, and communications and telematics feature the latest in technology ? especially the Virtual cockpit screen, which is configurable in a variety of ways, including Google Earth perspectives. The vehicle?s size may well prove to be more admirable for many consumers than moving up the Audi model ladder. In any case, this latest Audi A5 is most worthy of wearing the Audi rings.
SPECIFICATIONS: 2018 Audi A5 2.0T Coupe quattro
Base Price: $42,800.
Price as Tested: $52,950.
Engine Type and Size: 2.0-liter, DOHC, 16-valve TFSI inline turbocharged 4-cylinder with chain-driven Audi valvelift system and auto stop/start.
Horsepower (bhp): 252 @ 5,000-6,000 rpm
Torque (ft./ lbs.): 273 @ 1,600-4,500 rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed S tronic? dual clutch automatic.
Drive Train: Longitudinally mounted front engine / Quattro all-wheel drive system.
Suspension: Sport and Adaptive Damping suspension available.
Front -Five-link independent steel spring.
Rear – Five-link independent steel spring.
Brakes: Power-assisted four-wheel ventilated discs
Tires: Continental ContiSportContact 255/35 R19 97Y M&S mounted on 5-double-spoke alloy wheels in star pattern.
Wheelbase: 108.8 inches
Length Overall: 184.0 inches
Width: 72.7 inches with mirrors folded in. (79.9 inches out)
Height: 54.0 inches
Curb Weight: 3,605 lbs.
Turning Circle: 38.4 ft.
Fuel Capacity: 15.3 gallons
EPA Mileage Estimates: 24 mpg city / 34 mpg highway
Drag Coefficient: 0.29
0 – 60 mph: 5.6 seconds ? Top track speed =130 mph
Arv Voss is a Northern California based freelance motoring Journalist and member and past officer of several noted Automotive Journalist organizations who contributes regularly to a number of national and international media outlets. He reviews not only cars, trucks and SUVs, but motorcycles and unusual wheeled vehicles as well.
