6 Things You Need To Know About The New 349bhp Audi S5

Audi has revealed its brand new A5 coupe range, including the hot turbo V6 S5. Here are the key points you need to know!
6 Things You Need To Know About The New 349bhp Audi S5

Audi’s pretty but ageing A5 coupe has been replaced by an all-new model, which goes on sale in the UK this November. The hot S5 has been revealed at the same time as the boggo A5 coupe, so let’s take a closer look at the car’s key points:

It's lighter

6 Things You Need To Know About The New 349bhp Audi S5

While a specific figure isn’t given for the S5, the A5 range is now 60kg lighter thanks to the use of Audi’s new MLB (that stands for Modularer Längsbaukasten, in case you were wondering) platform. And while we’re talking about structure, the body is a slippery so-and-so, with a drag coefficient of 0.25, which according to Audi is class-leading.

Styling changes are evolutionary

6 Things You Need To Know About The New 349bhp Audi S5

We normally reserve these comparisons for blink-and-you’ll-miss-it facelifts, but as the all-new A5/S5 doesn’t look particularly all-new, we thought we’d make an exception. It’s certainly a lot more angular than the old one, with the most obvious changes at the front being the heavily creased bonnet and a much wider grille. Is it an improvement over the old car? We’ll let you decide in the comments…

It's almost as fast as the outgoing RS5

6 Things You Need To Know About The New 349bhp Audi S5

Gone is the old supercharged V6, replaced by the same turbocharged V6 found in the new S4. It’s good for 349bhp, 21bhp up from the supercharged lump. No word on torque, but again it’ll be the same as the S4, which means 369lb ft - up from 325lb ft.

0-62mph takes 4.7 seconds, two tenths faster that before and just a couple of tenths off the RS5.

Even the non-S A5s are fast

6 Things You Need To Know About The New 349bhp Audi S5

We wouldn’t be surprised to see a proper poverty spec, low power A5 arrive at some point, but from launch, there won’t be a slow A5 in the UK. The least powerful - the base 2.0-litre TFSI petrol - kicks out a healthy 187bhp, with a more powerful version giving 248bhp. On the diesel front we’ve a 187bhp 2.0-litre TDI, plus a 3.0-litre V6 available with either 215bhp or 268bhp. Most are available in front-wheel drive or Quattro all-wheel drive forms, with the top-spec diesel getting AWD as standard.

All told, we’re looking at an average 17 per cent increase in performance and 22 per cent increase in efficiency.

No more DCT

6 Things You Need To Know About The New 349bhp Audi S5

Like the S4, the S5 has lost its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Instead, in both the S5 and the most powerful diesel, you get a conventional eight-speed automatic with a torque converter. Other models still get the option of a seven-speed S Tronic DCT on top of a standard-fit six-speed manual.

The RS5 will look something like this

Image via X-Tomi Design
Image via X-Tomi Design

The S5 looks like a jolly fine bit of kit, but the one we’re really looking forward to is the RS5. And despite the S5 only being revealed last night, the world’s car renderers have already been busying themselves imagining how the hottest A5 might look. Rather dashing, is the answer. Expect it to be powered by a heavily modified version of the S5’s turbocharged V6 with a power output nudging 500bhp.

Sponsored Posts

Comments

Anonymous

FIRST! I’m not too sure about the styling but I’m sure it’ll grow on me.

06/03/2016 - 08:54 |
4 | 20
Gabz

How is a torque converter better than a DCT? Engineering Explained pls help me!

06/03/2016 - 09:03 |
164 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Gabz

Just my guess: It’s not about being better. Just for cost cutting (same ‘box as for the high-torque-models)….
Oh, and VW DCT’s can only cope with about 500NM (as far as i know; EXCEPT the monumental DCT in the Bugatti)… and with the new S5 has around 500NM of torque, well, Audi/VAG is playing safe and using the 8-speed ‘box from S6 and up :D

06/03/2016 - 09:30 |
16 | 0
ValveLiftMan

In reply to by Gabz

The 8AT can handle more torque than the 7DCT

06/03/2016 - 12:04 |
0 | 2
Ben F. (Slowmaro)

In reply to by Gabz

It really isn’t, but here’s some benefits:
-Cheaper to produce (they already have an eight speed auto at Audi)
-Torque Converter autos can handle torque more reliably due to the planetary gear pattern.
-DCT’s suck a$$ in stop and go traffic. That’s probably a major reason Audi did it, customers complained and they found most were just driving them like commuter cars.
-8 speeds > 7 speeds for fuel economy.

I’m sad and still confused as to why they dropped the DCT AND manual though. The S3 gets a DCT, nearly every other model gets a DCT, but your Bread & Butter cars don’t?

06/03/2016 - 13:52 |
8 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Gabz

I’m guessing simplicity. A torque converter works by using fluid coupling to transfer (but also multiply) torque from the engine to the driven wheels. A dual-clutch system, however, relies on two clutches, one for a different set of gears, to do the same. Since torque converters are simpler in operation, it would be more reliable, and better suited for the engine.

Just my 2 cents.

06/03/2016 - 15:15 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

That render by X-Tomi is gorgeous!

06/03/2016 - 09:06 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

But the RS5 will look JUST a bit different :D Trust me ;)

06/03/2016 - 09:20 |
2 | 0
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

Not a fan of the headlights for now, i like the old one more

06/03/2016 - 09:08 |
28 | 0

yeah, the old ones look more classy, the new ones just look cheap

06/03/2016 - 14:40 |
6 | 0
Joshua Lue

For me its: C Class Coupe > 4 Series > A5

06/03/2016 - 09:11 |
2 | 4
The JDM Master

When you are rich but want to tailgate in style……

06/03/2016 - 09:11 |
4 | 4
Anonymous

Deff better looking than the doll interior on the new merces…

06/03/2016 - 09:12 |
4 | 4
Anonymous

“new”

06/03/2016 - 09:21 |
2 | 0
Joel Kjesbo

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

yes actually that is pretty “new”

06/03/2016 - 15:07 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Is it me or front end looks like Fry from famous meme?

06/03/2016 - 09:46 |
6 | 0
Anonymous
06/03/2016 - 10:23 |
16 | 6