Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

Following in the wheel tracks of the recently-revealed S6 and S7, the smaller S5 has also gone diesel in an effort to lower Audi’s fleet average emissions
Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

The next S5 will use a diesel engine just like the S6 and S7, Audi has confirmed. The 3.0-litre petrol V6, already an efficiency-minded replacement for the 4.2-litre V8 you also used to find in the R8, has been axed.

Available as a three-door Coupe and a five-door Sportback, the 2020 S5 will switch to a low-friction 3.0-litre TDI diesel, supported by a big ol’ conventional turbo and an electrically-powered compressor (EPC) that fills the laggy low-rev torque gap.

Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

This compressor sits in a valve-controlled bypass close to the engine itself, between the head and the intercooler. Although it looks a lot like a traditional turbo, the turbine wheel is replaced with an electric motor that spins the compressor wheel up to 65,000rpm in just three tenths of a second. That forces vast quantities of air into the cylinders and all-but eliminates lag. Audi says that in its acceleration tests, EPC-equipped cars steal several metres of an advantage from a standing start.

Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

The EPC can’t generate peak torque, though, so that only arrives at a surprisingly late (on paper) 2500rpm, when the large blower has woken up. The S5 TDI then maintains a handy 516lb ft until 3100rpm, when the final run towards the 342bhp peak takes over.

The Coupe will sprint to 62mph from rest in just 4.8 seconds. The slightly heavier Sportback manages the same in 4.9. Both are limited to 155mph and share a fast-shifting eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox with the first four ratios set closely for urban efficiency and the upper four leaning more towards tall gearing for economical cruising.

Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

That gearbox is tuned to work with the S5’s new 48v mild hybrid system. Thanks to a host of small but important upgrades it can deal with the hybrid system’s ability to shut the engine down altogether for up to 40 seconds when you lift off at speeds between 34mph and 99mph. It’s also designed to avoid ‘unnecessary’ shifts in stop-start traffic. Stop-start operates as soon as you drop below 13mph but the engine restarts as soon as the car in front moves away even if you’re still pressing the brake.

Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

Based around a belt alternator-starter motor that can start and restart the engine more quickly and more smoothly than a conventional starter motor, the S5’s hybrid setup will be able to recoup energy from deceleration at a peak 8kW flow rate.

But that’s all a bit boring. Much more interesting is the revelation that the S5 will use a combination of the two most popular types of torque vectoring. It will be able to independently brake its inside wheels under hard cornering, ensuring they don’t spin, but an optional quattro sport differential at the rear axle provides active torque vectoring for an even more dynamic and rear-driven feel. The S5 will be heavy, but spec’d properly it should munch fast corners for breakfast.

Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

Naturally it also has permanent all-wheel drive, normally sending 60 per cent of the diesel V6’s muscle to the rear. If needed, it can shuffle up to 85 per cent to the back wheels or 70 per cent to the front.

Another given on the spec sheet is the adjustable drive mode system, Audi Drive Select. It tweaks the throttle response, gearbox behaviour, steering feel and more. The standard profiles span Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Efficiency, but with the MMI navigation system added from the options list you also get an Individual mode, where you can take the various chassis characteristics you prefer and combine them into an overall package that suits you.

Audi’s S5 Is Now A 342bhp Diesel With An Electric Turbo

LED headlight clusters with strafing indicators will be standard alongside electric and heated front sports seats. Both S5 models will arrive in the UK in late 2019 for the 2020 model year. Prices are yet to be confirmed.

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Comments

Peanut_guy

Why so much diesel ?? We will have a sound of tractor ! Or do they will put fake sound through the speakers ? …

04/17/2019 - 09:50 |
20 | 8
☆★THEBOOSTEDBRIT★☆

In reply to by Peanut_guy

Especially after the Dieselgate Scandal as well gets me really perplexed.

04/17/2019 - 09:51 |
12 | 2

this isnt a Dacia. Or is it 1993….

Audis Diesels are quite refined

04/17/2019 - 09:53 |
14 | 2
Anonymous

Is the 3.0 V6 based on the C6 A6 Avant 3.0TFSI engine?

04/17/2019 - 09:51 |
0 | 0
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Similar

04/17/2019 - 10:03 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I agree with this decision 100% and understand the reasoning. S models should be diesel and RS models should be petrol, makes perfect sense to me!

04/17/2019 - 10:02 |
4 | 2
NotARealRoadTest

Its a shame that Audi’s semi-flagship performance models now run on diesel, but if this is enough to guarantee that RS models will remain petrol, then this is a good idea imo

04/17/2019 - 10:29 |
50 | 4
ᴶᵘˢᵗᴬᴿᵃⁿᵈᵒá

Another one bites the dust

04/17/2019 - 10:54 |
4 | 0
DL🏁

They shouldn’t be lowering their overall emissions by making the S5 (that sells in small quantities) run on diesel… instead they should make sure Q5 (which sells in millions) runs on hybrid or electric power

04/17/2019 - 11:51 |
34 | 4

Still waiting for the new plug in Hybrid Q5 here in the States. Audi is extremely slow with new car debut in United States which is kind of ridiculous by now

04/17/2019 - 17:10 |
0 | 0
Thomas Abram

I have always said that realistically, my favourite audis should be the “S” over the “RS” from a useability and enjoyment point of view, but I guess I can’t say that anymore when its going to be dull

04/17/2019 - 12:15 |
22 | 2

ahahahaha best joke I’ve heard all day. These things will be rocket ships from the factory, and then when people start modifying them they’ll be ridiculous. They make 516 lb-ft stock. With only a tune, a 30% power increase is achievable. 650 ft-lbs doesn’t sound dull to me.

04/30/2019 - 17:36 |
0 | 0
1950 Mercury Coupe

What’s next, RS6 with 4.0 V8 diesel from SQ7?

04/17/2019 - 12:22 |
2 | 0
BoostAddict 1

No one ever believes me when I say diesel is the future. Yeah gas engines have their merits, but diesel engines are objectively superior. One litre of diesel contains 14% more fuel than one litre of gasoline. Diesel fuel is also safer, as it’s flash point (the temperature it explodes at) is much higher. That’s part of why diesel engines are better too, they use compression ignition which is more efficient than spark ignition. The air in the cylinder is compressed which builds heat, then the diesel is injected into this highly compressed atmosphere and it ignites due to pressure and heat. If tuned and engineered correctly, the combustion will be very efficient and produce a good amount of power while releasing minimal emissions. In practice this isn’t easy, but emissions control systems almost completely negate issues with emissions. tl;dr Diesel can be more fuel efficient and make just as much power while producing low emissions.

04/17/2019 - 15:31 |
4 | 6

You are absolutely right.
A Diesel is perfect for us car guys too:

Okay, the sound isn’t as good as a petrol engine, but show me one petrol engine that is powerful (170+ hp) while consuming 6l/100km or less.

On petrol, either you have a big thirsty Turbo that uses 10l+ in real conditions or you have a crappy 3cyl turbo on which you have to rev the hell out of it to accelerate…

04/19/2019 - 11:04 |
0 | 0

And of course, a racing car is much stronger on petrol, but in daily driving, what do you prefer?

1 Car pushing away from traffic light really hard from 1500 to 2500 rpm if you tap the accelerator, while the engine stays calm and relaxed (Turbodiesel)

OR

2 Revving up to 6000rpm while the engine screams at you. (N/A petrol)

04/19/2019 - 11:08 |
0 | 0
REAL_sluggo

Torque is the delta that causes acceleration. W/out torque, there’d be naught for acceleration, it’d be a veritable mushpot of cold lumpen oatmeal for accelerating (change in delta), w/out torque.

Diesels produce, by design, torque looong before they produce HP. ‘tis why max torque is reached so early in a diesel’s powerband. Asking a petrol motor to produce torque is like asking Atlas to move earth but telling him he can only do so if he does it fast, no slow movements or lag. Impossible.
Impossible bcz inertia is overcome ONLY via torque; unless of course you fancy lumpen oatmeal for acceleration, Inertia and torque share one of the same bed.

Torque is the delta that produces 0-60 times. Torque is the delta that accelerates you from 50-80 in mere moments…

So why do ya dislike diesels if ya want quicker 0-60 times????

04/17/2019 - 18:31 |
6 | 4