2011 Audi S5 Review - A Modern Grand Tourer With Emotion

Two-doors. Check. V-8 engine. Check. Performance Tuned Suspension. Check. On paper, the Audi S5 ticks all the right boxes. But as anyone knows, performance vehicles and expensive sports cars are very rarely just about the specifications list. Instead, emotion drives purchases at this level.

It was a blustery and windy day, unusual for California, when CarThrottle took delivery of a 2011 Audi S5 tester. The bright, Sprint Blue S5 was an exciting sight to lay eyes on. An appliance the S5 is not - appliances get you from A to Z competently. Cars in this class aim for more.

The S5 has a long and low front hood, with flowing body lines and a notchback rear end. Emotion? Oh yes. The S5 stands out as an object of beauty. With the S5, Audi has deviated a bit from a purely functional Germanic styling language.

While Audis are traditionally more utilitarian in approach, the S5 has more form in its appearance thanks to the hand of Italian designer Walter de'Silva. De'Silva is currently the head of Volkswagen Group design. He oversees all of VW's brands, from the top tier Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Audi to VW, Skoda and Seat. He reportedly considers the A5/S5 lineup as his favorite design of all.

Up front, the design curves upward, with a rounded hood and sculpted front fenders. Beginning at the headlights there is a side body line that sweeps into the front doors, continuing on to the upward flowing rear fenders. Surfaces and lines on the S5 work beautifully together.

The striking Lamborghini-like Sprint Blue color exclusive to the Audi S lineup really made the car stand out. It isn't for everyone; some like to be more inconspicuous, but we liked it. It certainly is an attention-getter - a color you don't just see out there every day.

The S5 (and its standard counterpart the A5) make their mark as much more than simply than an A4 sans two-doors. The S5 has a commanding drama to it, with the poise and the style needed to make it a stand out in this segment. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Stunning. Yes, we are in love.

The same basic interior design in the S5 is carried over from the A4, and that is no bad thing. A big change is that the A5 and S5 cars get redesigned door panels. They have a curved design that flows into the dash.

Elsewhere, the devil is in the details, and key elements have been changed that help to offer a different character and ambiance in the interior. They include a two-tone color scheme (we're a big fan of those) with a black dash, carpeting and upper and lower door panels. Combined with the white leather, we love the look. The white leather seats are an almost-retro touch. We'd imagine they are hard to keep clean though.

What immediately makes its mark from the exterior of the car is the shape of the sports seats. Once in the car, they hold you firmly in place.

The S5 logo is embossed into the seats, and the steering wheel is leather wrapped with an S5 logo. The driving position is very focused, with a lower viewpoint than the A4.

The S5 would be nothing without a driving experience to match the design. And oh, the driving experience. The 4.2-liter TFSI V-8 comes to life with a satisfying burble. It is always highly refined but it clearly lets you know you are in a different kind of Audi. The lovely aural feedback continues throughout the rev-range. The TFSI produces 354 horsepower and 325 pound feet of torque, good for a 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds. The engined is a detuned version of the 420 horsepower version found in the Audi R8.

Underneath the skin is Audi's Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP). This platform also forms the basis for the A6 and A8. It is unique for Audi given its engine placement position, residing behind the rear axle instead of ahead of it. This gives the car a weight distribution of 52/48 and aids tremendously in handling.

Audi has made a concerted effort to court enthusiasts with performance variants. While its standard models often give off a sporty air, their driving experience is tailored toward balance, exuding a refined competence. The S5 has a different character. The car has tight reflexes and responsive handling that make it a fantastic back roads companion.

The Quattro all-wheel drive system grips the road tenaciously, and the 40/60 front/rear balance of power offers a RWD-like experience. It also feels incredibly planted, thanks to the 62.6 inch front track, the widest in its segment. That feeling of assuredness carries through to the driver.

As we said, it grips the road - so much so that breaking traction even when making a concerted effort to do so is difficult. No, make that near impossible. The S5 isn't designed to be a burnout machine, it is a precision instrument. That is what the electronic stability turnoff button is for though.

Up and down the gear range there is strong passing power and gear ratios are designed to keep the car in its powerband. On the highway, cruise was at around 3000 rpm, keeping it in the range where it can offer optimum power.

The 350 horsepower V-8 and 0-60 time of 4.9 seconds isn't the highest specifications you can get dollar for dollar, but that isn't what the S5 is about. It offers a complete package of style, performance and yes, emotion. We're in love. Just about the only thing that could make us happier is addition of an R ahead of the S.

2011 Audi S5 Specifications

Base price: $53,650Body: 2 doors Grand Tourer with rear trunk Drivetrain: Front mounted rear-wheel driveAccomodations: Four passengers

Engine: Audi Fuel Stratified Injection, eight-cylinders, four valves per cylinderDisplacement: 4.2 litersAspiration: NaturalFuel delivery: Direct Injection Compression ratio: 11.0:1Horsepower: 354 horsepowerTorque: 325 pound feet

0-60mph: 4.9 secondsTop speed: Electronically-limited, 155 mph1/4 Mile @ ET: 13.2 secondsEPA fuel mileage estimate: 22 mpg highway, 14 mpg cityRecommended fuel: PremiumFuel Tank Capacity: 16.6 gallonsTheoretical Range: 284 miles

Wheelbase: 108.3 inchesLength: 182.1 inches Track (F/R): 62.5/62.0 inchesWidth: 79.9 inchesHeight: 54.0 inches Curb weight: 3858 pounds