Sunday 19 July 2009

AUDI A5 SPORTBACK: NOW OFFICIAL, STARTS SELLING IN EUROPE






Audi has extended its range of A5 models by adding the A5 Sportback which is a 5-door family sports sedan/ hatch aimed at people with families but who still enjoy the look and feel of a sports car. IN4RIDE released a teaser shot of the car in June, but now you can enjoy a whole range of pics. The A5 Sportback sits 36mm lower than the A4 sedan, has short overhangs, a long wheelbase, frameless windows and loading volume that ranges between 480 litres and 980 litres.

Audi will offer the car with various engine choices, both petrol and diesel. At the bottom of the petrol range is the 2.0-litre TFSI making 132kW (180hp). Then the same engine is allowed to produce 155kW (211hp) while the range-topping 3.2-litre V6 has 195kW (265hp) in its belly.

The diesel range consists of the 2.0-litre TDI at the bottom which has 125kW (170hp) and has an estimated average fuel consumption of 5.2 litres per 100km. Higher on the ladder is the 140kW (190hp) 2.7TDI and at the top is the 3.0TDI having 176kW (240hp).

All these cars feature a KERS-type system which recovers energy when the car brakes and stores it for use at a later stage.

There may be S and even RS models coming too. An A5 Sportback would use the same 3.0-litre supercharged engine that currently makes 245kW (333hp) while an RS would go over 300kW (408hp).

Sales in Europe have started with the baseline model going from €33 650 (R381 600).