Audi
MUNICH—Though the world’s automakers are within the midst of an excellent electrification, among the extra bold timelines for ditching the interior combustion engine at the moment are wanting fairly unrealistic. That is on account of quite a few components, however the relative lack of charging infrastructure and the still-high price of lithium-ion batteries are each contributors. With ICE nonetheless on the menu for at the very least the following decade, Audi has developed a brand new platform, and the primary mannequin to debut would be the subsequent Audi A5, due in US dealerships by subsequent summer time.
Now it’s a sedan
Audi’s long-term mannequin nomenclature just lately went via a little bit of a change. Prior to now, even-numbered vehicles just like the A4, A6, and A8 had been (principally) sedans, and odd-numbered fashions (the A5 and A7) had been totally different physique types, together with five-door fastbacks—often called sportbacks in Audi-speak—but additionally coupes and convertibles. (The exception to this has been the station wagon variants, aka Avants, which had been A4s and A6s.)
Neglect all that. Any longer, all even-numbered Audis are battery-electric autos, with odd-numbered Audi designations reserved for gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicles. (The identical applies to the Q-designated SUVs and crossovers, however extra on these in a number of weeks.)
There has additionally been a rationalization of physique types, one thing Audi is asking “idea sedan 2.0.” So there’s not going to be an A5 coupe, nor an A5 convertible. Nor a conventional “three-box” sedan, both; as an alternative, the A5 is obtainable as a five-door fastback, in addition to an A5 Avant station wagon (however with no plans for a lifted all-road Avant).
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The design group needed the automobile to have a light-weight and shadow interplay, and it is fairly totally different to the slab-sided A4 you in all probability bear in mind.
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The brand new roof is extra curved than the previous A5, Audi including additional peak somewhat than taking away rear headroom.
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The ability bulges on the hood are as a lot about leaving room above the engine block for pedestrian security rules as they’re about making the automobile look highly effective.
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Audi was at pains to level out that the A5 has actual exhaust suggestions, not faux ones. In reality, all of the vents and ducts are useful.
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The S5 will get quad pipes.
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The recessed door handles assist the A5 obtain a drag coefficient of 0.25.
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It is a bigger automobile than the one it supersedes, including half an inch (13 mm) in width, 0.9 inches (24 mm) in peak, 2.6 inches (67 mm) in size, and maybe most noticeable for occupants, an additional 3.1 inches (79 mm) to the wheelbase, which interprets as a good enchancment in area for rear-seat passengers. The drag coefficient is a really respectable 0.25.
Software program-defined
Earlier than growing this new platform, known as Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), Audi developed the Premium Platform Electrical (PPE) structure, for higher-end BEVs carrying the Audi badge, in addition to Porsche and, in time, Bentley and Lamborghini, beginning with the Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 e-tron.
Audi’s engineers informed Ars that PPC has no carryover from PPE by way of chassis or suspension design, however it does profit from the identical fashionable digital structure that debuted in PPE.
The brand new platform is known as E3 1.2, and troubles with its improvement delayed the arrival of the PPE vehicles and resulted in a change of management at CARIAD, VW Group’s software program division. However these kinks had been labored out, and it means the brand new A5 has a totally fashionable electronics suite, the place 4 highly effective computer systems known as area controllers exchange the handfuls and dozens of discrete black bins that every deal with a single perform in older vehicles.
So the brand new A5 options the identical “Digital Stage” infotainment system because the Q6 e-tron we examined just lately, with a pair of OLED screens (one for the principle instrument show, one other for the infotainment show), with an elective third display for the front-seat passenger; because of a intelligent display coating, this third display just isn’t viewable from the driving force’s seat, to attenuate distraction.
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Audi has lengthy been good at inside design, and the A5 and S5 are but extra proof. It is a comparable format to the Q6 e-tron, however you’re feeling extra enveloped by the automobile.
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A separate infotainment display for the entrance passenger nonetheless looks as if overkill to me.
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There is a respectable quantity of room within the again, together with rear headroom.
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Here is a have a look at a distinct trim inside.
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The Sportback physique model means it appears to be like prefer it has a little bit of a trunk however truly it is received a hatch.
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The door has various buttons.
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There’s additionally the identical intelligent lighting tech in and out, in addition to a full complement of superior driver help methods and an augmented actuality heads-up show. However, similar because the Q6 e-tron, there is no UI setting to have a map on the principle instrument show, simply the infotainment display. It was a function that Audi launched to the business, and we’re unhappy to see it lacking in motion in E3 1.2.
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