Readers of German magazine “Auto Zeitung” recently gave Audi a few design awards. First up, Audi was voted “Brand with the most beautiful cars,” beating out over 50 other carmakers. In addition, the R8 Spyder was awarded “most beautiful convertible,” also finishing third for “most beautiful car model,” while Audi got additional props for the A5 Sportback finishing right behind it in fourth.

I don’t particularly agree with the R8 Spyder being very pretty, but you know those Germans…

photo by Mert Esmer

ABT AS5 Sportback

German tuner Abt Sportsline just got their hands on the A5 Sportback, before most of us can even see it. The Audi A5 Sportback is described “As comfortable as a limousine, elegant as a coupé and almost as practical as an Avant.” After being given the Abt treatment, the new AS5 Sportback can further be described “as dynamic as a true sports car.”

The fact that the name AS5 looks suspiciously like ASS is only an unintended benefit.

Abt tuned up two available engines on the Sportback:

2.0 TFSI
Audi A5 Sportback: 180 hp
Abt AS5 Sportback: 275 hp

3.0 TDI
Audi A5 Sportback: 240 hp
Abt AS5 Sportback: 282 hp

3.0 TDI “POWER S”
Audi A5 Sportback: 240 hp
Abt AS5 Sportback: 310 hp

The “POWER S” tuned 3.0 TDI engine with 310 horsepower is able to propel the AS5 Sportback from zero to 62 mph in 5.8 seconds. Bigger brakes provide quicker deceleration and special ABT wheels, available from 18- to 20-inches, add to the style. A new muffler and suspension system add to the sportiness of the car.

An ABT-styled body kit helps with aerodynamics and style by adding a front skirt, front grill, rear wing inserts, and a rear skirt set.

2010 Audi A5 Sportback

Finally, we get some good info and images of the new A5 Sportback, set to be released this September as a 2010 model in Europe. We likely won’t be getting it here in the States, unless Audi sees some demand for such a vehicle. The A5 Sportback, which you first saw in the A5 Sportback Spy Pictures article, is made to be a combination of a coupe, sedan, and wagon. It attempts to take the benefits from each and combine it into one great car, which will compete directly with the BMW 5-Series GT.

I’m still not entirely sure why they went with the A5 line with the Sportback; what makes the A5 and S5 so appealing is the 2-door coupe model. I know they want to give the Sportback a “coupe-like” image, and they did, but it would have fit much better with the A4. I guarantee that someone who didn’t know any better would mistake it for an A4 before an A5.

Initially, the Audi A5 Sportback will be available with five engine choices:

The two gasoline-powered engines are a 2.0T with 180 hp or 211 hp, and a 3.2-liter V6 with 265 hp. These will be equipped with a 7-speed S-tronic transmission. The diesel-powered choices include a 2.0 TDI with 170 hp, a 2.7-liter TDI with 190 hp, or a 3.0-liter TDI with 240 hp. The 2.0-liter TDI engine will be a fuel efficient-focused model with Audi’s start/stop system, which will bring fuel economy up to about 45 mpg. The two smaller TDI engines will be FWD only, while the two gasoline and more powerful TDI engine will get Audi’s quattro AWD system, and depending on the model, you’ll get either a manual, multitronic or seven-speed S tronic transmission. Three more engines are expected to be available by mid-2010. Here in the States, we never get this many engine choices!

The A5 Sportback will have all sorts of typical high-tech Audi bits available on other models – MMI, adaptive headlights, bluetooth, adaptive cruise control, parking assistant, rear-view camera, Bang & Olufsen sound, etc. Expect lots and lots of options.

S-line packages are also available, of course. The sport package consists of tighter suspension, lowered body, bigger wheels, sport seats, brushed aluminum, special S-line leather steering wheel and shift knob, and two special paint colors, Monza Silver and Misano Red. The S-line exterior package is also optional, which includes modified bumpers, side air intakes, diffuser and tailpipes, as well as body-color side sills, and S line badges on the door sill trims and front fenders. Fancy.

2010 Audi A5 Sportback S-line Interior

Here is what the various trim levels will cost at launch:

2.0 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission – 36,050 euros
2.7 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission – 39,300 euros
3.0 TDI quattro with 7-speed S tronic – 47,950 euros
2.0 TFSI FWD with 6-speed manual – 33,650 euros
2.0 TFSI quattro with 7-speed S tronic – 42,150 euros
3.2 FSI quattro with S tronic – 47,000 euros

You can download the press release here:

2010 Audi A5 Sportback Press Release

Be warned: it is really, really long.

Audi A5 Sportback Spy Shot

Students at the University of San Diego happened across an unusual sighting a couple days ago. Apparently Audi was doing a photo shoot of the new A5 Sportback at the school, and these cell phone camera-equipped students snapped a few photos of the car almost completely unveiled.

The A5 Sportback, which we reported on a few days ago, will have four doors and a “coupe-like” roofline, and will be able to carry almost as much cargo as the A4 Avant. It will be available with five engines; two gasoline options and three diesel-powered TDI variants. There will be an S5 variant with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6.

The A5 Sportback will not be available in the States, at least right away, even though this is where they’re shooting the photos. It’s expected to debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The A5 Sportback will be a direct competitor to the BMW 5-series GT, although I’m still not entirely sure why it’s part of the A5 line and not the A4, considering it has four doors. I know, I know, it’s all about the “four-door coupe” thing now, I just don’t buy it.

The lucky student who snapped these shots had a chance to sit in the car as well. His findings:

Inside the car is very familiar, the dash pretty much the standard A5/A4 affair, as to be expected, but the seating in back is what surprised me. The roof slopes back towards the integrated spoiler with a fairly steep rake, yet the downward slide begins in earnest right where your head sits. The result is a very attractive outward profile and substantially more room in the back than the A5. In fact, the headliner even makes a slight rise to accommodate more headroom. One other bit of interest in the interior is the metal trim used, almost a perforated aluminum, something I’d not seen before in an Audi.

More pictures and info at Fourtitude

Sneak Peek at the Audi A5 Sportback

Audi gave us some details on the newest addition to the A5 line – the A5 Sportback. The idea here is that the Sportback will be as “emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a sedan, and as practical as an Avant.” It will have four doors, which makes me wonder why it’s not instead a variation on the A4.

The 2010 Audi A5 Sportback will be available initially with five engine choices – two gasoline and three diesel variants. The gasoline choices will be a 2.0-liter turbo with 211 horsepower, and a 3.2-liter V6 rated at 265 hp. The TDI engines will be available with a 2.0-liter (170 hp,) a 2.7-liter (190 hp,) and a 3.0-liter V6 with 240 hp. Both gasoline engines and the V6 TDI will come with Audi’s AWD quattro system.

We aren’t getting the A5 Sportback here in the States, but Europe will begin to see them in showrooms in September of this year, starting at 36,050 Euros, or about $50,000 USD.

2010 Audi A5 Sportback sketch