AUDI A4 AND A5 SPORTBACK

Audi A4 is the practical member of the midsize Audi family

Audi has added more depth to its A4 and A5 Sportback models with two new four-cylinder engines and more standard equipment to its quattro variants. The new powerplants are a 2.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol engine and a 2.0-litre TDI turbo-diesel. The changes come as Audi looks to increase its market share for both the A4 and A5.

On current figures the Audi duo are the only luxury models in their segment losing market share, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus all enjoying improved sales with their 3 Series, C-Class and IS ranges. Audi A4 sales are down by seven per cent year on year while the A5 Sportback is down almost 17 per cent. The official Australian automotive statistician, Vfacts, shows BMW 3-series sales are up 14 per cent, Mercedes C-Class up seven per cent while the big mover, Lexus, is up 16 per cent.

Audi A5 Sportback has sporting looks

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
These figures underpin how significant these new engines and equipment are to Audi’s mid-range medium-size cars, the A4 and A5. “We have now made some of the most popular options standard, and come up with even sharper pricing,” said Kevin Goult, Audi Australia’s new GM, Marketing. “We have never offered quattro all-wheel-drive technology in the A5 range at a more affordable price.”

The 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine has been heavily revised with direct and indirect fuel injection resulting in 10kW more power (now 165 kW) and 350 Nm of torque.

The sporty A5 2.0 TFSI quattro hits 100 km/h in just 6.4 seconds, making it slightly faster than the version it replaced. Yet at the same time the combined fuel consumption is 6.7 litres/100 km, significantly down from the 7.0 litres of the previous engine.

An all-new model in the Audi A5 coupe, cabriolet and Sportback is the 2.0 litre TDI quattro. This high-tech diesel has 130 kW of power and 380 Nm of torque. The A5 sprints to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds with official fuel consumption of just 5.3 litres per 100 km.

Audi has kept the pricing dead level for the A5 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TFSI at $75,700, before on-roads. The cars feature the addition of parking system plus with a rear view camera, 18 inch alloy wheels, Xenon head lights and MMI navigation plus with 20 GB hard drive and full voice control.

Audi A4 gets the same two engines linked to quattro AWD with S-Tronic transmission. The 2.0 TDI engine replaces the 3.0 TDI multitronic drivetrain. This model is priced from $65,900 with the four-cylinder A4 quattro models having the same features as the A5 Coupe and Sportback.

DRIVING
Our all-too-brief road test in a petrol Audi A5 quattro and diesel A4 diesel around Albury revealed two refined four-cylinder engines connected to the dual-clutch S tronic transmissions.

Even though our test drives were in different models, the diesel seemed the more laid back of the two powerplants barely ticking over as it idled along at around 1500 rpm while sitting on the speed limit.

Both engines responded well off the mark as well as at passing speeds with little noise intrusion into the well-appointed cabin.