2017 Audi A5 Sportback revealed

The more practical version of the Audi A5 coupe has been unveiled ahead of its Australian arrival in mid 2017.

Audi’s A5 Sportback again aims to blend the practicality of the A4 sedan on which it’s based with the more athletic design of the two-door variant.

The second-generation Sportback follows the evolutionary design approach of the A4 and A5, which retains a familiar silhouette but introduces tauter body surfacing and sharper crease lines.

The length of Audi’s rival for the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe increases by 17mm. A stretched wheelbase creates an extra 24mm of rear knee space, and Audi says shoulder width widens by 11mm.

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Boot capacity of 480 litres offers 15 litres more than the regular A5 coupe, with even more cargo storage – a maximum 1300 litres – possible courtesy of the rear hatch and 40/20/40 split-fold rear seats.

The interior will be familiar to anyone who has purchased the new A4 released earlier this year. That includes features such as the optional Virtual Cockpit graphic instrument display, more advanced MMI (multimedia interface) system, and yet another step-up in the vehicle’s perception of quality.

An Audi entertainment tablet for the rear seats and a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system are among notable options.

The list of driver aids includes adaptive cruise for rush-hour traffic, assistance for swerve and avoid manoeuvres, traffic sign recognition, and a warning system to help prevent opening a door in the path of an oncoming cyclist.

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A5 Sportback engines mirror those of the A4 and A5, meaning turbocharged petrols in 1.4-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre configurations plus a 2.0-litre turbo diesel.

Performance, fuel efficiency and handling will all be aided by weight reductions. Audi says the A5 Sportback is up to 85kg lighter than the outgoing model, with a lowest kerb weight of 1470kg.

The sportier Audi S5 Sportback employs the same 260kW turbocharged V6 as the S4 and S5, and matches their 0-100km/h capability of 4.7 seconds.

The Audi A5 Sportback currently starts at $67,810, fractionally cheaper than the two-door A5.