Audi S5 revealed

Audi’s second-generation S5 coupe is leaner and fitter than ever before, with performance to near-match the previous V8-engined RS5 coupe.

At first glance the new S5 coupe – as with many Audi models – looks similar to the old one, but only the side character crease that licks over the pumped rear haunches is actually meant to give a nod to the first model launched in 2007.

The front end’s most striking feature is the quartet of sharply defined lines on the raised bonnet, separating it from the flatter and more conservative engine lid of the new S4 sedan on which the S5 coupe is based.

At the far end, a raised integrated lip spoiler is designed to be the sporty-coupe signifier above a broadly similar LED tail-light treatment.

The brand new body and chassis is up to 60kg lighter than before and while the new engine maintains the 3.0-litre capacity and V6 configuration as before, a turbocharger rather than a supercharger now boosts it.

As with the S4 sedan it produces an identical 260kW of power and up to 500Nm of torque between 1400rpm and 4500rpm, and mates exclusively with an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Utilising quattro all-wheel drive – of course – the claimed 4.7-second 0-100km/h sprint is two-tenths adrift of the superseded 331kW/430Nm 4.2-litre V8 RS5 but three-tenths faster than its current closest rival, the BMW 440i coupe.

The S5 coupe isn’t any faster to that performance benchmark than the S4 sedan, however.

Unfortunately the rear sports differential that transforms the handling of the outgoing S5 coupe again remains on the options list, as does variable-ratio sports steering and adaptive suspension (at least in overseas markets).

The new cabin is virtually inseparably from the S4 sedan, but that’s no bad thing.

The ‘virtual cockpit’ with 12.3-inch TFT display in front of the driver is the highlight, but there’s a heap of technology including the ability to steer itself within a freeway lane, and ‘matrix’ LED high-beam that can ‘block out’ forward or oncoming traffic.

Audi Australia can’t confirm what will be standard in the S5 coupe locally, but a spokesperson has told MOTOR it will take the opportunity of a new model to have a “fresh look” at the pricing structure of the entire A5 coupe family.

With the S4 sedan and Avant due to arrive locally in the fourth quarter, the S5 coupe will follow in the first quarter of 2016. The outgoing S4 costs $104,610 and the S5 coupe asks $119,510 each before on-road costs.