Audi Confirms Future Plans; A5 Coupe

Motoring Channel Staff - 18/May/2006

News: 2007 Audi A5 - High Res Photos

As much of the auto industry begins it's slow shift away from bulky, fuel hungry vehicles, the luxury marques plow on with luxo cruisers, unconcerned by rising oil prices. Of all the luxury marques, only Lexus has been proactive with hybrid powertrains, as the German mob seem to be concentrating on refining their diesel technology.

Futhermore, luxury cars haven't been hit as hard as more mainstream vehicles by rising petrol prices, and just recently one of Germany's longest-standing prestige marques, Audi, released it's plans for a new 4-seater coupe next year.

Audi's top brass in Ingolstadt have given the new coupe the go-ahead, and it's expected to be loosely styled around the Nuvolari concept car (first seen at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show), and will be based on the A4 floorpan. The new vehicle will be called the A5 and is likely to be paired with a number of 4- and 6-cylinder engines to keep costs from escalating.

There could, however, be a bahnstorming version badged as the S5 (or even RS 5!) packing Audi's 4.2-litre FSI V8 with up to 260kW or 350hp, which would rival the Mercedes CLK 55 AMG and the BMW M3.

The new A5 will sit between the TT coupe and recently confirmed R8 super car and will go on sale in 2007, where it will take on BMW's upcoming 4 Series coupe. The new A5 will also be designed to feature a folding canvas roof: this convertible A5 will replace the A4 cabriolet.

In addition to confirming the new 2007 model A5, Audi is also looking to bolster it's line-up towards the end of the decade, which will put it in a better position to tackle BMW and Mercedes' growing portfolios.

Together with its large Q7 4WD, expected to pump plenty of capital back in the company, and the new 8-cylinder Gallardo-based R8 super car, a halo model that will do much for Audi's image - and the just-announced A5 - the luxury German car maker already has a good stock of innovative vehicles to prop up its range into the next decade, and there's rumours abounding that yet more models are being seriously considered by the four-ringed automaker.

One of the more enticing proposed models is the new A7. This model's inception will rest partly on whether the A5 coupe appeals to customers, and would be built in medium-to-small quantities to rival the likes of BMW's 6 Series coupe, Mercedes Benz CLS and possibly even Porsche's upcoming V8-powered Panamera 4-seater.

The sporty new model is expected to lob somewhere around 2008 and like the CLS is likely to be expensive and fitted out with 8-cylinder (and possibly 10-cylinder) powerplants to give it an athletic presence on the road. It will be based on the A6 platform, featuring concealed rear door handles (for it's coupe look) and a long, sleek profile.

From large grand touring to small runabouts, Audi is planning a radically different A2 small hatchback model, which has not been released for sale in Australia yet. The new model is aimed at stealing market share from vehicle's such as BMW's runaway hit, the Mini, appealing to those drivers are bored with the 'retro' theme that's permeating much of the industry. The newly designed A2 will be part TT hatch, while borrowing styling elements from the Shooting Brake concept.

Following in the footsteps of the hulking Q7, Audi has plans to expand its SUV range with a BMW X3 rival in the form of the Q5. This mid-sized luxury SUV is being labelled as a crossover vehicle and like the new A5 coupe will be based on the A4's floorpan and is due in 2008. There's also talk of a Q3 compact SUV, which would be an adaptation of Volkswagen's approaching Golf-based Bedouin/Marrakesh compact AWD and would be one of Audi's more cost effective products.

On top of the A5 and A7 coupes, Audi is also said to be secretly developing a very light, very agile stripped-down roadster, which is being developed in tandem with revered Austrian motorbike outfit, KTM. This model is rumoured to break cover in 2008 if it passes safety regulations, and there's even been talk of a new large wagon-bodied people mover from the German prestige automaker, whose hand had been somewhat forced by the confirmation that BMW will build a people mover soon. Though no name has been proferred, the proposed Audi people mover would compete with Mercedes R-Class and BMW's upcoming MPV.

Finally, the next generation A8 has been spied undergoing testing at the Nurburgring in Germany, and will feature a sleeker new style, a longer body (expected to be 5.1 metres in length) and a new V12 diesel engine that could also be used in the Q7 at a later date. Expected to launch in 2009, the new A8 will again get V10 petrol power, and will have it's work cut out for it as BMW will also release its new 7 Series around that time.