Audi's New Model Offensive: R8 Exotic, S5 Sports Coupe, A5 Luxury Coupe

Motoring Channel Staff - 3/October/2007

Melbourne, Australia — You can be sure that Audi's Australian sales teams are working overtime now that the launch of two new models have begun in earnest. The new Audi R8 and Audi S5/A5 have just been launched and will supply the German marque with a real performance boost.

Both the Audi R8 mid-engined sports car and the S5 are being launched this week, just in time for the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Sydney.

Audi R8

First up, the Audi R8. Priced from around $260,000, the new mid-engined sports car has a powerful, low-slung new look and is driven by a 4.2-litre V8, similar to the engine used in the Audi RS 4, but with a number of changes. The Audi R8 is built at a rate of around 20 units per day in Germany, and Audi Australia expects to sell around 100 units annually, with 25 already spoken for and set to be delivered to customers this year, between October and December. The Audi R8 pricing is as follows:

Audi R8 (manual): $259,900
Audi R8 (R-tronic): $274,900

Outputting 309kW and 430Nm, the new model has a top speed of 250km/h and can reach 100km/h from standstill in just 4.6 seconds. 

Every one of Audi's rivals, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and to a lesser extent Lexus, have no vehicle to rival the Audi R8. It's exotic mid-engine layout and AWD transmission ensure that Audi now has a halo vehicle to best them all. Audi Australia's managing director, Joerg Hofmann, says the R8's introduction signals a shift by the brand into a much higher gear in Australia.

"We are a successful brand, with year-on-year record sales in Australia as proof of our growth and our future potential in this market. The Audi R8 will become an icon for Audi and albeit niche, this is a car that clearly embodies our Vorsprung durch Technik. It will be instrumental in further boosting our brand image and awareness in this market," Mr Hofmann said.

As Audi's most sought-after sports car, the R8 boasts a high level of technology and equipment, and will become the first vehicle in the world with all-LED headlights (available from 2008). Other features include high performance ceramic brakes, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, rear view camera, and plenty of luxury and sports materials such as leather and carbon fibre.

Together with its 2-seater layout, mid mounted V8 engine and scintillating performance, the Audi R8 is also one of the most aggressively beautiful cars to come from Germany. The wide, full shape of the R8 seems to hug the road, and with bold wheel arches, large wheels and substantial air intakes it is like few other designs on the road.

Audi A5

The second major new model launch from Audi this week is the S5 coupe. Interestingly, Audi has decided to start sales of its new BMW 3-Series rival with the red hot model, the S5, while the less potent and more affordable models will be go on sale at later dates. Pricing is as follows:

Audi S5 4.2 FSI quattro manual:    $131,900 (October 2007)
Audi A5 3.2 FSI multitronic:          $91,900   (November 2007)
Audi A5 3.2 FSI quattro tiptronic: $95,900   (April 2008)
Audi S5 4.2 FSI quattro tiptronic: $134,900 (May 2008)
Audi A5 1.8T FSI multitronic:        $70,000   (May 2008)
Audi A5 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic: $100,000 (August 2008)

This new 2-door luxury coupe is Audi's interpretation of a classic touring coupe, "marrying dynamism with refined elegance to produce an undeniably stylish vehicle" says the company.

The first model to go on sale in Australia is the S5, the top-of-the-range model which is powered by a V8 engine with 260kW and 440Nm. The AWD coupe arrives first in manual guise (6-speed manual) with the auto to follow in May 2008.

Joerg Hofmann, Audi's managing director, said the new A5/S5 range heralds a clear step forward for the brand in terms of desirability: "This new Coupe is a stunning vehicle and we believe it is the best in its class. With competitive pricing, advanced engine technology and elegant design, the A5 and S5 models will surely turn the heads of the luxury car-buying public.

"Audi is a brand on the move in Australia and this new model will help propel us towards yet another period of record sales growth," added Mr Hofmann.

Like a prestige A4 model with more style and fewer doors, the equipment levels are high for a car of this size. Standard specification for all models includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic air conditioning, the MMI information and operating system, an audio system with CD player and separate screen, and an automatically opening boot lid. The new comfort key and the electromechanical parking brake are also among the items included in the standard package. For those who love options, there's a big list, including the following:

Adaptive/Cornering Xenon headlights
Keyless doors/boot/engine ignition
Tri-zone deluxe auto air conditioning
Panoramic glass tilting roof
 Reverse parking camera
DVD satellite navigation
DAB digital radio reception
DVB TV reception
Premium 500W Bang & Olufsen stereo (14 speakers)

With a length of 4.63 metres, the new Coupe has ample space four four passengers with four comfortable seats and a good boot size of 455 litres.

Audi's design chief, Walter de’Silva, labelled the Audi A5/S5 as a very important design, one that combines power, sophistication and elegance: "The A5 is of course a very powerful and superlatively sporty car."

Walter de’Silva even went so far as to call it "...the most beautiful car I have ever designed. Nevertheless, it doesn't come across as the least bit aggressive or arrogant."

With it's 2-door body shape and traditional Audi design cues, the company is confident of yet another sales success. "It is especially the way the shoulder line extends, with the back roof pillar flowing into it and the long transition to the short rear, which gives the A5 and its S5 sibling the identity of a typical gran turismo, a sophisticated touring sports car," de’Silva conluded.

Related articles:
- Audi RS 6 (2008)
- Audi A4 (2008)
- Audi TT Coupe (Road Test)
- Audi RS 4 (Road Test)
- Audi S8 (Road Test)
- Audi Cross Coupé quattro (2007)
- Audi A5 (2007)
- Audi S4 (Road Test)
- Audi R8 (2007)
- Audi A6 (Road Test)
- Audi A8 (Road Test)
- Audi Q7 V12 (2007)
- Audi S6 (2007)