Following a slew of blinged-up models, Audi is harking back to elegant simplicity with the new A5
Nitish Ramanujam

Audi is considered one of the most stylish these days when it comes to automobiles; not brash or overdone, but chic and full of panache. The company has evolved nicely from the days of the cleanly styled 80 and 100, moving on to build cars like the A6 and A8 that are statements in understated class. While the Q7 and the sexy R8 stand out like extroverts of the family, the huge grille and über-cool LED lights are probably the only design flourishes you see on other contemporary Audis – no flame surfacing or garish plastic cladding here, thank you.

Peep into Audi’s history books, and you’ll find that Ingolstadt did not have a proper mid-size coupe since production of the Audi 80 ended in the mid-90s. The days of the BMW 8 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupes witnessed ideas being thrown around for a luxurious A8-based two-door, but the prevailing economic climate meant the project was scrapped as soon as it was initiated.

After all these years, Audi deems it the right time to introduce a car to take on the likes of the BMW 3 Series coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLK. The new A5 seeks to fill the role of a grand tourer, albeit a smaller and less expensive one till the rumoured A7 hits the shelves. Based on the current A4 - rather than the A6 - the A5 employs the same Modular Longitudinal Platform seen in its four-door sibling. If you’ve driven previous generation Audis, you would have probably noticed the nose-heavy handling, a characteristic that has plagued earlier models and effected unkind remarks from enthusiasts and the automotive press alike. What the new MLP platform does is place the engine slightly behind the front axle - instead of over - for better balance and improved weight distribution. How far it goes in enhancing the driving experience, we’ll see in a short while.

The first thing that people want to talk about is how beautiful this car looks. To be honest - and to get the only issue I have with the design out of the way - I find the front end too reminiscent of the A4 and not up to the mark compared to the rest of the sheet metal. But for the techy LED lights, it’s quite like putting an ordinary face on Jessica Alba’s body.

From there on, it oh-so-wonderful. It’s a far cry from the blingy Q7 and the spectacular R8, the A5 seeks to impress with an amalgamation of good proportions and well-defined lines. The two-door - penned by the talented Walter de’Silva - displays a sporting intent with an emphasis on elegance and power; the proportions of this coupe are characterised by a wide and low stance, a short front overhang and a long, flowing transition from the C pillar to the short rear.

The interior is, as usual, one of the best you can find – focussed as it is on the driver, the A5’s cabin is a tactile and visual heaven. Ergonomic design and functionality are equally complemented by first-rate materials and solid build quality. The screen of the MMI operating system retains its high position in the cockpit, while a new advanced version of the acclaimed MMI operating logic makes the wide range of functions easy to understand.

The Audi A5 is available with alloy wheels, xenon plus headlights, automatic air conditioning, a CD audio system (as well as a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system), a separate screen plus MMI operating logic, and an automatically opening boot lid. Further luxury features include Audi adaptive light, which combines xenon plus headlights with the dynamic cornering light system. Keyless access for the doors and boot and keyless engine starting are all features of the advanced key system. The key itself, in addition to communicating electronically with the vehicle electrical system, can also store important information, such as the car’s current mileage or warning messages from the driver information system – helps that little bit when you take it in for servicing. The deluxe automatic air conditioning system features three temperature zones for the front passengers and those at the rear, while the large panoramic tilting roof lends the cabin an airy feeling. The Audi parking system features a rearview camera, helping to make tricky parking in cramped parking areas easily negotiable.

The car we tested came equipped with the 3.2-litre FSI V6, which makes a healthy 261hp and 330Nm of torque between 3000 and 5000rpm. Power is transmitted to all four corners via a 6-speed tiptronic ‘box, which also features paddle shifts behind the steering wheel to let you manually swap cogs. In the real world, however, the A5 feels a bit lethargic, responding lazily to throttle inputs. The motor, which feels lively and playful in the TT, seems to lack verve in this application, but it does get going once you’re on it. That Audi chose to keep it this way is what we can hope, keeping in mind the relaxed nature of a comfy cross-country tourer. Speaking of the latter, the drive does not tempt you into doing naughty things; while the MLP platform is much better than the ones found in many previous Audis, you still feel a certain heaviness at the helm, compounded by vague steering feel.

The upshot is refinement and ride comfort, by far one of the best riding cars I’ve been in. The front end features a five-link suspension arrangement with upper and lower wishbones, along with completely re-engineered rack-and-pinion steering. The new architecture also made it possible to have a long wheelbase with a short front overhang, optimising axle load distribution and helping towards high-speed stability. A trapezoidal-link suspension is featured out back, which is claimed to provide a high degree of ride comfort combined with excellent directional stability.

Summing up, this car is a true grand tourer – beautiful outside and inside, boasts a magic carpet ride and has that all-important chic factor. Strap yourself in, shut the door and be isolated from the maddening crowds, the superb B&O system belting out sweet music while you roll along. Don’t bother hustling it, and it’ll let you cover vast distances with ease, arriving as fresh as a daisy. However, if you want one that is more entertaining and involving to drive, pull up your socks for the meaner and badder S5.