Audi's high-performance premium S5 line enters its second generation for 2018. Over the years, the S5 has seen its fair share of change including a switch in the engine department from a naturally aspirated V8 to a supercharged V6, but now marks a fresh start with a new look, a new chassis, and some impressive new technologies.
For the first time, the S5 will be offered in three body styles: two-door coupe, open-top convertible, and five-door Sportback. The Sportback rides on a longer wheelbase than the two-door versions, and offers a rear bench seat that seats three. Its chief rival is BMW's 440i xDrive Gran Coupe.
From a styling perspective, the S5 hides its high-performance nature; its front valance, while unique, is not visually jarring, and its rear spoiler has an extra low profile. Silver mirror caps, unique wheels, and a quad-tipped exhaust pipe are key giveaways. Red-painted brake calipers are an option. The interior is similarly subdued, but sports heavily bolstered diamond-stitched sports seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a black headliner as standard.
As with the S4, the S5 swaps its Eaton TVS supercharger for a quick-spooling twin-scroll turbo. The 3.0-litre V6, an all-new design that can run on the extra-frugal Miller cycle, 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is a substantial increase of 21 hp and 44 lb-ft of torque over the previous generation, which helps the S5 accelerated to 100 km/h in as little as 4.7 seconds. This engine is paired as standard to an eight-speed automatic transmission as opposed to the seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch favored by the A5 and the outgoing S5. A manual transmission isn't offered.
All models of S5 feature Quattro all-wheel drive with a rear torque bias, which can be upgraded with a mechanical torque vectoring rear differential to minimize understeer. Audi's variable gear ratio dynamic steering system is also available, as are adaptive dampers.
On the active safety front, the S5 is available with traffic sign recognition, emergency autonomous braking with pedestrian detection, traffic congestion assistant, adaptive cruise control with stop & go assist, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
The S5 is available in Progressiv and Technik trims.
Progressiv includes 18-inch wheels, Bluetooth, 8.3-inch MMI display with navigation and touch controller, Apple CarPlay and Android auto, reverse camera, power front seats, heated front seats, selectable drive modes, diamond-stitched Nappa leather upholstery, cruise control, panoramic roof, front and rear parking sensors, garage door opener, tri-zone climate control, proximity key with push-button start, hands-free trunk release, heated steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, interior ambient lighting, driver memory, 7.0-inch colour instrument cluster display, and aluminum interior trim.
Technik adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 360-degree parking camera, TFT instrument cluster, Audi connect telematics system, Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, colour configurable interior ambient lighting, and heated rear seats.
Pricing for the S5 starts at $62,390.
