Audi has expanded its Sportback lineup, by adding an S5 model directly above the A5 Sportback. Unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the S5 Sportback is powered by the company’s new supercharged V6 engine rather than the S5 sedan’s 4.2-liter V8.
The new model gets quattro all-wheel drive and makes 333-hp and 325 ft-lbs of torque. Thanks to a seven-speed dual-clutch S-Tronic transmission, the sprint to 60 mph takes just 5.4 seconds and fuel-economy is rated at an average of 9.4 liters/100km or 24.3 mpg.
Because the S5 Sportback is a performance model, the quattro AWD setup gets a rear-wheel bias. The car’s performance characteristics can be further enhanced through an optional rear differential.
But the S5 Sportback is about more than just performance, as the rear hatch gives plenty of functional space. Cargo room behind the rear seats is listed as 16.9 cubic feet, with a total of 34.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. The space seems even larger, however, thanks to a deep trunk.
Sadly, Audi has made no plans to bring its Sportback models to North America.
GALLERY: Audi S5 Sportback
Official release after the jump:
