Frankfurt 2009: Audi S5 Sportback Trades V8 for Supercharged V6

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.

Official release after the jump:

The Audi S5 Sportback –
particularly elegant sportiness

• Supercharger and FSI direct fuel injection are a powerful combination
• 245 kW (333 hp), 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) of torque and exemplary
efficiency
• S tronic and quattro drive standard; quattro with sport differential
optional

The abbreviation “S” stands for sports and also high efficiency –
characteristic Audi features. The S5 Sportback is the top model of the new
Sportback model series. The five-door coupe is powered by a highly
efficient, supercharged V6 engine with an output of 245 kW (333 hp). Power
is delivered to the wheels via the seven-speed S tronic and quattro drive;
the innovative sport differential is available as an option.

The Audi S5 Sportback is powered by a three-liter V6 with a mechanically driven
supercharger. The supercharger sits in the 90 degree V formed by the banks of
the cylinders and produces up to 0.8 bar of pressure. Two downstream
intercoolers lower the temperature of the compressed intake air for improved
filling of the combustion chambers.

The six-cylinder unit, which displaces 2,995 cc, embodies the Audi philosophy
that performance and efficiency are not mutually exclusive but rather complement
each other perfectly. The engine delivers a constant 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) of
torque between 2,900 and 5,300 rpm. The S5 Sportback sprints from zero to
100 km/h (62.14 mph) in only 5.4 seconds (provisional figure) and accelerates up
to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). The
spontaneous response, the powerful thrust and sonorous sound make for a
thrilling driving experience.
The supercharged V6 unit consumes only 9.7 liters (provisional figure) of fuel per
100 km (24.25 US mpg) on average – a top figure in this performance class.

The leading position of the S5 Sportback is further underscored by its drivetrain
technology. The top model comes standard with the seven-speed dual-clutch
S tronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with a slight rear
wheel bias. Optionally available is the sport differential.

The high-end rear-axle differential transfers the forces at the rear axle between
the wheels as needed for even greater dynamism and stability.

The Audi S5 Sportback has a sports-tuned chassis. The S-design 18-inch cast
aluminum wheels are shod with 245/40 tires. Wheels up to 20 inches are
available as options. The black brake calipers are emblazoned with S5 emblems.
Servotronic speed-sensitive steering is also standard, with dynamic steering
optionally available. A strut brace provides the front section of the car with
additional rigidity.

A number of features also provide visual cues to the A5 Sportback’s sporty
nature. The front blade and the diffuser, the single-frame grille, the air intakes,
the sill strip, the spoiler lip at the rear and the four-tailpipe exhaust system all
sport an exclusive design. The side mirror housings shine in aluminum look and
the xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights and rear lights are
standard.

Inside, electrically adjustable S-design sport seats covered in Silk Nappa leather,
a black or silver headliner and brushed aluminum inlays underscore the dynamic
style of the high-end model. The pointers in the instrument cluster are illuminated
white, and the color driver information system presents the S5 logo when the car
is started. A leather multifunction sport steering wheel with aluminum-look shift
paddles and a sport selection switch for the S tronic underscore the sporty aspect
of this model. S5 badges adorn the door sill trims, the key, the steering wheel and
the instruments.

The luxurious, climate-controlled comfort seats are available as an option. The
seat coverings are available in black, brown and three two-color combinations.
Inlays are available in carbon, fine-grained birch wood and stainless steel mesh.
The metallic structure comprising countless steel fibers feels slightly rough – an
extraordinary haptic experience.

The Audi S5 Sportback will be arriving at German dealerships in spring 2010 with
a base price of 57,900 euros.