A coupe is an emotional vehicle, something you buy not just for transportation but because of the emotions the car stirs in you. It is something in the design of a coupe that make perfectly sane people gladly pay more for two less doors.
Based on that, Audi seems to have succeeded with the all-new Audi A5 coupe - the first two-door model in its line-up in 11 years since the legendary Coupe Quattro.
Design head Walter de'Silva claims that the new car is his 'most beautiful design ever'. The A5 is truly good-looking. With hints of the Aston Martin DB8 from the rear and the signature Audi grille in front with LED daytime running lights, the A5 looks good from all angles - something not many cars can lay claim to.
It manages to look curvaceous while retaining taut angular lines, while the subtly flared fenders and hint of a duckbill spoiler on the boot lip give it a sporty yet not overly aggressive persona.
When I first laid eyes on the A5 at its world premiere at the recent Geneva Motor Show, I was impressed. Two months later at its press launch in Verona, I am still convinced that it is one of the best penned coupes around.
Slip inside the cabin and the first thing you will realise is that it feels spacious. Most coupes tend to be claustrophobic with their small windows and sloping roofline. Of course, the A5 is more suited for two adults and two children, but there is usable leg and head room in the rear for full-sized occupants on shorter journeys. More importantly, the ride when seated behind is no worse than in front.
As expected, build quality is impeccable. Most Audis appear to be carved from solid rock and the A5 is no exception. The fit and finish are class leading and the eight-way adjustable seats provide good lateral support for both short and tall drivers. Options worth considering were the Bang & Olufsen 12-speaker stereo system and keyless entry/ignition.
Just two petrol engine options will be available for the A5 - a 3.2-litre V6 and a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit. The latter will only be available from September, so the only engine available at the launch was the all-new 265 hp direct-injection V6.
This narrow angle V6 is nicely muted at cruising speeds and yet when revved, sounds creamy and smooth - not unlike BMW's famed straight six, actually. Mated to Audi's proprietary Multitronic continuously variable transmission, the union is a match that Romeo and Juliet would have approved of. Left on its own, the transmission silkily performs its job of maintaining a good compromise between engine speed and responsiveness.
Power for the V6 engine is good and more than adequate for quick getaways from the lights as well as effortless cruising at highly illegal speeds up north. Even without Quattro all-wheel-drive, the front-wheel-driven A5 we sampled had no problem putting the power down and handling was benign. Yes, it is not razor-sharp and the steering can provide better feedback but the average A5 owner won't lose sleep over it.
The suspension though is on the stiff side and on the Italian roads, ride comfort might be too sporty for most tastes. Unfortunately, Audi's magnetic dampers are not available as an option but a Sportline suspension - which makes the ride even firmer - is. The offshoot of the firmly-sprung suspension is that it does a good job of keeping the car planted at speed and there's little body roll around corners, with the bias towards understeer.
So is the new A5 able to fill the boots of its legendary predecessor?
The good news is that it boasts great styling, impeccable build quality, a decent powerplant, and capable albeit rather boring handling. The bad news is that it will take over a year before it reaches our shores.
Audi believes that styling is the most important factor for customers buying a coupe. If that is true, then A5 looks like it is already a winner.
Engine: 3,197cc direct injection V6 Gearbox: 8-step Multitronic CVT Max power: 265 hp @ 6,500 rpm Max torque: 330 Nm @ 3,000-5,000 rpm 0-100 kmh: 6.6 secs Top speed: 250 kmh Distributor: Premium Automobiles, Tel 6566-1111
