SOME carmakers talk about having the best of both worlds.
Audi, on the other hand, says its A5 Sportback offers the best of three worlds.
The Sportback is the third variant in the A5 model series after the Coupe and the Cabriolet. Like the two-door cars, the Sportback has the same sensuous lines despite being a large five-door hatchback.
The nose is identical to the coupe and if the Sportback appears in your rear view mirror, you will not be able to distinguish it from the coupe.
But the car has a slightly higher roof (by 20mm) and the same wheelbase (2,810mm) as an A4 sedan.
The only difference between the A5 Sportback and the A4 saloon is that the former has a wider track.
Enhancing the Sportback's proportions is the subtle way in which the tail section has been incorporated. This has to be the most successful application of a large five-door hatchback design.
The A5 Coupe was penned by design chief Walter de-Silva and the Sportback follows his original lines.
The roofline flows elegantly down to the rump for a sweet fastback profile. Everything remains wellbalanced.
Compare it with another big five-door hatch like the Porsche Panamera and you will realise how pretty the Sportback is.
Like the A5 Coupe and Cabriolet, the Sportback also has frameless door windows.
But open its two back doors and there is a more spacious rear with commendable headroom.
More pertinently, there is a huge boot - 480 litres - with the convenience of a large hatch opening.
With the rear seat backs folded, the capacity more than doubles to almost 1,000 litres.
Therein lies Audi's contention, that the Sportback is the best of three worlds because it combines the form of a coupe with the space and comfort of a saloon, plus the utility of a hatchback.
Unlike most marketing hype, it is difficult to argue with all three points.
During the car's launch last month outside Florence, Italy, the A5 Sportback easily swallowed one large suitcase and two smaller ones without the need to fold the rear seats while transporting backseat occupants in comfort.
Beyond the bodystyle, the Sportback feels exactly like an A5 Coupe, only 100kg heavier at about 1,600kg.
The driving position is exactly the same and under the sheet metal, there is a similar range of drivetrains.
Two direct injection petrol engines will be available when it arrives in Singapore in the first half of 2010 - a two-litre turbo and a 3.2-litre V6.
Both are mated to the brilliant seven-speed S tronic doubleclutch transmission and with quattro allwheel- drive as standard.
The four-cylinder 2.0 TFSI quattro is especially impressive.
Despite its relatively small size, it pumps out a whopping 350 Newton-metres of torque.
Charging up winding mountain roads, the turbocharged unit felt as strong as a Rottweiler puppy.
Adding to the enthusiasm was the fast-shifting S tronic gearbox. Manual changes not only squeezed more oomph out of the engine but were notable for being pretty slick.
On long autostrada stretches though, the tall seventh gear still allows the Sportback a comfortable but confident pace.
It may be similar in size to the A4 sedan but as a good-looking and practical alternative, the A5 Sportback has the edge.
More interestingly, the Sportback is considered the entry-level A5, which means it is priced below the Coupe and Cabriolet.
Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro
Engine: 1,984cc turbocharged Transmission: 7-speed S tronic Power: 211 hp at 4,300 - 6,000 rpm Torque: 350 Nm at 1,500 - 4,200 rpm 0-100kmh: 6.6 seconds Top speed: 241kmh Price: $174,900 (with COE) Distributor: Premium Automobiles
It looks like the A5 Sportback offers the best of all worlds.
