Audi: Stirring stuff

Audi's A5 Sportback now has four doors, but it still has the good looks of the two-door. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

When Audi announced its four-door A5 Sportback I was disappointed. The A5 two-door is the sexiest Audi short of the R8; surely extra doors would turn it into just another soulless German machine? But our first NZ drive suggests it really is better than that; practical as well as sleek, and subtly sexier than the brand's other sedans.

What's new
The body, of course. It boasts four doors and a lift back, sits longer and lower than the A4 yet delivers a wider front and rear track, along with plentiful luggage space. At 480-litres, the boot is just 10 litres smaller than the A4 Avant, at least with all the seats in use.

This A5 gets the 2.0TFSI and 3.0TDI engines, while a 3.0TFSI supercharged unit from the S4 will arrive in April. Meanwhile, the S-tronic seven speed transmission is also filched from the S4, and will replace the A4 and A5 Tiptronic as the year progresses.

The really clever bit is the rear diff that's a $2700 cost option. It's got two clutches that distribute torque, adding urge to one side while subtracting equally from the other.

The aim is to drive the car around corners, and to positively offset over- or under-steer without ESP, which can cut speed. Of course, if you make a major error and accelerating around won't work, the ESP will still take over to try to save you.

The company line
Boss Dane Fisher says traditional Audi buyers like understated elegance. But this car attracts those who admire technology and innovation as much as design.

Does new tech mean run-flat tyres? Not for Audi. Fisher says conventional tyres are an Audi NZ standard; "it's our policy from a ride point of view".

He says petrol-heads will greet an RS5 in the fourth quarter, powered by a normally aspirated V8, mated to an S-tronic auto. And we may get the incoming A1 in a new segment for Audi - if the price can be pinned at about $40,000. "That will draw new customers in," Fisher says, "and give the opportunity to sell them Audis for life."

What we say
The Audi line-up may be getting a tad crowded, but it's hard not to like this car. Four doors and a roomy boot, sexier lines than the over-ascetic Audi norm, plenty of torque and the promise of nimble handling, particularly if you tick the options list and pay the premium.

Audi says the S-line will be the popular pick, adding sports suspension - adaptive as standard on the 3.0TDI to offset the ride compromise of the bigger wheels - an integrated boot spoiler, and S-line sports seats to the standard six airbags, three-zone air con, and more.

On the road
We've yet to drive the 155kW/350Nm 2.0-litre TFSI quattro that starts the range at $89,900, with only the 176kW/500Nm 3.0-litre TDI available at launch. Audi boasts a 0-100km/h time of 6.1seconds and a thirst of 6.6l/100km for this car - but not both at once, as our brisk launch drive attests.

There's a fractional hesitation before the torque pours forth, then it's all on - particularly with dynamic mode selected. And boy, do you notice the active diff - our drive took in some very demanding swervery, with several "oh-shit" moments converted as the outside wheel shoved us round. Stirring stuff.

Why you'll buy one?
You want style with your Germanic efficiency; some sporting derring-do in your practical car.

Why you won't?
Your employees have tightened their belts and there'll be a mutiny if you buy a new Audi now.