What's the difference?
The Audi A5 has done something naughty. It’s replaced the Audi A4.
Or at least that’s the case for now after the Ingolstadt brand made a bit of a mess of its naming strategy.
Essentially, the Audi A5 is now available as a sedan or a wagon, and the next A4 coming soon will be electric. The previous A5 was a swoopier two-door coupe or four-door gran coupe style model. So the A5 is now effectively Audi’s main BMW 3 Series or Mercedes C-Class and CLA rival.
Plus, the Audi S5 is also here to cater to performance car fans.
Can a new platform, a sleek, fresh look and a techy interior do the job?
We’ve been pedalling around the Victorian countryside in the hopes of finding out.
Stick with me, and I reckon we’ll get to the bottom of it. The question about the car, that is, not the bottom of Victoria.
The icon is electric. Well, kind of.
This is the new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, which ushers in a facelift for the brand’s most famous model — and it’s one that introduces a pretty major change.
That faint whistling you hear is most likely the distant wails of the Porsche purists, because this new 911 is now a hybrid.
Yes, the Carrera GTS features Porsche’s clever T-Hybrid engine, which is the brand’s take on electrifying the world’s most famous sports car.
It’s faster than the model it replaces, but it also fundamentally alters the formula that has made the 911 the world’s most iconic sports car.
The question is, does it alter it for the better?
The Audi A5 remains a convincing option in the premium mid-size sedan category, even with the near-$10K price increase over its equivalent grade A4 predecessor.
Even in its base spec, it’s a lovely thing to drive and adds enough new kit to be a reasonable option when it comes to value. In terms of tech usability, it stands out from rivals. Practicality is still king for Audi.
But for the heart-over-head types, the S5 is fast and fun while remaining a comfortable cruiser and the price is decent. On a personal note, a six-cylinder wagon? That's a big yes from me.
For the time it’s available, it’s hard to go past the value on offer in the S5 Edition One. Getting an AWD V6 with that kind of capability for under $100K is something that's sure to tempt buyers. If it doesn’t, we need to take a good look at ourselves.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The t-hybrid might be an entirely new propulsion system for the 911, but the net result is unchanged – power, poise and performance on tap.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.