2017 Audi A5 and S5 Sportback revealed ahead of Paris | video

Five-door A5 and S5 set to make comeback at Paris, while Australian debut set for mid-2017.

Although Audi's second-generation A5 coupe is still a couple of months away from hitting our shores, Audi has released details of its family-friendly variant, the A5 Sportback, which is destined for its public debut at the Paris motor show later this month.

Continuing on the five-door template its predecessor had established - and inspired BMW's 4-Series Gran Coupe - the second-generation A5 Sportback adopts the current A5's chiseled design elements and sharp swage lines.

More than just slapping on an extra pair of doors, Audi had stretched the Sportback's wheelbase by 60mm to 2,824mm, grown it by 15mm in height to 1,386mm, and added an electrically powered tailgate.

Just as the standard A5 has been lightened with the new generation, the A5 Sportback is similarly lighter than its predecessor. Its body is now 15kg lighter than before and as much as 85kg have been shaved off over its predecessor.

Like the standard A5, interior dimensions have grown accordingly over its predecessor, with cabin length expanding by 17mm, and rear knee room growing by 24mm. While the new Sportback's 480-litres of luggage space isn't any bigger than its predecessor, Audi says it is now able to accommodate up to 1,300-litres of cargo with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats folded down, more than 300-litres bigger than before.

On the inside the A5 Sportback also features the same elegant dashboard with a raft of optional luxuries available such as Audi's 12.3-inch virtual cockpit high-resolution TFT instrument cluster, ambient lighting that offers occupants with a range of 30 colours to set the mood, and the MMI multimedia system which can be upgraded to a 8.3-inch screen and hooked up to an optional 19-speaker 3D Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Considering that the A5 Sportback is likely to be used to ferry rear-seat occupants, it can be specified with the Audi tablet, a 10.1-inch portable tablet which can be hooked up to the car's MMI navigation plus system to control its Radio, Media, Navigation, and Car functions.

Engine options available globally for the A5 Sportback comprises of two petrol and three diesel. Both petrol variants will feature the same 2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged mill producing figures of 140kW/320Nm and 185kW/370Nm. Whereas its diesel portfolio offers a 2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged unit which produces 140kW and 400Nm of torque, and a 3-litre turbocharged V6 with states of tune of 160kW/400Nm or 210kW/620Nm.

Internationally, the A5 Sportback range also includes a bi-fuel variant known as the g-tron, which features a 125kW variant of the 2-litre petrol powerplant that can run on natural gas or petrol.

While Audi says these powertrains are awaiting homologation to attain their official fuel consumption figures, they say that they have managed to reduce fuel consumption on the A5 Sportback range by as much as 22 per cent.

2017 Audi A5 Sportback

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2017 Audi A5 Sportback

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2017 Audi A5 Sportback

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2017 Audi A5 Sportback

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These engines can be paired to a six-speed manual, or either a seven-speed dual-clutch or eight-speed torque converter automatic. The eight-speed torque converter is only employed for use on the range-topping 3-litre diesel and the S5, where it comes as standard. Similarly the quattro all-wheel drive system is available as an option, though it is only a standard fit with the 210kW diesel and S5 models.

For those looking for a bit more punch the A5 Sportback range is topped off with an S5 variant, which packs a new 3-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with 260kW and 500Nm of torque. Paired to the quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed torque converter, Audi says the S5 Sportback is capable of going from 0 to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

When it comes to driver assistance features, the A5 Sportback can be specified with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop&Go system and traffic jam assist, collision avoidance, park assist, cross traffic assist rear, exit warning, a camera-based traffic sign recognition, active lane assist, and Audi side assist.

For now though Audi says the A5 Sportback range, including the S5 variant, will be making its entry here in the middle of next year. Local pricing and specifications will be revealed closer to introduction.

Would you consider an A5 Sportback over an SUV? Tell us what you think in the comments below.