Audi A5 sportback first photo

As the officially `leaked' partial photo of the car shows, the Sportback four-seater has a coupe-like silhouette with hatch-like practicality. The design is clearly aimed at cars like the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, Volkswagen CC and Mercedes-Benz CLS, essentially taking the four-door coupe concept a step further.

The carmaker says the idea was to combine the style and sophistication of a coupe with the comfort of a sedan, yet have the versatility of a wagon.

Audi Australia spokesperson, Anna Burgdorf, says the Sportback will be a welcome addition. Audi currently sells about 80 A5s a month and Burgdorf believes the Sportback has the potential to become a popular model like the A3 Sportback.

"There definitely is a market for that type of car," she says.

Audi no longer has an A6 Avant in its lineup, so the A5 Sportback has the potential to slide into this niche as an alternative.

"Of course we still have the A6 Allroad for those buyers looking for something more," she says.

Although prices and specifications have not been announced the hatch is tipped to cost slightly more than the equivalent A5 coupe models, which opens with the $79,900 2.0-litre TFSI.

Audi executives have made no secret of the fact that they wants to lift the brand's passenger car model count from 27 to 40 by 2015 and elevate its status beyond key rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz in many markets.

Both TDI and FSI engines will be available but the final engine lineup and pricing for Australia is yet to be finalised.

The five-door has a long and tapering roofline with short front and rear overhangs. It sits on a 33mm shorter wheelbase than the A6 sedan and has four frameless doors.

The Sportback's luggage capacity of 480 litres almost equals that in a A4 Avant, with the rear seats in place. With the rear seats folded the Sportback space increases to 980 litres.

All engines meet stringent Euro 5 exhaust emission standards, and diesel versions are equipped with particulate filters. In Europe, two FSI petrol engines and three common rail TDI engines are available, all from the Audi family.

The petrol engines are equipped with the Audi valvelift system producing more power and higher torque but delivering lower fuel consumption. The 2.0 TFSI quattro has a power output of 155kW and 350Nm and the 3.2 V6 quattro generates 195kW. The diesel engines range from a 2.0 TDI up to a 3.0-litre V6. The 2.0 TDI is paired to a six-speed manual gearbox and produces 125kW/350Nm.

It also has a start/stop system to help lower fuel consumption.

The 140kW/400Nm 2.7 TDI and the 176kW/500Nm 3.0-litre V6 TDI and quattro all-wheel drive round out the range.