Audi S5 3.0 TDI 2007 review

Since late 2004, this thing has acquired the regularity of a metronome, as Audi has been borne along by a tidal swell of new releases to go from prestige pretender to player.

With last week's simultaneous launch at the Geneva and Melbourne motor shows of the obscenely desirable S5 coupe, Audi threatens to cause discomfort to the reigning German duumvirate of BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The S5 is the flagship of a coupe range whose new platform will provide the basis for the all-important, next-generation A4 sedan — the car that must finally take the fight to BMW's perennial 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz's newly launched C-Class.

If we dare deduce on the basis of a gala unveiling, a few words with the tech bloke and a quick sit in the driver's seat (and sod it, we do) Audi's compatriots have cause to press the "achtung!" button.

Indeed, the failure of staff on the adjoining BMW stand at the Melbourne Motor Show to convincingly feign indifference to the pomp and circumstance surrounding the other Bavarian brand's event was instructive.

With the halo S5 to be priced in the incredibly competitive $120,000-to-$130,000 ballpark when released locally in October, we might further deduce that the pricing of the less potent A5s will begin from less than $90K.

These, at least intially, are likely to come with the same 3.2-litre FSI petrol V6 shown in Geneva last week and the much-praised 3.0 TDI diesel V6, driven through the latest generation quattro all-wheel-drive train as per the RS4. A turbo petrol four is possible.

The S5 also shares the RS4's superb 4.2 FSI V8 — a 260kW/440Nm howling wolf that will punch its 1630kg bulk to 100km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds — and the RS4's beaut six-speed manual.

Soft cogs who can't shift for themselves may have to wait.

While all 5s feature a new five-link double wishbone front suspension and a redesigned trapezoidal rear, it's up front — where almost all current Audis thrust out their elongated hooters in dynamically frustrating fashion — that the new order is truly established.

The axle has been positioned far forward for a longitudinal engine configured for AWD and the steering rack is lowered to sit ahead of, and close to, the centre line.

Visually, this makes for an overhang that's quite pert and a virtual guarantee the S5 will be imbued with quality of ride, balance, agility and steering feel that for the main part utterly eludes the marque.

Walter da Silva's exterior design speaks amply for itself: alluring, yet suffused with poise and performance intent.

Within, the car is almost too conventionally Audi, with typically peerless fit and finish embellished with sports seats, S badging and a starter button.

Behind those upfront, it looks more than tolerable — at least by two-plus-two coupe standards.

Until all too recently, Audi was a marque with one model (the RS4) and entire ranges of well-intentioned, quite pretty, but some miles from class-leading, cars.

With the new R8 halo supercar, the nearly-upon-us S5/A5 and the promise that holds for Audi's next junior-executive A4, that equation may well be stood on its head.