Audi A5 News

But it is the European brands who are trumping the locals with a range of concepts and production cars intended to tap into the sales boom and gold rush in China. Mercedes-Benz shows its Shooting Break wagon, Volkswagen has the new Phaeton flagship, Audi has a long-wheelbase A6, BMW has a new four- door coupe and Ferrari has its F599 GTO to make the running.The 45 local brands are doing their best - with Great Wall alone showing nine new models - but they are the entree for the main course choices from Europe. The big news from the Chinese carmakers - including Australian start-ups Chery, Geely and Great Wall - is a strong emphasis on green cars, mostly fully-electric plug-ins but with a smattering of hybrids.A total of 95 alternate-energy vehicles are spread through the nine giant, pulsating, colourful stands at the Beijing Exhibition. Even Volkswagen is using China Auto 2010 to push its electric strategy, promising to start local production of plug-ins between 2013 and 2014."As China becomes Volkswagen's most important market around the world, achievement in the electric-vehicle segment in China is key," says Martin Winterkorn, global chief of VW.Holden is helping GM make a Beijing splash with the latest version of the Volt, a boxy five-door SUV concept, which was built by the design crew at Fishermans Bend. It is impossible to underestimate the importance of the biggest motor show in China, as first-quarter sales in the country rocketed to 4.7 million vehicles this year.Most full-year sales forecasts for 2010 are set in the 16.2 to 16.5 million range, well ahead of the USA and fueled by overall economy growth which continues to run in the 8-9 per cent, year-on-year.

Australian drivers have become shiftless slobs for whom changing gears is as inconceivable as flicking channels without a remote. But would you (re-)learn the art of stick shifting to save the planet?  I ask because the leanest running car in the country is not that ostentatiously shaped advertisement for your greener-than-thou self, Toyota’s Prius.It is, as this blog’s reader is aware, Ford’s Europe-designed and built Fiesta ECOnetic, with a small but relentless four cylinder turbo diesel driven through a five-speed manual that can realise as little as 3.7 litres per 100km. That’s opposed to the CVT-driven, petrol-electric hybrid Prius’s 3.9.OK, those figures have questionable real-world application, being achieved in the contrived circumstances of official testing. What is of real-world significance is the disparity in price – the Pious … sorry, the Prius begins from just under 40 big ones.  The ECOnetic is to be had from $24,990. And there’s no issue with the brakes.The Ford, is of course, smaller than the Toyota, but there’s no shortage of slightly larger diesel sippers whose consumption and emissions figures barely exceed the Prius in the real world.And increasingly, manual oilers will get stop-start, the tech currently being rolled out by BMW and Audi, such as the seamless A5 2.0 TFSI we had last week. Coupled with energy recovery systems, these can save around a litre of juice per 100km and 5g of Co2 per klick.If you don’t find the Fiesta and Prius readily comparable, the Mazda6 and Toyota’s Camry couldn’t be more so -- not least the Diesel 6 (5.9l/100km) at $36,250 and the Camry Hybrid (6l/100km) at $39,990. Lineball stuff consumption wise, but if you’re serious about preserving the ice caps, surely every litre and gram counts.If it’s not easy being green, changing gears really isn’t that hard.   Harden up, soft cogs.

Soon you will be able to insert a conventional 3G SIM card into a slot somewhere in the dashboard that will take turn your vehicle into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.  Chris Ryan, boss of Strike which imports mainly Bluetooth vehicle technology, says Australian motorists will become familiar with internet-connected vehicles in the next few years, just as they did when in-car entertainment and air-conditioning became standard.He says internet devices were a highlight of the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and that motorists ‘will benefit immensely from the new technology’.  Internet-empowered cars at the congress featured the SIM card slot positioned below the in-car display.Ryan says it will allow passengers to plug into the internet ‘as if they were at an internet cafe and they can log in to all social networking sites at the click of a button’.  "Passengers will be able to Skype, watch movies and email, etc," he says.At the Mobile World Congress, Audi used a 3G-enabled A5 to show off navigation applications and streaming entertainment features.  Audi plans to include 3G connectivity in select overseas A8 models later this year, according to Audi Australia corporate communications general manager Anna Burgdorf.Ryan says the feature will open up a world of information and services."From the comfort of the motorist's seat, they can make simultaneous voice and data connections," he says.  "Passengers will be able to use in-built navigation systems, which are compatible with Google Earth and similar GPS systems. They will provide high-resolution, 3D satellite and aerial imagery as well as live traffic updates which will be extremely useful for motorists."Meanwhile, Intel and Google are developing interactive dashboards with large screens showing 3D maps, web pages and videos.  They will be capable of providing restaurant reviews and venue information online while vehicles are moving.Ryan says Strike will import "in-car accessories, which will complement the new technology and that will see consumers have access to the convenience of the internet at their fingertips, no matter where there are".  However, not everyone is as excited about the introduction of internet to vehicles.National Fatality Free Friday road safety initiative founder Russell White says giving drivers the ability to surf the net while driving is "too big a temptation".  RACQ traffic and safety executive manager John Wikman says most satellite navigation units provided essential driver information, but internet systems are more entertainment-oriented and could be a distraction."I don't see how you can input data and be concentrating on driving the car at the same time," he said.  RACQ technical services officer Steve Spalding says the overriding factor must be safety."It is important that vehicle manufacturers and regulators balance the introduction of in-car communications technology with the risk of driver distraction," he says.  "Interactive technologies such as this can distract the driver even though it might be in use by the passengers."Current regulations prohibit visual display units being visible to the driver while the vehicle is moving unless it is a driving aid such as a sat nav.  "I think there would be a real temptation for the driver to look across at a laptop screen or similar being held by a passenger," Spalding says.

Since cars all deliver on the same basic promise of personal mobility, and many vehicles do it with incredible value and panache, good design can often make the difference between buying and losing.Ian Callum knows it and, after more than four decades of top-class design work on everything from HSV Holdens to Volvos, Aston Martins and now Jaguars, he is the right man to be talking. "This is a time of car design. It's not just styling any more. You really have to understand design, and the elements that make up a good design," Callum says. "We're also seeing a lot of change in the automotive world. The make-up of cars is changing. Designers are going to have an incredible influence."Callum has revolutionised Jaguar design over the past 10 years and just visited Australia to showcase his all-new XJ flagship, which steps right away from anything which has previously worn the brand's leaper mascot. "I didn't want to be a slave to heritage," he says simply.Callum believes good design is simple but incredibly difficult, elegant and timeless, but also challenging and filled with tiny little details. He is rare among designers because he backs his promises with commitment and talent, and is also happy to give an opinion.So, then, how does he judge the work from some of his rivals? Surprisingly, Callum is happy to go on the record with a simple tick-or-cross verdict on the latest designs in showrooms.Here are his ratings: Aston Martin Rapide - tickAudi A5 - tickBMW GT - two crossesBMW X6 - crossFerrari F458 Italia - tickHSV EII Commodore - tickLexus LFA - tickMercedes E-Class - crossMercedes SLS Gullwing - crossNissan GT-R - crossPorsche Panamera - crossRolls-Royce Ghost - tickToyota Prius - tickVolkswagen Golf - tick 

As the first shoots of spring emerge, new car sales figures for September show a jump in convertible buyers. And money is no object, with many prepared to spend up big to pop the roof down.VFACTS industry figures show a modest sales surge of the Mazda MX5, Mini Cooper cabrio, Volkswagen Eos and Audi A3 convertible - all costing more than $40,000. Further up the price list Audi's A5 cabrio, the BMW Z4, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Volkswagen Eos are also popular with prices for some of the German cars topping out at more than $80,000.Dealers and carmakers say the warmer weather is helping. Mazda spokesman, Steve Maciver, said the order books for the company's popular MX5 were growing. "It's a combination of things but once the warmer weather hits, people like the idea of a convertible," he said.September sales figures show a 17 per cent jump in sportscar sales, which includes convertibles. Apart from topless motoring, luxury off-roaders are also proving popular. BMW spokesman, Toni Andreevski, said the company's popular X5 off-roader, which opens around $86,000, surged last month on the back of fresh supply from the United States. "We've got more stock and buyers are prepared to spend," he said.TOP 10  BRANDS    Sept           YTD 2009 (+/- on 2008)Toyota                   16,007             142,898       -22.3%Holden                      9744               85,667       -14.0%Ford                          8427               70,289       -13.7%Mazda                       7205               57,695         -7.2%Hyundai                    5484               47,625        36.4%Mitsubishi                4312               40,092        -16.3%Nissan                       4079               38,446       -15.8%Honda                       3939               31,787       -22.9%Subaru                      2807               27,225         -9.0%Volkswagen             2307               22,717         -5.4%

The Frankfurt Motor Show literally roared to life this morning when a classic BMW 507 roadster ran laps of a custom-built oval track inside the German carmaker's $30 million stand.

The Sportback represents a return to luxury hatchback motoring for the well-heeled masses.The arrival of the Sportback into Audi’s Australian showrooms will eclipse BMW by a few months. The Sportback range arrives in the first quarter next year ahead of the BMW 5-Series based Gran Turismo, which is slated for the second quarter. Audi's entrant will be on par with the BMW in the space race, but both will be far cheaper than the ‘other' German luxury hatch, the Porsche Panamera.The Sportback is the third model in the A5 stable, joining both the coupe and cabrio. Audi says the A5 Sportback will forge a new segment for the brand.As expected from the teaser images released several weeks ago, the Sportback does not depart too far from the Audi script. The five-door has short front and rear overhangs, long wheelbase and wide track while four frameless doors complete the dynamic look.Inside the spacious cabin has enough room for four along with a large boot that increases from 480 to 980 litres with the rear seats folded. The rear seats also split-fold and there is a small ski-port for long items.The luggage hatch is seamlessly integrated into the long, tapered tail end with flat C pillars.A rear spoiler lip, diffuser insert and dual exhausts are not only functional but add visual presence to the rear.Both TDI and FSI engines will be available, but Audi Australia is yet to finalise the range and pricing. However, both front and quattro all-wheel drive models are tipped, with prices expected to be slightly above equivalent A5 coupe models. The entry A5 coupe opens at $79,900 for the 2.0-litre TFSI.In Europe, three direct injection petrol and three TDI engines will be available with Audi's multitronic automatic or seven-speed S-tronic automatic. All are equipped with a recuperation system that recovers energy during braking and deceleration, storing it temporarily in the battery.Audi will initially offer three petrol and three diesel TDI engines, with a further three engines to follow next year. The petrol engines a 2.0-litre TFSI with 132kW or 155kW and the 3.2-litre V6 with 195kW are all equipped with the Audi valvelift system for variable control of valvelift. The three TDI engines will include a 125kW 2.0-litre four cylinder, 140kW 2.7-litre V6 and 176kW 3.0-litre V6. The 2.0-litre has a combined fuel economy figure of 5.2litres/100km and is coupled with a stop-start ignition system for better city economy.

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.

Audi's skilled surgeons have taken a designer scalpel to the roof of the A5 coupe and delivered a sexy soft-top.The newest cabrio from Ingolstadt arrives here around September next year with prices starting under $90,000 for the entry 155kW 2.0-litre TFSI model.The same engine will make an appearance in the A5 coupe with an expected price of around $80,000.Rather than follow the trend with a folding metal roof, Audi is sticking with a folding fabric roof, which is available in four colours.The fully automatic lightweight soft-top opens in 15 seconds and closes in 17 seconds.For those seeking a more cossetting feel, an acoustic top is optional.This reduces wind noise to almost hardtop levels.Audi Australia spokesperson, Anna Burgdorf, says a soft-top is better suited to the buyer profile of the A5.“We believe a convertible should be a purists convertible, which means a soft-top,” she says.“There are also significant benefits in terms of luggage space with a soft-top and also weight savings, which translates into fuel economy benefits.”The compact packaging of the soft-top allows boot space of 320 litres with the roof down.Like its smaller A3 cabrio sibling, the A5 cabrio has a split-fold rear seat backrest that increases luggage space to 750 litres.Automatic seat belt extenders round out the cabin comfort levels while Mercedes-Benz style neck-level heating will be optional for front seat occupants.Like BMW, Audi has coated the A5 cabrio's leather seats with a special layer to reduce solar heating when the roof is down.To maintain structural strength Audi has used ultra-high-strength steels and a reinforced body to ensure maximal rigidity and crash safety.Burgdorf says final cabrio pricing and specifications are still being finalised but she expects two other engines to join the 2.0-litre four cylinder, a 3.2-litre V6 and supercharged V6 for the S5 cabrio.A turbo-diesel could also join the lineup.Apart from front-wheel drive models, Audi's quattro all-wheel drive will also be available on the A5 cabrio.Like the RS6 Avant, buyers will be able to option high-end quattro models with a sport differential, which variably distributes the propulsive power between the rear wheels.Audi has sold more than 550 A5 coupes since it was launched more than 12 months ago.“We've been waiting for the 3.0-litre TDI because it's such a strong engine, and this will boost sales even further because it's a good package,” she says.“The 3.2-litre has also been popular.”Burgdorf expects strong interest in the cabrio.“It's a true four-seater and there's also plenty of luggage space,” she says. 

Everything from an A5 cabrio, A5 Sportback, A4 Allroad wagon, A7 four-door sports coupe, A1 Sportsback, Q3 off-roader and R8 convertible is on the books.But Audi Australia is not revealing just what is likely to head to Australia.Audi Australia general manager of marketing, Immo Buschmann, is giving little away on the new arrivals, only confirmed the early 2009 launch of the Q5 off-roader.However, he hints that an A5 Sportsback and maybe an A4 Allroad were on the cards."But we have not decided," he says.He says he is unaware specifically what the Germany headquarters has in store for Australia regarding new models.Recently, Audi AG's product development chief, Michael Dick, revealed to European media that Audi's range of 22 vehicles will grow with another 18 "in our heads".It is believed the A5 convertible will be unveiled in Europe before the end of the year with an A5 Sportback arriving next year, followed by the Q3.The A5 Sportback will be designed to fill a gap between the A4 Avant and A6 Avant.Performance derivatives are believed to be among the mix, with an R5 and RS5 mooted.One thing is clear though, the huge investment local dealers have taken in new "Terminal" showrooms will pay off.The first "Terminal" dealership cost $12 million and is located in Sydney's Five Dock.It is the first of a design that will be adopted globally."Our dealers have invested heavily to be able to display and sell these new cars," he says."The Q5 is our next big launch."Audi is expected to launch the car with a tough Trans-Continental drive through Outback Australia like the successful Q7 launch.Speaking at the launch of the RS6 Avant, Buschmann, says although the focus on RS is to maintain exclusivity, he admitted that in the future, the company may have to broaden the RS thinking."If there is demand to broaden the RS portfolio then we will look at it," he says."The ethos of the RS is entirely up to our product strategists."But I imagine we would look at a top-down approach when we look at eligible RS cars, those that have the necessary DNA."