We knew the 2008 Audi A5 coupe was in the works, but after a little one-on-one conversation with Johan de Nysschen, head of Audi in North America, we can finally give you a few details straight from the man who knows. De Nysschen told Inside Line that the A5 will be positioned above the current A4 Cabriolet when it debuts late next year and it will use Audi's 4.2-liter FSI V8. Three different transmissions will be offered: manual, automatic and DSG and all of them will send power through a quattro all wheel drive system.
Not much ground breaking news there, but de Nysschen also told us that the A5 would introduce an all-new chassis design for Audi that would eventually filter through every other model in the lineup...
Unlike current Audi models which hang their engines forward of the front axle, the A5 will put its V8 directly over the front axle center line. This will not only give the A5 better balance, it will allow Audi to meet pedestrian crash safety standards without resorting to ridiculously ill proportioned front end designs. De Nysschen also confirmed that a cabriolet version of the A5 would follow about a year after the coupe's fall 2007 U.S. launch.
ateixeira says:
10:56 AM, 10/ 3/06
That puts starting price in the 40s...a bit steep IMO.
What's with this trend where the coupe costs more than the cabrio? Porsche did the same thing with the Cayman.
estreka says:
06:09 PM, 10/ 3/06
I smell fear from BMW. 6-killer, anyone? Also, this is the next logical step for S4 owners.
rsrtampaa3 says:
10:23 AM, 10/24/06
Wow! What a bautiful car. This makes the ugly duckling Bimmer 6 look even...well, uglier. I have an Audi A3 S and I do believe I have discovered my next car.