Audi of North America says it doesn't want the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback, which officially debuted in Detroit of all places. Apparently, there's no business case, what with our economy having fallen apart.
But after driving it in Tuscany, Contributor Matt Davis reports that it would be a real shame if the A5 Sportback doesn't come to the U.S. Here's a hatchback that really makes good on the four-door coupe trend. It's less blah than a sedan, less wagon-y than a wagon and genuinely useful and space-efficient to boot -- with room for 6-footers even. Plus, it drives exceptionally well, feeling composed even on unpredictable Italian roads.
First Drive: 2010 Audi A5 Sportback
caheew says:
08:13 AM, 07/23/09
Looks a lot better than the Panamera. Are they competing in the same class?
cjasis says:
08:22 AM, 07/23/09
I'd like to know if rear visibility is compromised at all. The X6 and that awful new Acura have sloping rooflines like this and you can not see what's behind you.
This car is stunning and I hope it doesn't suffer the same fate.
hp9302 says:
08:59 AM, 07/23/09
Gorgeous and practical. Hope Audi brings it to the States.
breif says:
09:14 AM, 07/23/09
caheew, I think it's pretty safe to say that those two are not competing. The Panamera will likely be twice the cost of the Audi and offer much greater performance.
caheew says:
09:47 AM, 07/23/09
breif, thanks. I just thought of the Panamera when I saw the front end of this car.
bc1960 says:
09:57 AM, 07/23/09
There are plenty of coupes and sedans with sloping rooflines and backlights--Nissan Altima, Volkswagen CC, Mazda6--decklids have been getting shorter on average for a while, to the point that some are a joke. If a car is difficult to see out of, it's because the backlight is too small and/or the pillars are too thick and/or the beltline is too high. This is not related to whether or not it has a conventional trunk. The first-generation Mazda6 was no more difficult to see out of than the sedan.
alman08 says:
10:08 AM, 07/23/09
the 02-05 A6 is the best looking 4 door coupe (in my opinion only)
frommx5tomz3 says:
11:04 AM, 07/23/09
I would put an order in today if this were available in the U.S.
thejohnp says:
11:29 AM, 07/23/09
I love my 1st gen Mazda6 5-door. It's got all the practicality and utility I need in a car that could easily pass as a normal sedan. I hope this eventually makes it to US shores as it would be a nice next vehicle choice for me.
fuhteng says:
01:13 PM, 07/23/09
Lovely car, but a weird color.
top_hat says:
02:30 PM, 07/23/09
Now this is what a hatchback should look like. What was BMW thinking with the X6 and Acura (and soon Honda) with their monstrosities?
audipilot says:
09:01 PM, 07/23/09
Fingers crossed that Audi decides to bring this to the States...
bbechtel16 says:
10:44 AM, 07/24/09
"The first-generation Mazda6 was no more difficult to see out of than the sedan."
That's because it was nearly identical!
I'm a fan of the hatch though. More practical and rear wipers are cool.