The Audi A4 says goodbye, replaced by the new B10 A5

After 30 years as Audi’s compact executive sedan, the A4 is now being discontinued. In its place is the all-new A5, previously its two- and four-door coupé sibling, and now its successor.

The A4 nameplate isn’t completely dead yet though. All even-numbered model names from the German luxury automaker will be used for full electric models, while odd-numbered ones will be for ICE-powered models. Anyway, let’s talk about the new A5.

Codenamed as the B10, the all-new A5 comes in both sedan and Avant bodystyles and is larger than both the previous A4 and A5 with a length of 4,829 mm, width of 1,860 mm, and height of 1,444 mm (sedan) or 1,460 mm (Avant). It also rides on a longer 2,900 mm wheelbase and is the first model to be built on Audi’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC).

On the outside, the new Audi A5 wears a new design language which does not stray too far from what we’re used to from the German brand. It combines a sleeker and more sophisticated design with a more aggressive look, low front end with slim headlights, and more curves  the sedan also features a sloping roof, akin to that of the previous A5 Sportback.

The new A5 features different forms of lighting technology. There’s the dynamic light effects when locking and unlocking the vehicle, and the second generation of Audi’s OLED lighting technology on the taillights. The daytime running lights are also customizable with eight different light signature options.

Moving inside, it still looks familiar with a very Audi-like overall design, but with larger screens. Audi says that the A5’s interior was designed with four characteristics—Human Centric, Digital Stage, Material Driven Design, and Visual Clarity.

Differentiating the sedan and Avant are their steering wheels. The former gets a three-spoke design while the latter gets a four-spoke design.

It comes with an 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit display and a 14.5-inch MMI display. A 20-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system, as well as a 10.9-inch MMI touch display for the front passenger, which cannot be seen by the driver while driving, can also be added as options.

Under the hood of the new Audi A5 are a range of four-cylinder and V6 turbocharged gasoline engines, as well as a mild-hybrid turbodiesel. 

The first option is a 2.0-liter TFSI engine that produces 150 horsepower on the entry-level front-wheel drive variant, or 204 horsepower on other front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive quattro ultra variants. 

Powertrains with Audi’s 48-volt MHEV (mild-hybrid) Plus system are also available on TDI and V6 TFSI-powered models. This increases efficiency and reduces carbon emissions. The first is a 2.0-liter TDI engine that produces 204 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, and for those looking for some punch is a 3.0-liter V6 TFSI engine that makes 367 horsepower on the S5. 

All powertrains are mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard.

As for safety and driving convenience, the new Audi A5 gets the usuals such as rear parking aid with distance display, cruise control, lane departure warning, efficiency assistant, and attention and fatigue detection. Other stuff such as emergency assist, adaptive driving assist, and Park Assist Plus, among others, are optional.

The new Audi A5 is set to launch in Germany and other European markets first by November this year, with the North American market following by the second quarter of next year. Given that the A4 has always been a popular choice for Filipino buyers since its first generation came out locally, Audi Philippines will definitely bring this in too. We’re just not sure how long we’ll have to wait.