In a League of Its Own: The Audi S5
The Audi S5 is a superb athlete in a league of its own. It is a truly unique competitor among high-performance coupes, thanks to its combination of V8 FSI technology and quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The eight-cylinder engine with its superb power delivery has worthy counterparts in the dynamically tuned sports suspension and high-performance brakes. Subtle but clear design elements inside and out serve to visually reinforce the sporty character. The Audi S5 coupe goes on sale with the launch of the Audi A5 model line, with prices starting at 55,900 euros. With these qualities the S5 follows in the footsteps of the legendary Audi quattro. As the pioneer of permanent four-wheel drive for the road, the Audi quattro was nothing short of a revolution in handling at its launch in 1980. Moreover, the Ur-quattro, today a prized classic car with devoted fans, was endowed with superior power, thanks to its five-cylinder turbocharged engine. In the sports car world of 27 years ago its 147 kW (200 bhp) were a clear declaration of sporting intent. Later on, in the form of a limited-edition Sport quattro, the boxy athlete was fitted with a 306-bhp engine, taking its performance to extreme levels. Today, the new Audi S5 also has figures that promise superb performance, although they can only hint at the exhilarating driving experience it offers: the latest generation of eight-cylinder engine delivers 260 kW (354 bhp). Its maximum torque is 440 Nm sufficient to propel the Audi S5 to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds. With its quattro permanent four-wheel drive, the six-speed gearbox with an optimum set of ratios, the S sports suspension for extremely dynamic handling, and its heavy-duty brakes, the Audi S5 is well equipped to compete among high-performance sports cars and make the occasional outing onto the race track. Alongside this, however, the S5 is still a spacious grand tourer sports car with four full-size seats, a generous luggage compartment and a wide range of luxury-class comfort features. The Audi S5 is thus a master of both styles athletic high performance and effortless composure.
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