The Audi S5: Design and Interiors

Source: Audi AG

Sporty aesthetics with clear functionality

While the design of the Audi A5 forms a balanced synthesis of sportiness and elegance, the Audi S5 displays the more vigorous features of a powerfully built athlete. Here it stays true to the tradition of the Ur-quattro. It also expressed its power subtly, but clearly – admittedly with the stylistic devices of the eighties.

Head of Design Walter de’Silva also remembers the Ur-quattro, that pioneering sports icon of its day: “The Audi quattro had to express power and show its performance – and demonstrate “Vorsprung durch Technik”. With the Audi S5 we are showing today that performance can also be combined with great elegance.” In a few details on the new coupe, Walter de’Silva and the Audi design team have paid tribute to its legendary ancestor: the trapezoidal rear roof pillar is almost a direct reference to the Ur-quattro. So are the flared wheel arches, emphasised by the shoulder line’s double contours: they are also doubly reminiscent of the quattro – of the permanent four-wheel drive and the Audi sports car of 1980.

Close contact with a high-precision automobile

The differentiation between the S5 and A5 is subtle, but still sends clear signals to the discerning motoring connoisseur. For instance, the radiator grille possesses the specific look of an Audi S model – painted in platinum grey and fitted with vertical chrome inlays. The front and rear bumpers have a more pronounced outline and aluminium blades emphasise the air inlet grilles. The aluminium-look exterior mirror housings make an overtly sporty impression, as do the colour-keyed door sill trims and the dual-branch exhaust system with four oval tailpipes. Nevertheless, the model’s sporty attributes always have a functional aspect: for instance, the more pronounced spoiler in the boot lid yields additional aerodynamic downforce.

However, true strength comes from within and the interior design of the Audi A5 thoroughly underscores its athletic character. The strongly formed S sports seats and the multifunction leather sports steering wheel create a close contact between driver and high-precision automobile. The instruments with grey dials and aluminium door sill plates with S5 lettering provide a dynamic and refined atmosphere.

Ample scope for individual ideas

The programme does, of course, provide ample scope to fulfil individual interior design wishes: the seat centre sections are upholstered in Jupiter cloth and the side sections in leather. Alternatively, the centre sections are available in Alcantara. The seats can also be completely upholstered in luxurious Silk Nappa leather, in classic sporty black, vibrant magma red or in the elegant shades pearl silver and mustang brown. Alongside the standard Matt brushed aluminium inlays, the selection features Carbon Atlas, Vavona wood assam grey or the new Stainless steel mesh grey inlays. Naturally, every Audi S5 can be turned into a unique creation with leather colours and inlays or a customised paint finish from the Audi exclusive programme supplied by quattro GmbH. After all, the Audi S5 should perfectly match its owner’s very own high expectations.

Alongside the 18-inch wheels and the electrically adjustable S5 sports seats, the standard equipment specification for the S5 features items such as xenon plus headlights with impressive daytime running lights in the form of an LED light strip, and automatic air conditioning. All luxury-class options from the A5 programme are also available – from the three-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning system and the Audi Bluetooth car phone to the Bang & Olufsen sound system.