The Audi Sportback concept already popular in the A3 has been applied to the A5 Coupe to create the new five-door A5 Sportback.

Audi reckons the newcomer combines the best of different automotive worlds — "as emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a saloon, and as practical as an Avant".

The five-door coupe is distinguished from its siblings by its elegant, elongated, sporty profile, with the large hatchback fitting perfectly into the tail-end styling featuring a spoiler lip and diffuser insert

The coupe-like silhouette is the result of a roof section with a long, tapering roofline that is moderately lower by 36mm than the A4 Sedan and of the short overhangs at the front and rear as well as the long wheelbase of 2810 mm and the four frameless doors with their slim window styling.

And the unusual hatchback design underlines the vehicle’s functionality. With the Sportback, the designers of the Avant are combining sportiness, comfort and utility — a mix of coupe and Avant. The luggage volume of 480 litres nearly equals that of the A4 Avant, and increases to 980 liters with the rear seatbacks folded down.

Despite the fact that its exterior height is less than that of the A4 Saloon and that its roof tapers at the rear, the Sportback has comparable headroom and legroom.

Initially the A5 Sportback will be available in Europe with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines. The two petrol versions, the 2.0 TFSI quattro with an output of 155kW and 350Nm of torque and the 3.2-litre V6 quattro generating 195kW are both equipped with the Audi valvelift system.

The three diesel offerings are the 2.0 TDI with 125kW and 350Nm, the 2.7 TDI with 140kW and 400Nm and the 3.0 V6 TDI with 176kW and 500Nm.

The newly developed ESP control with electronic differential lock on the front axle ensures improved steering response as on the Coupé and Cabriolet and compensates for change-of-load reactions — which increases driving safety.

Added to this technology package is the Audi drive select dynamic driving system which allows the driver to choose between three different modes influencing the throttle response characteristics, the shift points for the seven-speed S tronic or multitronic transmissions, and supporting the servotronic steering. If the vehicle is equipped with the MMI operating system, a fourth, freely programmable level is also available.

But Audi drive select can only be ordered in conjunction with one or more of three additional technologies: adaptive shock absorber control, dynamic steering with continuously variable assistance and quattro with sport differential for the 3.0 TDI and 3.2 FSI versions.

Audi A5 Sportback hits the UK in October. Expect it here later…

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