Audi S5 Luxury Sports Car
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Likes of Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, and even Jaguar, Audi has become the forgotten stepchild of the luxury automobile world. Now before Audi loyalist jump out of their seats in defense of their sacred brand, let is be of note that you can find a Lexus, Beamer, or Benz on just about any street corner in America. Meanwhile, with few exceptions, a person would have to be in a major metropolitan area to spot an Audi.
1 in 1050 people bought a Lexus in the United States in 2007. 1 in 1000 people bought a Benz or a BMW. 1 in 3200 people bought an Audi. Audi's are less exclusive than any of those brands and they sell fewer models world-wide then any of the previously mentioned brands. But why is this? Fear not Audi fans. Unlike Brutus, I come to praise Caesar, not to bury him.
The luxury coupe market hasn't always been Audi's bag. Most associate the German brand with solid, reliable sedans. Yet as competitors expand their model lineups to fit what seems like every possible niche, Audi has increasingly started to keep pace by launching more two-door models -- not the least of which is the Audi S5.
True to Audi nomenclature, the S5 is the performance version of the A5 coupe. That means a bigger engine, more horses and a stiffer suspension. The exterior is set apart from its more mild-mannered sibling by a chrome-trimmed grille, quad tailpipes and more muscular bumpers. The resulting package is refined yet athletic, with luxury appointments that ensure comfort matched with a powertrain that won't disappoint.
Until the R8 it almost seemed like Audi was incapable of making a sexy car. Please, sedans and coupes that can double as beach balls do not constitute sexy. After Audi introduced the R8, it's as if the company had an epiphany: sports cars sell! And now along came the S5. The S5 is downright sexy. This is a magnificent coupe with beautiful lines and over 350 raging horses. Inside the cabin is what you would expect from a mid priced sports car. There is the Audi Multimedia Interface similar to BMW's I-drive. The entire cabin is very ergonomic to say the least. Audi gets an A+ in every category when it come to the S5.
-Autocar-zone-
