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The A5 is Audi's latest salvo in its battle to rule the luxury automotive landscape, and the German automaker is putting its technical might behind the launch. The A5 was launched in June in Europe, and now two all-new six cylinder engines are under the svelte coupe's bonnet. Audi's 3.2L engine isn't all-new, but direct injection and variable lift control have been updated to produce an impressive 265 hp. The 3.2L will be available in the U.S. at launch this fall.
In Europe, oil-burning engines are necessary to compete in any significant segment, and Audi is packing its common-rail fuel injected 2.7L turbo-diesel under the A5's hood. The engine produces 190 hp, which is enough grunt to get the diesel A5 to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. It also returns 35.3 mpg! As is the case with all euro diesel powerplants, U.S. customers likely won't be able to check that option for a while, if ever.
[Source: Audi]
PRESS RELEASE:
New engines for the Audi A5
* Range extended for the coupé
* Two high-revving and efficient six-cylinder engines
* Continuously variable multitronic for comfort-oriented drivers
The Audi A5, successfully launched on the market in mid-June, is now available in two new engine versions: as a 2.7 TDI and as a 3.2 FSI, each combined with continuously variable multitronic transmission. Audi is thus continuing to extend its range in the high-quality coupé segment.
Both the petrol and the diesel version come in the guise of impressive six-cylinder engines with direct injection. The 2.7 TDI has a power output of 140 kW (190 bhp). This model's peak torque of 400 Nm is available at between 1,400 and 3,250 rpm. The high-tech diesel engine with a common-rail fuel injection system reaches the 100 km/h mark in just 7.6 seconds, and goes on to a top speed of 232 km/h. It uses an average of just 6.7 litres of diesel per 100 km.
The V6 petrol direct injection engine with a capacity of 3.2 litres is remarkable for its output of 195 kW (265 bhp) and its maximum torque of 330 Newton metres. This engine is equipped with the Audi valvelift system (AVS). Thanks to this variable valve lift control, fuel consumption can be considerably reduced and the efficiency of the engine further increased. The Audi A5 3.2 FSI accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds and has an average fuel consumption of 8.7 litres.
The latest two models in the A5 model line are available from 40,850 euros for the Audi A5 2.7 TDI and 44,000 euros for the 3.2 FSI.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bill Hancock @ Aug 7th 2007 9:37PM
I saw the first S5's today at VW of America. They are 10x sexier in person
Duncan @ Aug 7th 2007 10:10PM
It probably would be worth mentioning that the new diesel will sit below the already offered 3.0 tdi (240ps, 500nm).
Reality Check @ Aug 7th 2007 10:15PM
I am sick of being told that there is some hidden reason that we don't get these dam Oil burners! So either tell us why we are to stupd to not buy these wonder cars or just stop acting like you really know something! The only reason we don't have them is we won't buy them, case closed.
Duncan @ Aug 7th 2007 11:07PM
Well, it's because that's not the only reason we don't have them. Making a 50 state diesel wasn't possible given the high levels of sulfur in US fuel, and leaving out the CARB states means ditching too much market. The law changed and our sulfur levels went down to around (or below) what was available in europe. So all of a sudden you could make a diesel that would meet regs. For about three months (and it had to be a MY '06). Then the CARB regs got stricter, and despite huge demand (go look at the prices for a used jetta or golf diesel and tell me that people don't want one), nobody made a diesel that would meet the CARB standards (yet). The new european standards are pretty much on par with the new CARB standards, so next year we'll get diesels. Maybe not all of them. But we'll get them. It's not just a lack of demand.
Moltenauto @ Aug 7th 2007 11:09PM
Who ever told you the reason was hidden? We have emission regulations that are more stringent than Europe making the engines actually illegal to sell here. End of story.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 8th 2007 3:50AM
The reason we can't have these engines is because they flat-out pollute too much. These new "clean Diesels" put out 2.5X as much NOx as a SULEV car. These "clean Diesels" pollute as much as the average car sold outside the CARB region. If you count cars in the CARB region, they're above average polluters.
These Diesels are just meeting "tier 2, bin 5", and as mentioned in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tier_%28emission_standard%29
'Tier II's bin 5 roughly defines what fleet averages should be, and is equivalent to California's LEV II classification.'
These new engines just barely meet CARB standards at all, and the standards get tighter again in under 2 years.
I believe Duncan is incorrect:
US CARB standards are far tighter than the current Euro standards. It would be most accurate to say the current Euro standards are in line with the current EPA standards. The Euro standards are in line with tier 2 bin 5, which is equivalent to LEV II, the least restrictive car rating (not truck rating) in CARB. The proposed Euro V standards are more in-line with CARB's current standards.
European companies are shooting tier 2 bin 5, and then moving on to the tighter levels in CARB that will be needed to maintain fleet averages and future Euro and CARB standards.
sfast @ Aug 7th 2007 10:42PM
The 2.7 TDI???
No thanks. How about a 2.7 Twin Turbo? Those were the days.
XAVIER @ Aug 7th 2007 11:18PM
The 2.7 Twin Turbo was only 6 years ago, not that long.
indymcsc @ Aug 7th 2007 11:35PM
Most Audi's don't last 6 years ;-)
Danny Abouekde @ Aug 7th 2007 11:47PM
Those engines were beastly. I had a 2002 audi s4 with the 2.7tt for about 3 years. I chipped it and did stage 2+, fastest car I ever owned.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 8th 2007 3:54AM
I still drive my 2000 A6 2.7T today. Boy, when it's running, the engine is quite fun. It's funny to hear the BMW people (like 540i owners) who laughed at our Audi turbocharged 6s talk about how much they love the new turbo 6 335i. Welcome to the party, guys.
But these cars were never mechanically wonderful (esp. the S4s with their tighter engine bay) to start with and at older ages, they're a handful. That reminds me, time to get new BPVs again, the tweeting is getting annoying.
I never chipped this thing, although I have a spare ECU (mine predates the immobilizer, so it was easy to get one). When it was new, I didn't want to void the warranty and now I wonder if the drivetrain is really still sound enough to produce 300HP reliably. It's still fast unchipped.
Max Merak @ Aug 7th 2007 11:33PM
The 35 mpg estimate is from where?
Phil @ Aug 8th 2007 1:57AM
I think you have Audi mixed up with Mercedes on this one. Audi is #1 out of the European makes for reliability (came in just one under Infiniti), while Mercedes is #36 out of 36
Andrew @ Aug 7th 2007 11:37PM
any word on pricing for the A5 V6 and TDI?
MikeW @ Aug 8th 2007 12:09AM
I hope the Edmunds weight distribution measurment was in error.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=121924
58/42 is no more rear heavy than the RS4.
Hopefully it is wrong, and is actually 56/44
About as heavy as the 335xi 54/46
Mehool @ Aug 8th 2007 10:52PM
Hey, where on the Edmunds review did you find the weight distrib specs? I checked each page on the linked review but didn't see those specs
Phil @ Aug 8th 2007 2:01AM
Edmunds had a lot of things inconsistent in that article. For example, they talk about 18" wheels and 19" wheels on this same S5, among some other incorrect statements. Audi mentions the MLP platform is near 50/50 but other magazines have stated 52/48 for the S5 Quattro. I've also seen 54/46 posted.
Louis Duran @ Aug 8th 2007 2:20AM
265 HP for the updated 3.2L is not all that impressive. Honda, Nissan and Toyota have had 3.5L motors that had higher output than the old 3.2L Audi motor and some of those motors didn't require premium fuel and get better gas mileage.
nagmashot @ Aug 8th 2007 3:03AM
other than Honda, Nissan and Toyota the V6 in the Audi A5 are not the top of the line engines they are just the cheap cruiser engines... there is no need to get as much as possible hp out of them... if you want a power A5 you buy a S5 with a normal V8 and later for the hp ilk freaks you geht a high rev TT 450hp 4.2l V8...were are the Honda Nissan Toyota engines that match that perfromance... never build..
MikeW @ Aug 8th 2007 11:42AM
The Aud V6 is only 3.1 liters. 261.5hp, 243ft-lbs (3000-5000)
Secondly, the upgrades are basically the Audi VTEC (the low load cams are asymmetric in lift, implemented for mileage/emissions, and so Audi can remove the charge motion control flaps)
Audi could have pushed the engine to ~300hp, like the RoadJet concept, which sacrificed low end for top end (5000-7500). But Audis are heavy and have traction, so that isn't a good strategic direction.
The 2gr-fe is an economy engine foremost (notice the 6400 rev limiter) The shown redline of the Audi V6 is 6800, also the 2gr-fe doesn't hit 330mN until ~4000rpm, so the audi has superior low speed torque. (it has dual length intake runners) The 2gr-fe takes 95RON.
The VQ35 is a premium fuel engine, and the new altima is finally showing some results 270hp, 258ft-bs.
The Honda 3.5V6 puts out good numbers if it is using VTEC, just imagine if someone pulled the electrical connector for the VTEC solenoid. Neutered in the 5000-7000 region, 10% off the top end is reasonable, The TL's 286hp would probably not even be 260hp.
The press release was that front drive multitronic is 58/42 and the S5 is 56/44, and A5 is 55/45 (vs. the 328xi 53/47)