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Rendered speculation: Another look at the Audi A5 Sportback
Um, what's a sportback? Is that a hatch? A wagon? A bra? Car just released some new renderings of Audi's upcoming eleventeenth new model, the A5 Sportback. From the pic it looks like a five-door wagon, but that would be an avant in Audi-speak. This one has a less upright back glass and even sports a tiny horizontal deck at the bottom of the glass. Kind of like Mazda offered with the 6, but in a more wagon-like long roof form. Whatever they call it, it looks attractive and functional and is said to have an electric assist for that unique hatch. Claimed to be an answer to the Mercedes Benz CLS four-door coupe, the A5 Sportback takes the functional sedan segment on a slightly different vector. It's mind-boggling how companies like BMW, Mercedes and Audi keep churning out new body styles and models that seem to further carve up already narrow market segments, but as long as the products are functional and stylish (as this one surely is), we can't argue with them. [Source: Car magazine]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon 8:40PM (8/10/2007)
I still don't understand station wagons from luxury automakers.
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elyk-R 8:50PM (8/10/2007)
It's simple - This appeals to the Audi lover that has children and desires something with a bit more room for the stroller/etc. that doesnt resemble a mini van or traditional station wagon. I personally think it is fantastic...
psarhjinian 11:00PM (8/10/2007)
I don't understand coupes or CUVs with less space than wagons (Hello, CX-7, X3 and X5!). What would the world be like if we were all the same?
chris 12:04AM (8/11/2007)
Well think of the people who want a German luxury car but need something with more space than the standard sedan. Remember this is primarily for the European market, so a lot of people would never consider buying a big SUV like an X5 or Q7 but a 5-Series Estate or Audi A5 Sportback is perfect.
scooter 1:21AM (8/11/2007)
My father has an '05 E500 wagon and I was darn proud of him for realizing that it was far more practical, sporting, and classier than the M500 and Cayenne he had cross shopped. He is 69 years old and I thought the last wagon he would ever own was the 1976 Custom Cruiser I practically grew up in.
Why buy a clumsy wagon on stilts when a sedan with a huge glassy trunk will do everything better on the road, where 99% of SUVs spend their time.
500 2:11PM (8/11/2007)
"I still don't understand station wagons from luxury automakers."
Jon, unfortunately neither do the US automakers. That's part of the reason why Mercedes, BMW and Audi are eating their lunch.
While the German automakers keep inventing new market segments, the Americans just keep retreating into SUV's/CUV's and boring 4-door sedans, and then wonder why their market share is in a free fall.
Louis Duran 9:07PM (8/10/2007)
I like it. Sort of the Audi interpretation of the Dodge Magnum.
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Don 2:38AM (8/11/2007)
Nice catch--I was thinking the same about low-slung wagons, the Magnum and this.
porcupine 11:44PM (8/10/2007)
where the heck have you been?... the a3 that we got in the states was also called a "sportback".
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Milos Radulovic 10:02PM (8/10/2007)
let's be honest and stop using euphemisms. it's a wagon no matter how you call. it really "destroys" the reputation of a5 as a sports coupe, as much as 4door version would do for Mustang
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BartMack 11:21PM (8/10/2007)
My brother is a fan of great German cars, and with starting a family, has an A6 Avant, and it's really very, very nice. I'm glad he didn't go the minivan/suv route. For me, I'm able to go for the less roomy, sports car versions of the autobahn crop (BMW being my choice) and wholeheartedly appreciate them... so I say more power to Audi, they certainly have the guts and the skill to create fantastic automobiles. I see a leader leading, rather than a company trying to fake it by producing sloppy seconds and wannabe look-alikes. Vorsprung indeed lol. =)
tbirdkatz 2:43AM (8/11/2007)
is it just me or is sportback just a cool word for hatchback/wagon. the thing looks like a wagon to me w/ a more curved back end. potato/potado, lets call this thing what it is, a WAGON. it does look decent though.
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John 8:43PM (8/11/2007)
The first thing that came to mind when I saw it was the Malibu Max, they are station wagons, but no one wants to call them such.
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Ligor 8:57AM (8/11/2007)
it's a Wagon, cal it what you will
But I like wagons, better than a CUV/SUV
i'm definitely hoping for a G35 Wagon, but the coming CTS might have to be it.
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MiniMe 9:06AM (8/11/2007)
Looks like a Dodge Magnum.
Audi would earn points if they just admitted it's a station wagon and stop trying to camoflauge it as a 6 door sportback or whatever.
Let's see a woody version.
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carluvr 11:58AM (8/11/2007)
Audi has been making bad azz wagons for a while now.......mid 90's or so. S2/RS2, S4/RSA, S6/RS6, and it is the Magnum that looks a lot like of Audi sportwagons. In fact, the German (and some other euro makers) have been making them for a while, it's just Audi seems to have had a little more successs with them. Just a little tired of most thinking Audi is trying to make their wagons look like the magnum, I think it is just you see more of the Magnum running around on 22's.
Just a little clarification on this, and if you think the euro's can't make a wickedly fast sportwagon, one that would bury the SRT-8 Magnum. Jump into an RS6 Plus Avant, E|63 Wagon or M5 wagon and you will see how well the Germans do this segment.
I too find it funny that Americans still feel the need to buy SUV's or CUV's if they do not tow anything substantial. This may be due to 2 facts. SUV/CUV's are still fashionable and we do not like to drive proper habdling vehicles like the Germans, but then again we do not have the A-bahn either.
MiniMe 4:31PM (8/12/2007)
"I too find it funny that Americans still feel the need to buy SUV's or CUV's if they do not tow anything substantial. This may be due to 2 facts. SUV/CUV's are still fashionable and we do not like to drive proper habdling vehicles like the Germans, but then again we do not have the A-bahn either."
Many Americans have a valid reason for owning an SUV. The need the seating space or towing ability.
The SUV was developed as a replacement for the large V-8 station wagon in the US that were killed off by the CAFE standards in the mid-1980's. Another factor was the decision by the reagan Administration to substantially increase the allowed size of tractor trailer rigs on US interstate highways. A lot of folks turned to big SUV's such as the Suburban and Explorer in self-defense.
andrew 11:11AM (8/11/2007)
I like it. I do think it's pretty weird for a car to go from a coupe to a station wagon without a sedan inbetween them.
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Doogs 6:10PM (8/11/2007)
And how is this not an A4 Avant with some swoopy shoulder lines?
When I think "sportback", I think of an abbreviated wagon, of sorts. Shorter overhang, more sweeping rear glass, etc. Such as the Mazda3 vs. the Mazda 6, Audi A3 vs. the A4 Avant, etc.
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spm 6:34PM (8/11/2007)
That's a fine looking ride - I love it!
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