We’ve spotted the latest version of Audi’s BMW 3 Series rival before it is officially revealed.
The Audi A4 has been a staple of the compact-executive car scene for almost 30 years, but it’s about to receive its biggest change yet, with Audi renaming it the A5.
The A5 badge has been chosen because Audi’s even-numbered cars are moving to full-electric powertrains. As an example of this, the upcoming A6 will become A7, with the forthcoming A6 e-tron set to provide the EV alternative. As a result, we expect a pure-electric version of the A5 to be named ‘A4 e-tron’.
These latest images give us our best look yet at the new A5 Avant and suggest a full reveal of Audi’s BMW 3 Series rival isn’t too far away. Despite the increasing range of Q-badged SUVs, Audi’s A5 and A5 Avant estate will remain an important part of its portfolio.
From our previous spy shots of the upcoming A5 Avant and sportier S5 Avant model, we already have a good idea as to how the new car will look. It will adopt an evolutionary design based on the outgoing model, with sharp, clean lines.
This test car is in production bodywork so despite the comprehensive camouflage we can see the front radiator grille will be narrower, joined by a set of aggressively shaped headlights. Side air intakes feature beneath and there’s a wide lower grille.
The surfacing along the sides of the A5 is cleaner, without the razor-sharp creases of recent Audis. The test car has diamond-cut alloy wheels and at the back this is the first time we’ve seen production-ready rear lights. They look similar to the ones found on the current A3.
We’ve also seen the sporty S5 Avant version testing. The overall styling is not too far removed from the standard model (likely to make room for the range-topping RS5 performance car). There’s a new honeycomb-shaped grille insert, a different lower grille shape, larger wheels, a beefy brake set-up and a quad-exit exhaust system.
The hot RS5 version of this car could be one of the last petrol-powered performance estates as Audi looks to launch its final internal combustion models by 2026.
Previous spy shots have also given us a peek at the A5’s interior. The latest version of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit gets a larger unshrouded driver’s display behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel (a round wheel will probably feature in the standard models).
While much of the cabin remains hidden, we’re expecting a new dashboard with fewer physical controls. There will be a standalone central screen sitting on the dash and it looks like the centre console has been redesigned with new toggle gear selectors. It’s almost certain the new A5 will only be available with an automatic transmission.
The biggest changes will happen under the skin, though. The next A5 will stay on the same MLB underpinnings as the current model, but it’ll be powered by a line-up of new combustion engines which Audi’s Chief Technical Officer, Oliver Hoffman, describes as “the best [the company] has ever launched”.
Most of the line-up will be based around an updated version of the Volkswagen Group’s omnipresent EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Improvements will include new variable-section turbochargers that claim to improve throttle response and a higher-pressure fuel injection system.
Electrification will play a key role in the A5 range, too. The petrol engine will be offered with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology at the lower end of the line-up and full-blown plug-in hybrid technology towards the upper end of the range. The latter option will probably use the same 14.4kWh battery pack and electric motor as other MLB models, such as the Q5.
Diesel power will also remain, although it’ll probably play second fiddle to Audi’s new-look line-up of electrified petrol engines. The bulk of the diesel range should be based around the same 150kW turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit also found in the Q5 SUV.
The current S4 made the switch from petrol to diesel in 2019, using a 3.0-litre, turbocharged V6 producing 255kW and offering 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds. The new car will certainly produce more power but whether or not it’ll retain the diesel powertrain remains to be seen.
As we’ve said already, the all-electric A5 could be badged A4 e-tron, which would provide a rival to the upcoming all-electric BMW 3 Series and Tesla Model 3.
However, if it does materialise, the pure-electric A4 e-tron will probably move to a different platform, because the MLB underpinnings aren’t set up for EV powertrains. It could use either a modified version of the PPE chassis that will sit under the upcoming Q6 e-tron or the Volkswagen Group’s new SSP architecture, which is due to arrive in 2025.