2012 Audi S5 Review | Auto News

Sitting in traffic, an E550 Coupe crawls onto the highway and parks now a few cars in front and a few lanes over. It surely is unique looking, but you cant assist but sense a small sorry for the folks at Mercedes. How can you compete by means of a car as good-looking as the Audi S5?

2012 Audi S5

Its beauty in a lot of habits lies in its simplicity, by means of a textbook coupe profile, yet by means of all the correct creases, proportions and highlighted by a huge front grille so as to asserts come again? a earth collection of students impressive touring mechanism petroleum is.

And yet present is so a great deal additional to the S5 supposed its near-perfect proportions. The cabin is a mix together of pure lavishness by means of sporting cues, plus, helpful so as to engine.

THRILLING V8 ENGINE, BUT NO DUAL-CLUTCH GEARBOX

While the Cabriolet stay Audis new supercharged V6 the Coupe series to create use of a less-modern, yet infinitely better, V8. Displacing 4.2-liters it content 354-hp all the way up at 7000 rpm, by means of 325 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm, delivering an outstanding equilibrium of low-end grunt and of course aspirated rev-happy motoring. It too tableware the fraction by means of a raspy growl outside, and a whoosh (perhaps too subdued) in the cabin.

With normal quattro all-wheel drive the S5 determination hit 60 mph in now 4.9 place and by means of V8 authority helpful no require to discontinue there.

If the length of favor by means of German coupe excitement by means of a touch of purist nostalgia, Audi determination still equip it by means of a 6-speed physical transmission. True, few determination still arrange it so, but its a nod to the enthusiasts and it strength stay a few bums out of M3 seats. Its not the the majority excellent slick-and-pedal combo on the market, by means of a rather extended clutch, but the joy of rowing by means of own gears on a of course aspirated V8 is value petroleum little deal off.

For persons who dont go the physical broadcast route, now sorry. And not now since of come again? theyre absent out on, but since of come again? theyre wedged with. The not obligatory broadcast for the S5 Coupe is a customary 6-speed automatic, a carry-over as of a history age group of Audi cars. Theres nothing inherently incorrect by means of the box; its now so as to if you ordered-up a Cabriolet, helpful the option of a 7-speed DSG unit, a ideal no-compromise alternative so as to delivers lightning rapid cog shifts and a solid quantity of emotion, as healthy as the practicality to stay the the majority subdued intended content throughout a each day commute.

SERIOUS LEVELS OF GRIP

Putting authority downward is no difficulty at all thanks to the normal quattro AWD, not to mention the Sport Differential, construct moderator built-in in the not obligatory Audi Drive Select wrap up ($3,950). The diff income so as to not merely is authority healthy front to back in the quattro system, but too absent to correct in the rear. Spinning the exterior tire earlier and slowing the pace of the in,within tire, it theater the car path closer to the way of the front tires, eliminating a great deal of the understeer " a trait Audis contain twist out to be recognized for. Diving eager on a bend by means of abundance of pace the S5 can sense a bit unsettled, but be relevant the throttle now as you stay for it to create pushing and the perfect distribution of authority recognized by all four tires pulls the car out of the twist by means of grip-filled confidence.

2012 Audi S5

Also built-in in the Audi Drive Select wrap up are three-way adjustable settings for the steering and suspension as healthy as throttle response, and the broadcast settings for the automatic.

Despite improvements to steering cog in excess of the years, the S5 motionless moderator up small of a BMW in petroleum significant touchable factor. The issue isnt by means of numbness or a be small of of feel, rather, its an in excess of reaction, chiefly at what time in Sport mode. Pull absent as of a discontinue on a bend and as you accelerate the scheme tightens-up rapidly meaning you contain to decrease by means of steering input as you corner. Once at pace its no longer an issue, so for presentation heavy or bombing approximately a path we wouldnt contain any complaints, but as a each day intended it a number of receiving second-hand to.

STUNNING LUXURY, BUT MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL THE OPTIONS

This is chiefly significant considering any S5 determination use far additional occasion as a lavishness commuter car supposed a bend carver. As a great deal of a presentation mechanism as it is, its maybe improved suited to the former, by means of a at ease ride, a silent cabin and heaps of lavishness sharpened eager on a sports education car point.

Of exacting note are the broad yet supportive seats, coated in a Silk Nappa leather and embossed by means of S5 logos. Plus helpful the not obligatory ($500) carbon thread trip " an absolute must!

Starting at $53,000 for the Premium Plus model, the not obligatory Prestige account is approximately a given, still if it determination set you rear a important $5,900. Included in so as to are more supposed a few substance youd stay for on a car of petroleum level, similar to keyless correct of entry by means of a start/stop button, advantage you get a reminiscence seat, navigation and a backup camera by means of sensors. And if helpful any hesitation in by means of brain concerning the package, now twist up the speakers on the Bang & Olufsen audio scheme (also a $850 place unaccompanied option) and any genuine thoughts determination be blasted obvious out of by means of skull by means of extreme custom of concert-quality audio.

We did, however, note more supposed a few skin not present on the S5 so as to be hypothetical to at smallest amount be not obligatory on a vehicle of petroleum caliber. For starters, helpful no hill-hold system, construct actually be hypothetical to be ready on any physical broadcast car at petroleum cost point. Cooled seats counting too be ideal.

About our merely additional analysis involves the MMI (Multi Media Interface) system. Updated and better in excess of the existence its motionless not as intuitive as BMWs iDrive and the manage knob is too far rear on the middle console, creation it fewer supposed idea as of an ergonomics standpoint. We do be grateful for so as to unlike history understanding the four buttons second-hand to correct of entry skin on every bend of the monitor contain person's name moved to surround the knob to get better ease of use. On the additional hand, its inherently backwards so as to you contain to twist the knob oppose clockwise to zoom in on the map. The top of the knob now too skin a joystick-like manage mechanism, though its ill at ease to use.

THE VERDICT

Positioned after that to its German rivals the S5 represents the the majority well-rounded package, by means of solid sporting qualifications and a lavish cockpit coated in dramatic bodywork. The BMWs (anywhere as of a 335 to an M3) are motionless the favored option for the factual heavy enthusiast, but dont seem the fraction in,within or out. A comparatively sensibly Mercedes E550 Coupe stacks up nicely in conditions of cost and acceleration, and as,at the same time as present is a sure cache to so as to tri-pointed star, the S5 has a solid earned-it-myself new-money ethos. True, Audi strength not contain the make cred so as to the Benz has, but the S badge can grasp its own.

The Audi S5 is a ideal each day intended for persons who enjoy luxury, pace and beauty. And by means of the clock ticking for the 4.2-liter V8, construct is predictable to be replaced by a supercharged V6 after that year, its the majority excellent to act now.

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