EVO drives the S5

Deutsch · 06-04-2007, 01:16 PM

Yet another lukewarm review for the A5/S5

Quote:

The V8 from the Audi RS4 makes the S5 the hottest version of Audi’s ‘grand tourer’ – for now
Text: David Vivian / Photos: Malcolm Griffiths

June 2007
Audi S5

The shove develops a satisfying weight and urgency as the engine note hardens
Tell you how my love affair with the Audi A5 started. I was in Munich with BMW driving a 120d somewhere near the airport. It was cold under a grey blanket sky and had been snowing intermittently all morning. As I slowed for traffic backed up from a set of lights, a black blur, slashed through with the icy white glow of LED running lights, lunged out of a junction on the other side of the carriageway and accelerated hard down the road. It looked good and sounded better. In fact, it sounded a little like a Lamborghini Gallardo; that V10 soundtrack is as distinctive as it is addictive.

The noise and vision mixed with the sudden realisation that what I’d just seen may have been an early running prototype of the RS5 genuinely gave me a small shudder of anticipation. From that moment I’ve been itching to get behind the wheel of a fast A5. I haven’t had to wait long but it isn’t the RS5 just yet.

Admiring a mighty view to my left as we woofle along the gently snaking road that hugs the shoreline of Lake Garda in northern Italy, I’m in an S5 – the harder (but sub-hardcore) range-topper launched with the rest of the A5 line-up at Geneva in early March. The S5 gets the 4.2-litre FSI V8 from the RS4 driving to all four wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, but in a softer state of tune, developing 354bhp instead of 414bhp but slightly more torque – 324lb ft plays 317lb ft. Audi claims 0-62mph in a decidedly nippy 5.1sec and a top speed limited to 155mph.

The genesis of the A5 is the deeply sexy Nuvolari concept car, an artfully distended TT that was first shown back in 2003. Effectively, the A5 is the productionised version of that – minus the TT overtones and quite a lot of the sex. From a market perspective, it plugs the gap between the TT and the mid-engined R8 supercar.

Physically, at 4630mm long, it slots neatly between the A4 and A6 saloons. Audi calls it a ‘modern grand tourer’, maybe trying to distance it from its most obvious rivals, the new BMW 3-series coupe and the ageing and never-all- that-pretty Merc CLK. I think the Audi just edges the Bee Em for drama and presence but is perhaps a little less cohesive, especially around the C-pillar, which looks like the dead spot of the design.

All right, maybe Walter de’Silva, creator of the Nuvolari and VW Group’s head of design, didn’t phone it in from the beach as Richard Porter suggested in his Geneva report, but it’s hard to believe the great man’s on record as saying the A5 is the most beautiful car he’s ever designed. Clearly Walter has completely forgotten he ever worked for Alfa Romeo, whilst the gorgeous Lamborghini Miura concept has suddenly slipped his mind.

No matter, the latest Audi might not be quite the masterpiece de’Silva imagines but it is cool and attracts plenty of admiring glances. The S5 identifiers – slightly more aggressive ‘goatee grille’, uber-cool LED daytime running lights, deep, aluminium-edged front spoiler, discreet S5 badging, gorgeous five-spoke alloys and quad exhausts – are integrated into the overall design so seamlessly, the final effect is subtly understated, almost stealthy.

Of course, 19-inch alloy wheels and ultra-low-profile rubber don’t necessarily signify anything special, but when they fill the swollen wheelarches so deliciously and are set off against the lowered suspension, suspicions should indeed be aroused that this is an Audi less ordinary.

Design highlights on the inside include the softly glinting steel starter button next to the gearlever, tastefully understated carbonfibre trim accents and the MMI multi-function controller, now moved up to the dash like a TT’s. And the keyless entry system allows the satisfying get-in-and-go lifestyle enjoyed by some Mercedes owners, among others. The keyless fob even stores all the car’s diagnostic readings, cutting servicing times.

The S5’s interior isn’t what you’d call inspirational but it is beautifully done with great seats, a fine driving position, peerless ergonomics and sensational build quality. What it doesn’t have is much rear legroom. Audi reckons this is a practical coupe – and, true, the boot’s a generous 455 litres – but the rear is a no-go area for six-footers. A black mark but hardly a deal-breaker.

The A5’s true significance is that it’s the first Audi to get a new front/mid-engined layout, where the front wheels are pushed forward, and the engine back, to give a more balanced weight distribution, keep the major masses inside the axis of the axles and improve the handling. And, to keep unsprung weight down, there are aluminium suspension components front and rear.

It isn’t as easy as it should be to click with the S5 as you pull away for the first time. The V8 responds with such manic fervour to the first half inch of throttle travel – after which the remaining three inches understandably feel a bit flat – it’s hard to get going without a crescendo of wasted revs and no easier to nullify the effects of the slight slack in the driveline until you learn to apply precisely the correct amount of right-foot delicacy. The gearchange can feel disappointingly notchy if rushed, too. But within the first few miles, the Audi’s pace and poise are fairly obvious.

We hang a left and leave the splendour of Lake Garda’s shoreline to head up into the hills. As the road climbs, I’m beginning to be seduced by how smooth and refined the Audi’s manners are. The body structure feels extremely stiff and the suspension works quietly. Even on the bumpiest sections, it soaks up punishment in a way that rarely disrupts the sense of calm in the cabin.

And there’s no denying the deep reserves of grip or the S5’s fluent way of stringing together combinations of bends. Yet the process isn’t nearly as involving as it is uniformly competent. It’s a maximum grip ‘n’ grunt deal. The rewards for a press-on approach are measured out in ground covered for time elapsed rather than smiles per mile. Just as the S5 refuses to be ruffled, so does the driver’s pulse rate.

As a quasi-GT it’s more successful. Its graceful shape, satisfying integrity, superb interior quality and grown-up refinement, comfort and dynamics make for an easy life.

Away from the mountain hairpins – something of an understeer fest, no matter whether ESP is switched on or off – we hit more open, flowing roads. I find myself measuring out the performance as I need it, and the good news is that there always seems to be more to come. Call on all of it and the shove develops a satisfying weight and urgency as the engine note hardens.

Yet it’s the smoothness and refinement that dominate – a kind of velvety velocity that’s deceptive but never truly ignites the anticipated thrill. Technically, the chassis hits all the right notes. The S5 carries fine speed through bends with little roll and a flat, smooth ride. Its contempt of camber and road surface is admirable.

Despite initially feeling rather cumbersome, the steering offers decent precision and reasonable feel. It’s hard to get it wrong in the S5, but rare to feel anything other than detached from the action. The let down is all the more poignant after the RS4 in which you feel empowered not just by the reach and completeness of the performance but by its ability to entertain.

So forgive me if I put the love affair on hold for the time being. The S5 is a good car but perhaps only as good as Audi wants it to be. The RS5 had better be the best A5 Audi knows how to make. With at least 500bhp on tap, we have reason to hope it will be nothing less.

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PC Valkyrie · 06-04-2007, 02:30 PM

Wow, only 3.5 stars out of 5. On the other hand, SLR 722 Edition only got 3 stars from Evo.

Most BMW M cars get 4.5-5 stars out of 5, while most MB AMG cars get 4-4.5 stars of of 5.

merve_extreme · 06-04-2007, 02:48 PM

The C350 also got 4.5/5 and its no AMG.

Poverty · 06-04-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PC Valkyrie

Wow, only 3.5 stars out of 5. On the other hand, that's what the SLR 722 Edition also got from Evo.

Most BMW M cars get 4.5-5 stars out of 5, while most MB AMG cars get 4-4.5 stars of of 5.

Audi dont give EVO enough money

Sunny · 06-04-2007, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poverty

Audi dont give EVO enough money

Yeah, must be that... the greedy journalists.

Deutsch · 06-04-2007, 04:20 PM

Auto journalist don't make that much money, as with most other journalists from other areas of interest.

Just_me · 06-04-2007, 04:29 PM

one guy working for the EVO magazine drive a Zonda S

Deutsch · 06-04-2007, 04:30 PM

More than likely he's a contributor and not one of the staff.

Just_me · 06-04-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deutsch

More than likely he's a contributor and not one of the staff.

actually he works there. its been posted about it here before.

PC Valkyrie · 06-04-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merve_extreme

The C350 also got 4.5/5 and its no AMG.

Yeah, but Evo probably grades each car to its "expected" performance category. For example, the SLR 722 Edition only got 3 stars out of 5. Trust me, the objective and subjective driving specs and characteristics blows the W204 C350 completely out of the water. But compared to cars like a 599GTB, the SLR fell short.

The S5 goes up against something between the 335i and M3 or C/CLK350 and C/CLK AMG cars.

Here is a list of cars that are "generally in the same category" of the S5 and the grade they got from Evo Car Reviews Section. It's hard to place the S4/S5 in terms of where they fit in the hierarchy of cars. Before the RS4 came out, it was easy: the S4 competed head on with the M3 and C-AMG car. Now with the RS4 out and upcoming RS5, I guess the S4/S5 are suddenly competing with lower cars? I've included cars which are both higher and maybe lower in the hierarchy on this list to give a sense where the S5 fits in.

With only 3.5 stars out of 5, the brand new S5 doesn't compare well to most of these cars, IN THE OPINION OF EVO. We'll get a better idea when more actual head to head comparison tests are performed.

E46 M3 CS: 5/5
B7 RS4: 4.5/5
W209 CLK63: 4.5/5
E92 335i: 4.5/5
W204 C350 Sport: 4.5/5
W203 C55: 4/5
B6 S4: 4/5
W209 CLK500 (CLK550): 3.5/5
new S5: 3.5/5

06-04-2007, 02:30 PM	#2
PC Valkyrie Advocate Join Date: May 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 648 Thanks: 0 Thanked 335 Times in 133 Posts	Re: EVO drives the S5 Wow, only 3.5 stars out of 5. On the other hand, SLR 722 Edition only got 3 stars from Evo. Most BMW M cars get 4.5-5 stars out of 5, while most MB AMG cars get 4-4.5 stars of of 5. Last edited by PC Valkyrie; 06-04-2007 at 04:59 PM..

06-04-2007, 02:48 PM	#3
merve_extreme Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 158 Thanks: 44 Thanked 66 Times in 29 Posts	Re: EVO drives the S5 The C350 also got 4.5/5 and its no AMG.

06-04-2007, 04:20 PM	#6
Deutsch Connoisseur Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: L.A. Posts: 5,766 Thanks: 492 Thanked 673 Times in 318 Posts	Re: EVO drives the S5 Auto journalist don't make that much money, as with most other journalists from other areas of interest.

06-04-2007, 04:29 PM	#7
Just_me Executive Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 15,487 Thanks: 1,062 Thanked 3,722 Times in 1,583 Posts	Re: EVO drives the S5 one guy working for the EVO magazine drive a Zonda S

06-04-2007, 04:30 PM	#8
Deutsch Connoisseur Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: L.A. Posts: 5,766 Thanks: 492 Thanked 673 Times in 318 Posts	Re: EVO drives the S5 More than likely he's a contributor and not one of the staff.

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