Audi has treated its A5 to a more-than-skin-deep makeover, with revised styling, more “intelligent” features, lower fuel consumption thanks to engine stop-start and regeneration systems (now standard across the range) and improved dynamics courtesy of a new electromechanical power-steering system.
And don't kid yourself South Africa is at the back of the queue when it comes to new Audis - the upgraded A5, in Coupé, Cabriolet and Sportback format will be here by the first quarter of 2012.
But let's start on the outside, where the upper corners of the single-frame grille have been beveled, and the lateral bars and four-ring badge have more depth. The new bumper has bolder air inlets with heavier struts, revised grilles and new, flat foglights, making the front of the car look flatter and wider.
The headlights have also been restyled, with wave-shaped lower edges and redesigned interiors; the optional xenon plus headlights have a narrow strip of LED daytime running lights.
ENGINES
The A5 is now available in Europe with a choice of three petrol and four diesel engines - each one with forced induction and direct fuel-injection - although it's not yet certain which of these will be coming to South Africa.
Petrol power starts with an all-new 1.8 TFSI, with redesigned valves and camshafts, cooling system, fuel injection, and a new exhaust manifold with integrated turbo housing.
Audi claims 125kW and 320Nm, at a cost of 5.7 litres/100km and 134g/km of CO2 (a 21 percent improvement).
The output of the two-litre TFSI is unchanged at 155kW, but there's also a completely new, supercharged, V6, three-litre TFSI rated at 200kW.
The four-cylinder, 130kW, two-litre TDI (in the coupé body) now burns only 4.7 litres/100km while belching 122g/km of CO2.
Three V6's, each of three litres capacity, round out the diesel lineup. The 150kW 3.0 TDI is rated at an average of 4.9 litres/100km and 129g/km of CO2, while the more powerful variant produces 180kW. Arriving somewhat later will be a low-emissions “clean” diesel that Audi says will make the A5 the first coupé on the market to meet the Euro 6 diesel standard.
All the front-wheel drive variants are available with either six-speed manual or continuously variable multitronic transmissions, while quattro models come with the choice of a manual 'box or seven-speed S tronic.
S tronic models also have a crown-gear centre differential that sends power primarily to the rear wheels. If it detects rear-wheel slip it gently brakes individual wheels to pull the car back into line and sends as much as 70percent of power to the front axle as necessary.
A sport rear differential is also available as an option on all quattro models that uses two superposition stages, via multiplate clutches, to actively distribute the torque between the rear wheels as needed.
Rear suspension bearings and damper tuning have been updated for more precise handling, and a new power-steering system uses an electric motor to generate the right amount of boost for the speed being driven - and to intervene gently to support the driver when braking on a surface with less grip on one side of the car.
It also reduces fuel consumption because it consumes no energy at all while driving in a straight line.
BELLS AND WHISTLES
A new driver aid uses steering motions and additional parameters to detect when the driver is getting tired and issues an appropriate warning to “take a break”.
Lane assist - new on the A5 this year - has a camera that detects lane markings and nudges the steering gently in the right direction if the driver ignores the car's warnings,
Adaptive cruise control uses radar technology to maintain a set distance constant interval between the A5 and the vehicle ahead. At speeds of less than 30km/h, it initiates maximum braking in the event of an impending collision.
All A5's now have an eight-speaker radio/CD player, while the MMI navigation plus option adds a large hard drive, 225mm colour monitor, 3D graphics and DVD player.
The number of buttons has been reduced from eight to four and the volume control now has a joystick cap to make it easier to choose songs.
Another option is the Bluetooth online carphone, with Google point-of-interest search, navigation with Google Earth images and a wi-fi hotspot and lets passengers (note, we said passengers!) to surf the 'net, and send and receive e-mail with their mobile devices, while on the move.
AUDI S5
The top models in the series - the S5 Sportback, Coupé and Cabriolet - now have a 245kW, three-litre TFSI V6 that uses about 20 percent less fuel than the 4.2-litre V8 it replaces. Audi quotes 0-100 in 4.9sec and an electronically governed top speed of 250km/h on only 8.1 litres/100km - as well as the new A5's crown-gear centre differential and electromechanical power steering.
The S5 also gets new lights, modified body details, new crystal-effect paint finishes and subtle interior trim changes, while S line sport suspension and standard 18” rims deliver the power to the road.