Review: Audi F5 A5 Coupe (2017-on)

Overview

Production of the Audi F5 A5 Coupe commenced in July 2016 and it was officially released in Australia in March 2017. Manufactured in Ingolstadt, Germany, the Audi F5 A5 Coupe range for Australia consisted of the 2.0 TFSI, 2.0 TFSI quattro and 2.0 TDI quattro (see table below); all models were fitted with seven-speed double clutch transmissions (Audi’s ‘s tronic’) as standard.

To reduce fuel consumption,

• All engines for the Audi F5 A5 Coupe had a ‘Start-Stop’ function which enabled them to shut down as the vehicle was coming to rest – this occurred at speeds of 7 km/h and below (except for the 3.0 TDI with Tiptronic for which the threshold was 3 km/h); and,
• For models with double-clutch and automatic transmissions, a free-wheel function disengaged the engine from the driveline to reduce engine braking at speeds between 55 km/h and 160 km/h.

quattro

The four-wheel drive ‘quattro’ system for the Audi F5 A5 Coupe was a purely mechanical system which utilised a self-locking central differential (designed as a planetary gear train). In normal conditions, the differential provided 60 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear axle and 40 per cent to the front, i.e. a 40:60 front:rear torque split. Depending on the situation, however, up to 70 per cent of the engine’s torque could be directed to the front and up to 85 per cent to the rear.

Wheel-selective torque control

As standard, the Audi A5 Coupe had ‘wheel-selective torque control’. During ‘dynamic cornering’, wheel-selective torque control braked the front inner wheel (for front-wheel drive models) or front and rear inside wheels (for quattro models) to prevent wheelspin and improve turn-in.

Body and dimensions

Compared to the Audi 8T3 A5 Coupe which it replaced, the Audi F5 A5 Coupe was 48 mm longer (at 4673 mm), 12 mm wider (1846 mm), 11 mm lower (1371 mm) and had a 13 mm longer wheelbase (2764 mm); its luggage capacity was 465 litres. Furthermore, the F5 A5 Coupe had a drag coefficient of 0.27 Cd.

To improve aerodynamics, the Audi F5 A5 Coupe ‘ultra’ variants had underbody panels and a frame behind the radiator grille which housed two blinds. The blinds were closed on start-up to reduce air resistance, but opened independently when air was needed to cool the engine. It is understood that the A5 Coupe ultra had a drag co-efficient of 0.25 Cd.

Suspension

The Audi F5 A5 Coupe had five-link front suspension in which the upper links were integrated into the bodywork and the lower links were attached with rubber mounts to a hybrid steel/aluminium sub-frame. For the five-link rear suspension, the axle was insulated from the body by hydraulically damped axle mounts. To reduce mass, the axle links, pivot bearings and damper stilts were made of forged aluminium.

As an extra-cost option, the Audi A5 Coupe could be specified with Audi’s ‘Continuous Damping Control’ (CDC) shock absorbers which featured electromagnetically controlled valves in their pistons to control the flow of hydraulic fluid. For the CDC system, the central suspension control unit processed inputs from sensors that measured movement and acceleration (longitudinal and transverse) to control each shock absorber individually. Furthermore, the ‘Audi drive select driving-dynamics’ system enabled the driver to select from ‘sports’ or ‘comfort’ settings.

Steering

The Audi F5 A5 Coupe had electromechanical power steering in which the level of power assistance was inversely proportional to vehicle speed. As an extra-cost option, the F5 A5 Coupe was available with ‘dynamic steering’ which varied its ratio – by up to 100 per cent – according to the vehicle speed, steering angle and the mode selected in the ‘Audi drive select driving-dynamics’ system.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Audi F5 A5 Coupe included dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the Audi F5 A5 Coupe was fitted with:

• ‘Audi pre sense city’: operating at speeds up to 85 km/h, Audi pre sense city used a windscreen-mounted front camera to scan the road for other vehicles and pedestrians. If there was a risk of a collision, the driver received a series of warnings. If the driver failed to respond, full braking force would be applied autonomously. At initial speeds of up to 40 km/h, collisions could be prevented; at higher speeds (up to 85 km/h), the severity of the collision would be reduced;
• ‘Audi pre sense basic’: initiated occupant protection measures such as tightening the front seatbelts, closing the windows and sunroof (where fitted), and activating the hazard lights when ‘unstable driving conditions’ were detected;
• ‘Audi pre sense rear’: could warn of potential collisions from behind, warn following traffic by rapidly flashing the brake lights and activate the ‘Audi pre sense basic’ protection measures described above;
• Audi side assist: operating at speeds above 15 km/h, Audi side assist used two rear radar sensors to monitor traffic up to 70 metres behind the A5. If another vehicle approached quickly or was in the driver’s blind spot, a warning LED in the housing of the appropriate door mirror would illuminate. If the driver activated the indicator to change lanes, the LED would blink rapidly to warn the driver;
• Rear cross-traffic assist: when reversing at low speeds, rear cross-traffic assist used the rear radar sensors to detect approaching traffic. If approaching traffic was detected which may cross the vehicle’s path, the driver received warnings (visual, acoustic and a brief, jolting application of the brakes);
• Exit warning: activated when the vehicle stopped moving, exit warning warned occupants if vehicles were approaching from behind by illuminating red fibre optics in the door-opening mechanism as the doors were opened;
• Multi-collision brake: after a collision, multi-collision brake provided ‘controlled application of the brakes’ to reduce vehicle speed and reduce both the likelihood and severity of subsequent collisions; and,
• Attention assist: monitored driver behaviour and issued a warning if the driver was assessed to be ‘inattentive’.

The Audi F5 A5 Coupe also had an ‘active bonnet’ which deployed pyrotechnic charges in the event of a pedestrian collision to raise the height of the bonnet and locks to secure it to provide clearance over ‘hard points’ in the engine bay. In doing so, the likely severity of the pedestrian’s impact was reduced.

Assistance package tour

As an extra-cost option, the Audi F5 A5 Coupe could be specified with the ‘Assistance package tour’ which included:

• Audi active lane assist: used the front camera to detect lane markings at speeds of 65 km/h and above. If the Audi A5 approached a lane marking without the driver having previously indicated, the electromechanical steering could provide an adjustment to bring the vehicle back into its lane. Using the MMI system, the driver could determine whether this system should be activated at all times or only before the lane marking is crossed. As an option, the driver could choose to have steering wheel vibrations as a warning signal;
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): using two front radar sensors and the camera, ACC can maintain a specified distance – from five distances – between the A5 and the vehicle ahead. Furthermore, ‘Audi drive select’ can be used to adjust the rate of acceleration and other control dynamics;
• Stop&Go function: an extension of the ACC and limited to models with automatic transmissions, ‘Stop&Go’ operated at speeds of 60 km/h to apply the brakes and bring the vehicle to rest. Once traffic began moving, the Audi A5 would automatically accelerate;
• Turning assist: active at speeds from 2 km/h to 10 km/h, ‘turning assist’ operated once the driver activates the right-hand turn signal (for RHD vehicles) and could monitor oncoming traffic. In hazardous situations, the brakes could be applied to bring the vehicle to rest;
• Audi pre sense front: an extension of ‘Audi pre sense city’, pre sense front operated at speeds up to 250 km/h and could prevent front-to-rear collisions or reduce their severity. In hazardous situations, the driver would receive warnings visual and acoustic warnings to apply the brakes, followed by a brief application of the brakes for a jolting effect to alert the driver. If the driver failed to respond, the A5 Coupe would decelerate to the greatest possible extent if the vehicle ahead of it is still moving;
• Collision avoidance assist: activated when the A5 Coupe needed to avoid an obstacle to avert a collision. Using data from the front camera, the ACC and radar sensors, ‘avoidance assist’ could calculate the distance of the car ahead, its width and degree of offset. The brakes would be briefly applied to alert the driver of the potential danger and, once the driver started steering, the system would provide ‘support with the necessary lane changes with controlled interventions to the power steering’; and,
• High beam assist: automatically switched between low and high beam headlights for improved visibility, using a sensor to determine when it was safe to do so (i.e. without dazzling other drivers).

Euro NCAP testing

The Audi B9 A4 and Audi F5 A5 Coupe were based on the same platform and shared much of the same structure for occupant protection. Since the Audi A5 Coupe, however, had two doors, additional tests were performed by Euro NCAP testing to confirm that the Audi B9 A4’s results were applicable to the F5 A5 Coupe. As such, the F5 A5 Coupe received a five star safety rating which included an 89 per cent adult occupant protection rating, an 87 per cent child occupant protection rating and a 75 per cent ‘safety assist’ rating. In the frontal offset test, protection of the driver’s head, thighs and feet were rated as good, though lower leg protection was rated as adequate (a slight risk of serious injury) and chest protection as marginal (a moderate risk of serious injury). Maximum points were awarded in the side impact test; in the more severe pole test, however, chest protection was rated as marginal.

Features: Audi F5 A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI quattro

Standard features for the Audi F5 A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI quattro included 8.5J x 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/40 R18 tyres, a 180 watt sound system which had ten speakers, a subwoofer and six-channel amplifier, digital radio tuner (DAB+), MMI navigation plus which included a seven-inch high-resolution colour display with 3D maps, integrated voice control, live traffic updates, a CD/DVD player, two SDXC card readers and 10 GB flash memory for media storage, ‘Audi connect’ (in-car Wi-Fi hotspot), Bluetooth interface with music streaming, ‘Audi music interface’ with two USB inputs and auxiliary input socket, Audi smartphone interface for Apple or Android smartphone integration, contoured front sports seats with power adjustment, leather appointed upholstery, three-zone climate control air conditioning, cruise control with braking, LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather wrapped steering wheel with gearshift paddles, 40:20:40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking with proximity key, push-button start, power adjustable and heated door mirrors with folding function, kerb view function for the passenger side door mirror on reverse, an auto-dimming interior rear view mirror, power windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, map lights, ambient lighting, tyre pressure loss indicator, floor mats, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

As standard, the Audi F5 A5 Coupe was fitted with Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’, a configurable 12.3-inch high-resolution colour display in place of the instrument cluster. The Audi A5 Coupe was also equipped with the ‘Audi parking system plus front and rear’ which consisted of front and rear parking sensors, a rear view camera and visual display.

Features: 2017 Audi F5 A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI quattro

Compared to the A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI and 2.0 TDI quattro, the A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI quattro was further equipped with 8.5J x 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/35 R20 tyres, a driver’s seat memory function and a flat-bottom steering wheel.

Options: Audi F5 A5 Coupe

Extra-cost options for the Audi F5 A5 Coupe included:

• A 755 watt Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D sound, including a 16-channel amplifier and 19 loudspeakers; and,
• Matrix LED headlights which contain twelve LEDs with three reflectors. Using data from the front camera, the control unit switches the LEDs on or off as required, providing 64 different levels of lighting. Using information from the optional MMI Navigation plus system, the direction of the matrix LED headlights could also change before the steering wheel turned.

Specifications

• Specification Guide: Audi F5 A5 Coupe (March 2017)
• Technical Data: Audi F5 A5 Coupe 2.0 TDI quattro (March 2017)
• Technical Data: Audi F5 A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI (March 2017)
• Technical Data: Audi F5 A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI quattro (March 2017)

Related links

• Audi Media: The New Audi A5 and S5 Coupe (June 2016)
• Behind the Wheel: 2017 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Review