What's special about it?Audi has been talking about building a coupe above the TT for years, and it's finally going to happen this fall when the 2008 Audi A5 arrives at U.S. dealerships. At just over 182 inches from nose to tail, the A5 is 18 inches longer than the redesigned TT coupe and 7 inches shorter than a BMW 6 Series. It's almost exactly the same length as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLK coupes — likely its closest rivals.If you're looking to trace the Audi A5's genealogy within the Audi lineup, good luck. Although this sleek-bodied coupe looks a lot like the Nuvolari concept, which had a scaled-down version of the A8's aluminum space frame, Audi says the production car has an all-new chassis design that will underpin several future models. Compared to current Audis, the A5's front axle is pushed farther forward. Not only does this setup make it easier for Audi to meet European pedestrian-safety standards, it allowed engineers to mount the coupe's north-south engine over the front-axle center line for better weight distribution. Earlier this year, Johan De Nysschen, head of Audi in the U.S., told us the standard engine would be the company's 4.2-liter, direct-injection V8. However, Audi now says the V8 will go straight into the high-performance S5, leaving a 3.2-liter FSI V6 to motivate the standard A5 coupe. European-spec A5s will also get a budget four-cylinder and a pair of diesel sixes.Equipped with variable valve lift, the 3.2-liter V6 is capable of 262 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. Both a six-speed manual and a CVT (continuously variable transmission) will be available, as will front-wheel-drive and Quattro all-wheel-drive configurations, though we wouldn't be surprised if Audi makes Quattro standard on U.S.-bound A5s. Equipped with Quattro and the manual gearbox, the A5 will hit 60 in about 6 seconds according to Audi. Suspension bits are mostly aluminum and consist of an all-new five-link design in front that locates its upper and lower wishbones on a subframe bolted to the body for greater rigidity, and a trapezoidal-link arrangement in back. The latter design is already used on other Audi models, but the company revised the geometry for the A5. Engineers also positioned the steering box forward of the front axle, which enhances direct feel, according to Audi. Seventeen-inch wheels are standard, and 18s will be available through an S-line sport package.Inside, the Audi A5 has a slick blend of A4 and A6 styling cues, and the Multi Media Interface (MMI) all-in-one control system is standard. One change you'll see on Audi's luxury coupe is a wider variety of interior customization options. The company will offer multiple grades and hues of cloth and leather upholstery, and allow customers to mix them with five different wood and metal inlays. Bespoke interior fitments will also be possible.Available factory options on the A5 include a panoramic glass roof, keyless startup, triple-zone climate control, a rearview camera and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
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