The S5 model went on sale in November 2007, equipped only with a manual transmission, while the A5 and the Tiptronic went on sale beginning of spring 2008. Both included either a six-speed manual or six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. models included the A5 3.2 FSI Quattro and the S5 coupé 4.2 FSI Quattro. Launch models included 3.2 FSI V6 engine multitronic and 3.0 TDI quattro 6-speed, with 1.8 TFSI available in autumn 2007.Įarly U.S. Ordering of the A5 and S5 began on Maand the first deliveries were made in June 2007. The A5 and the S5 Coupé were unveiled simultaneously at the Salon International de l'Auto ( Geneva) and Melbourne International Motor Shows on March 6, 2007. The design was based on the Nuvolari quattro concept car. The A5 debuted with the 3.2 litre FSI V6 engine delivering 195 kW (265 PS 261 hp). The A5 adopted design elements of the Nuvolari quattro concept car. The A5 is the third coupé in Audi's line up, following the second generation TT and the R8. The A5 was the first of the B8 family of vehicles to be released (the others being the A4 and the Q5 crossover SUV), all based on the Audi MLP platform (Modular Longitudinal Platform) which underpin the next generation A6 and A8. For the fourth-generation A4 (B8), Audi decided to spin off the cabriolet, along with a new coupé and 4-door fastback sedan, into a nameplate of its own as the A5. The B6/B7 A4 spawned a convertible variant but not a coupé. On May 10, 2006, Audi confirmed that the A5 would go into production. When presented at the March 2007 Geneva Motor Show, the A5 marked Audi's return to the compact executive coupé market since the (B3/B4) Audi 80 based coupé model ended production in 1996.