The US Will Finally Get Forbidden Fruit In The Form Of The Audi S5 Sportback

Audi finally gives the US what we have been begging for.

The 2018 Audi A5 and S5 Sportback were not new reveals at the LA Auto Show. Audi revealed the new Sportback at the Paris Motor Show, but we were still left on the edge of our seats waiting for it to be confirmed for the US market. Today we finally know that the Sportback will indeed make it to the US market in spring 2017. The Sportback was on our list of cars that we desperately want in the US, so now that list just became a little shorter. Pricing has not been announced, but we expect it to slot between the Coupe and Cabriolet.

Like these models, the A5 Sportback will come with a new version of Audi's 2.0-liter engine, now with 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch helping to get the car to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The S5 comes with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. In the reverse of the previous generation, the S5 now comes with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic which gets it to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. We would honestly be happy with either engine, although we still wish that a manual was available anywhere in the A4/A5 line. Still, we have to be happy that Audi finally listened to our pleas for the Sportback.

We already like the idea of the four-door coupe, but the idea is made so much better when the car is also a hatchback. Audi did this with the A7, which had all of the practicality of a hatchback, but looks that American consumers actually wanted. The A5 and S5 Sportback have double the cargo space of their coupe counterparts, and that is what makes them so great. You get almost all of the great looks of the standard Coupe, and more cargo room than even the A4. More manufacturers need to find a way to build great looking cars that are technically hatchback in disguise. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, which is similar to the Sportback, now has some competition.

Audi S6 Avant Spied Looking Like Forbidden German Fruit

At least the US will probably get the sedan.

Audi has already shown off the 2019 A6 Sedan and Avant, which are both powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 340 horsepower. A more powerful S6 is on the way, which will bridge the gap between the base A6, and the more hardcore RS6. We've spotted the S6 Sedan testing, but now we've had the chance to see the S6 Avant running laps on the Nurburgring in Germany. The Avant will likely be mechanically identical to the Sedan, but will obviously offer greater practicality and an added cool factor with its wagon body style.

The US has always had a bad track record with receiving Audi RS cars, especially wagons. The next generation RS6 could be a surprise import to the US, but we doubt that the lesser S6 Avant would also be brought over. The S6 is expected to utilize a smaller 2.9-liter V6 with two turbochargers. Audi uses this same engine in the RS5, where it produces 444 hp. This engine is also found in the Porsche Panamera 4S, where it delivers 440 hp. The current S6 uses a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, which pumps out 450 hp. We expect that Audi will at least match the old car's output, and possibly outdo the BMW M550i's 456 hp figure.

The new S6 should be an incredibly quick car, but we doubt the twin-turbo V6 will sound as good as the 4.0-liter V8. We can also hope and pray that the US receives either the S6 or RS6 Avant, though we know not to get our hopes up.

The US Will Finally Get Forbidden Fruit In The Form Of The Audi S5 Sportback

Audi finally gives the US what we have been begging for.

The 2018 Audi A5 and S5 Sportback were not new reveals at the LA Auto Show. Audi revealed the new Sportback at the Paris Motor Show, but we were still left on the edge of our seats waiting for it to be confirmed for the US market. Today we finally know that the Sportback will indeed make it to the US market in spring 2017. The Sportback was on our list of cars that we desperately want in the US, so now that list just became a little shorter. Pricing has not been announced, but we expect it to slot between the Coupe and Cabriolet.

Like these models, the A5 Sportback will come with a new version of Audi's 2.0-liter engine, now with 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch helping to get the car to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The S5 comes with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. In the reverse of the previous generation, the S5 now comes with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic which gets it to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. We would honestly be happy with either engine, although we still wish that a manual was available anywhere in the A4/A5 line. Still, we have to be happy that Audi finally listened to our pleas for the Sportback.

We already like the idea of the four-door coupe, but the idea is made so much better when the car is also a hatchback. Audi did this with the A7, which had all of the practicality of a hatchback, but looks that American consumers actually wanted. The A5 and S5 Sportback have double the cargo space of their coupe counterparts, and that is what makes them so great. You get almost all of the great looks of the standard Coupe, and more cargo room than even the A4. More manufacturers need to find a way to build great looking cars that are technically hatchback in disguise. The BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, which is similar to the Sportback, now has some competition.