The Audi S5 got a refresh recently, we take one out on a date and remember why this is one of our favorite Audis.
Photos: Low Fai Ming
The new Audi S5 has got a lot going for it. For one, it was already a winner from the start. Audi did the right thing by not tweaking too much for this face-lift. It's still got the svelte lines that even the base A5 is adorned with, it's stylish, very fast and packed with high quality stuff inside and out. A bit like the perfect date - not too hot that you spend the rest of the evening fending off lecherous stares from other guys, but still hot enough to gain the respect of your mates.
Plus it's not all about the looks, the S5 (like your perfect date) is versatile and smart. It can play a wide variety of roles, from highway cruiser to back road bruiser. Powered by a 333 bhp 3.0-litre V6 supercharged power-plant with 440 Nm of torque, this new engine replaces the old characterful 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8.
As you might expect, those figures translate to a very fast Audi S5. Acceleration is very lively, but not as 'angry' as we remember the V8 to be. But the supercharger does brings on the power at a low enough rev range for the car to pick up the pace almost instantaneously. The S5 has a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds, and will go on to hit 250 km/h given the space.
It doesn't end there. Probe your date a little more and it'll reveal even more talents. Throw it into a series of bends and the S5 will just hug onto them for dear life. The throttle is progressive and will allow you to gauge when it's on the brink of reaching its limits. Audi's seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox is as always, a joy to use. Quick and responsive, it makes driving fast easy as you can really tame the S5's power with the accessibility of the engine's performance via the gearbox.
It's not all wine and roses though. The mark of a good sports car is more than a powerful engine. The steering is just as important. Audi's have always struggled in this area. Feeling a tad numb and disconnected, it lacks the feel of a Cayman or even an M3. Even a 335i feels more involving. Audi's Drive Select system will allow you to individualize the steering, throttle and suspension settings, but even then, it's still not sharp enough. Most drivers won't complain though, because the current set-up does the all-rounder job well enough. Look on the bright side, it's light enough for tricky parking situations.
Having fun so far? So after a great night out, what you really want to do is chill and unwind. That is where the Audi S5 excels again. The S5's interior is sleek, superbly-built and every corner is a lesson in cabin quality and desirability. Cruising anywhere in a cabin like that is, well, relaxing actually. Which reiterates the dual-purpose characteristic of this car.
All in all, an excellent sports car we loved since we sampled this engine in the S5 Sportback, the new S5 is no different. Fast, sexy, and safe too - with stability control, Quattro four-wheel drive, and other safety options as standard, the S5 gives you almost no reason to like it. That is until you need to ferry your date's parents. Sadly, the rear seats are rather small, so unless you're dating a Hobbit, you might want to skip meeting the parents till the RS4 is launched.
