In just a few months, Audi’s A5 coupe will hit the market in the United States – the more powerful S5 sibling already here. First of the cars to be based on the new B8 chassis, it will be followed next fall by the next-generation A4. Those watching the new Audi offerings with interest have probably noted a distinct lack of 4-cylinder carryover. Of course there’s the FSI 4.2-liter V8 in the S5 and the A5/A4 ranges have been confirmed to have the 3.2l V6 FSI with valvelift, but those on a budget or looking for even more efficiency in the North American range are already asking for something to slot below the 3.2. Audi knows this demand is there, with several executives confirming that an all-new 2.0T-FSI is on the way. That in mind, Fourtitude recently had a chance to sample prototype versions of the A5 with experimental versions of the all-new engine.

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Quote, originally posted by Slalom »

new 2.0T E85

Agreed. Also, it looks pretty drab as a non-S5; almost like an Accord or Solara. The interior looks great though. I also hate how long it takes Audi and VW to get the new models to the US. Too bad.

It's all in the wheels. There are no differences in the body between that and other A5 (non S-lines) in the line. Those are just a really basic European wheel offering and I highly doubt we'll see anything that drab for the USA. AoA knows boring wheels don't play here.

You can't appreciate how good the S5 looks until you see it in person. I'm thinking the lesser engine A5's will look good as well.

And there's always that segment of the market that doesn't care about how big the rims & tires are.

Go check the prices on a set of new 19 inch summer tires. Not everybody wants to spend 1200 every 15k miles on new tires.

I really like the A5 wheels coming on US cars. The 18 inch wheel looks great, IMO.

That's why our focus on driving this car was more on it being the new EA 888 2.0T with valvelift than it being E85. An Audi engineer I spoke to said it was really just a matter of programming, optimizing the engine for that fuel, but that they weren't really planning on putting it into production. Knowing that, we focused on this being an A5 2.0T FrontTrak with an engine no one else has reviewed yet in a slightly less than expected ECU tune.

Interestingly, that same engineer said that things like regenerative braking (in the other car) are much more likely... planned even... for production. I just don't know yet if that will be further out or as soon as the new 2.0T with valvelift goes on sale.

I think a lower priced Quattro, even in manual form only would be nice.

This 2.0t looks interesting, but I'm wondering why the aftermarket tuners can pull more torque and hp from an old 1.8t? They can also pull more from the older 2.0t. Are we getting mostly an improved fuel mileage number(which is good)?

The front wheel drive should just be dropped all together from the Audi line. Audi should mean "quattro" to everyone. The 2.0t even in stock form is hard to drive fast in a FWD with auto or s-tronic, even in manual sometimes.

I'm already saving for my next car which might actually be available in the US ! I want the 2009 or 2010 A4 Avant 3.0TDI quattro manual transmission (S-line possible) Red with black interior please

If guns cause crime, mine must be defective...

If guns cause crime, mine must be defective...

I would sell every A5 2.0T in FWD that we could take, LA is a huge front track market, Quattro is overkill in LA when all we do is sit in traffic on the freeway most the time.

Usually yes. This was an exhibition to journalists though, so I suppose it made them easier to identify.

Isn't regenerative braking only usefull in a car that has a way to store the energy, and then a way to put it back to the ground? I've only seen this done in electric or air pressure powered vehicles. How would you store and then use the power for an internal combustion vehicle?

If guns cause crime, mine must be defective...

I'm sure there are plenty of current A4 2.0T owners that would jump on an A5 2.0T frontrak.

Any word on the price range?

None yet. If the S5 is a model, then slightly higher than A4 2.0T Front Trak.

I asked Audi last year if they could deliver a model with a smaller (European) engine using the overseas delivery program. They said it would be a long complex process to certify an engine for export to US (so no). I wonder if that's really the case but I've heard it before.
Either way if Audi finally starts shipping models with smaller engines would be really great .

One example why I think smaller engine is just fine for most of us: Audi A5 1.8T. 10K euro less in Europe and combined mileage of 33MPG (that beats pretty much all mid-size US cars). It's still fast enough in my opinion: 8.4s from 0-60miles.

But here hoping for a 2.0T with a 6MT, Front Trak or Quattro, doesn't matter. I just want the transmission that should of been offered with the TT.

New York probably makes the most sense. Those engines won't hit until next model year in Aug/Sept timeframe, so the NY show is the closest timewise even though it's in late March.