If we had to pick our favorite Audi, excluding the RS models of course, the S5 would be at the top of our list. It’s sporty, luxurious, elegant, and Audi has provided it with a special edition. Only 125 units of this special edition S5 will be built with prices starting at $68,700 for the S5 4.2 Special Edition (quattro manual) and $69,900 for the S5 4.2 Special Edition (quattro tiptronic).
The Audi S5 Special Edition will be offered with the Prestige package, quattro with sports rear differential, and a list of exclusive equipment, some borrowed directly from the RS5. The car is painted in a very cool Daytona Gray pearl effect exterior paint and then combined with 19" Titanium wheels with 255/35 summer tires. The interior combines Bi-color Polar Silver / Black S sport seats with Silver contrast stitching featured in the seats, armrests, shifter, and steering wheel. From the RS5, the Audi S5 Special Edition borrows the carbon fiber inlays with Piano Black instrument cluster surround and the floor mats with silver leather surround.
After first seeing patent drawings of the upcoming Audi RS5 Convertible, the car has finally been caught testing around the Nürburgring race track. The spy images reveal a bigger front spoiler,bigger brakes and wider fenders. At the back, however, it’s still S5 business as usual, with narrower rear fenders and S-type quad exhaust pipes. The model will also get new LED lights, a larger diffuser, and a rear spoiler that extends automatically at 74.56 mph.
As with the coupe version, the convertible version will use a standard 4.2 liter V8 engine with a total of 450 HP at 8,250 rpm and a peak torque of 317.15 lb-ft available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph will be made in 4.6 seconds, while top speed will be limited to 155 mph. The top speed can be increased to more than 170 mph upon request.
Audi hasn’t exactly been skywriting the future of the RS5 model, but a couple of years ago when plans for the RS5 were getting ironed out, the company had already confirmed a convertible variant for the sports coupe. Well, the debut for the vehicle came and went and no convertible version seemed to be in sight. Until now. Audi has applied trademarks for a RS5 Convertible and has also released patent drawings for the vehicle.
The images reveal the same design language found on the recently launched facelift RS5 and will have the same electrically operated fabric top as the A5 and S5 convertibles. Under the hood, the convertible will get the same 4.2 liter V8 engine as the coupe version with an output of 450 HP and a peak torque of 317.15 lb-ft available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. The engine will be combined with Audi’s seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel drive system.
Since the patent drawings have already been released, expect a production model for the Audi RS5 Convertible to be launched fairly quickly. Watch out, BMW M3 Convertible, Audi’s coming after you!
Main image is our rendering of the Audi RS5 Convertible. Check out the patent drawing in the gallery!
UPDATE 10/11/2011: The upcoming Audi RS5 Cabrio has been caught testing at the Nurburgring test track. The model features a bigger front spoiler, bigger brakes, and wider fenders. Enjoy!
The 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show brought out plenty of tuning upgrades to quench our thirst for the new and improved. Among those projects is Senner Tuning’s take on Audi’s refreshed sports coupe, the S5 Coupe.
The Audi S5 by Senner Tuning comes bearing 445 HP under the hood, getting customers very close to the most powerful model in the A5 line-up: the RS5 (450 HP). That’s an amazing increase over the car’s standard 333 HP. For the 3.0-liter TFSI’s engine upgrade, the tuner has combined software optimization with a new exhaust system and an enlarged pipe diameter.
With that kind of power hidden under the hood, who needs exterior modifications, right? Senner Tuning hasn’t completely ignored the sports coupe’s look, donning the exterior with a matte black glitter finish with bright borders and a new set of 20" wheels painted in Diamante Black Polish. The sultry, sparkly look gets magnified by a height adjustment of 40mm on the front axle and 35mm on the rear axle. The interior is only briefly ignored, with the addition of carbon fiber insertions.
After being introduced into the market back in 2007, the Audi A5 line-up is entering the 2012 model year with new, advanced technologies and an updated design. These type of mid-cycle refreshes are to be expected, but the one modified feature that brought some minor confusion to the automotive world is the downgraded engine found under the hood.
The previous Audi S5 came packing a 4.2 liter V8 engine that cranked out 354 HP, but the 2012 model will only get a supercharged 3.0 liter TFSI engine with a total output of 333 HP. This may leave a few people shaking their heads, but greener is leaner and this new engine will provide an improved fuel consumption of about 20% (getting it to 29.04 US mpg). If the environmental aspect isn’t enough, then rest assured that the 2012 Audi S5 Convertible will still deliver impressive performance numbers.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Audi S5 Convertible.
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