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Audi S5 Cabrio Michelle Edition by MTM
 
The Audi S5 is another one of those German sports coupes that comes straight from the factory with some fantastic looking bodywork. This time the tuning house MTM has worked their magic on the drop top machine in order to create this special S5 Cabrio Michelle Edition that upgrades every aspect of the four ring convertible sports coupe; including the engine management, suspension and brakes. The MTM S5 features a black and red paint scheme, complete with a Porsche Carrera like "Michelle Edition" stripe running down the side of the Cabrio.  The MTM S5 Cabrio Michelle Edition rides on a set of their signature color matched 9 spoke Bimoto rims sized 21 inches in diameter by 10.5 inches wide wrapped in sticky 295/25 Michelin rubber. The MTM tuned ride also features a handmade high performance free flowing exhaust system and a set of upgraded Brembo 8 piston brake calipers. Thanks to MTM’s the new M-Cantronic and V-Cantronic units, the 3.0 Liter TFSI V6 engine pumps out a total of 430 HP and 380 lb-ft of torque, up from the factory rating of 333 HP, while the S5’s top speed goes all the way up to 178 MPH. 2010 Audi S5 Sportback
After revealing the A5 Sportback back in July, Audi comes today with details on its hotter brother the S5 version. It will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales to begin in the spring of 2010 at a base price of 57,900 euros.  The S5 Sportback is powered by a 3,0 liter V6 engine that delivers 333 hp and a peak torque of 324.53 lb.-ft. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds and can hit a top speed limited to 155 mph, all this with an average fuel consumption of 24.25 mpg.  The sportier version of the A5 Sportback comes with a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive are standard equipment, sport differential, 18-inch aluminum wheels and electrically adjustable S sports seats covered with Silk Nappa leather on the interior. Press release after the jump. Full story
2010 Audi S4 and A5/S5 Cabriolet prices announced
Audi today announced prices for the 2010 S4 and A5/S5 Convertible models. The S models will go on sale in August, followed by a fall debut for the A5 Convertible. The S4 sedan is priced at $45,900 for the manual version and at $47,300 for the S tronic one. The A5 Cabriolet 2.0T multitronic front-wheel drive is priced at $42,000, the A5 Cabriolet 2.0T Tiptronic quattro at $44,100 and the S5 at $58,250.  The 2010 S4 is powered by a 3.0T V6 FSI direct injection supercharged engine with 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. All the models will be offered with: 3G MMI (Multi Media Interface) with 3D map graphics and SIRIUS traffic displays the latest evolution of 3D navigation, joystick control for navigation map destination finding, updated graphical clarity, SIRIUS® artist/title preview, and SIRIUS traffic-based navigation. The S4 sedan features voice-based destination input control, and voice inputs such as “I’m hungry,” “I need gas” and “I need coffee”. Press release after the jump. Full story Audi is focusing on saving weight
 There has been a lot of talk about high performance European automakers coming up with new solutions in order to meet the continent’s emissions requirements for 2012. Manufacturers like Ferrari and Lamborghini have their own ways of cutting C02 output with experimental hybrid propulsion systems. Continued after the jump. Full story
Special edition Audi S5 for Japan
Good news for German car collectors in the land of the rising sun. Audi of Japan has just announced that they will be releasing a series of extremely limited production special edition S5s exclusively for that market. There will be three different versions of the S5 Exclusive, and only 5 of each, priced at around $96,500. The S5 Exclusive differentiates itself from ordinary Audi Sport coupes with a set of BBS mesh style 19 inch alloys wrapped in sticky 255/35 series rubber. The limited edition Audis will also feature unique color combinations. The wild purple paint looks like it was taken directly from a Mopar muscle car of the 1960s, and the chocolate leather interior of the pearl white model is enough to make Porsche jealous. All 15 of these Exclusive examples of Audi craftsmanship are destined to become collector’s items as soon as they hit showroom floors. However we are still waiting for another special edition of the A5, the return of the Ur Quattro. If Audi ever decides to add the extra performance of the rally inspired car with the unique styling of the Exclusive, it would give BMW 6 Series owners something to watch out for. 2014 Audi S4 and S5 - lighter and using turbo engines
 We already knew that Audi was moving the S4 and the S5 from V8 engines to smaller, lighter turbo V6 units. But now Car and Driver is reporting that the V6s are just a stairstep on the way to reducing the cylinders by half. This does make sense. Audis have become a little portly in their pursuits for horsepower. For example, the 2010 S5 Cabriolet weighs in at 4300, which is about as much as a Ford Explorer. Audi acknowledges that this weight disadvantage could really hurt it in the future, and is now taking great steps to fix it. When the new S4/S5 appears in 2014, it will incorporate more aluminum, magnesium, and high-strength steel for weight reduction. It will also switch to turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The result will be a car that has 20 percent less weight and up to 30 percent less engine displacement. While we’re usually not fan of smaller engines, Audi does seem to have a good guide to follow. The current TT lineup doesn’t have to cross into six-cylinder territory to get 340 hp with the TT RS.
Audi goes cylinder lobbing: S5 to drop V8, S6 to drop V10
The Audi S5 has been on the market for a little more than a year, and Audi is already hunting down a few cylinders. Inside Line has obtained info that says Audi is downsizing its engine from a 4.2-liter V8 to the S4’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6. While the 333 hp V6 represents a 21 hp drop, the expected thirty percent improvement in fuel economy and lighter weight should easily make amends. But Audi is not finished choppin’ cylinders. Rumors are also circulating that that the S6 and S8 super sedans will drop from a V10 to a twin-turbo 4.2 liter V8. When all the bloodshed is over this should leave the R8 as the only Audi in North America to have versions with more than eight cylinders (the RS6 is not currently sold in here.) The twin-turbo V10 and diesel V12 are still scheduled to become a part of the R8’s lineup.
Audi S5 spy shots
Audi will unveil the S5 next year to keep in line with the changes made to the A4. Because this is a German performance sedan, it is being put through the paces at the Nurburgring before public consumption. The 2010 S5 will receive subtle revisions over the current car. The biggest change is under the hood: the new S5 gets Audi’s new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine in place of the current model’s 4.2-liter V8. The RS5 coming in 2010 will also get a V8 engine. The new S5 will also feature the option of a seven-speed twin-clutch DSG transmission and the latest iteration of Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system. The 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made under 5 seconds, while top speed will be limited to 155 mph.
Audi A5/S5 by Caractere
Caractere, the famous Belgian tuner, unveiled today its new body styling equipment for the new Audi A5 and S5. The new kit consists in a front bumper especially designed for the vehicles with original fog lights, a new front grill and a rear spoiler and integrated rear air diffuser,  with or without exhaust tips on the left and on the right side, a new boot spoiler but also a new set of 19 or 20” alloy wheels having the well-known Caractere design. No words about the price yet! Also check, Audi A4 Avant by Caractere!
STaSIS Signature Series S5 based on the Audi S5
STaSIS may not yet be a household name, but with more cars like these, that may change. Based on the Audi S5, the Signature Series S5 comes in two levels of trim called Touring or Challenge Edition. The Touring Edition comes with Ohlins SL dampers, 20 inch STaSIS Monolite RS 147 forged wheels and a T-304 stainless steel exhaust while the Challenge Edition features a 370-mm Alcon Mono6 front brake upgrade, Torsen center differential, anti-roll bar package and an ECU upgrade estimated at an additional 15 hp/20 lbft. Also new Yokohama Advan Sport tires were added.  With the new improvements, the Signature Series S5 sprints from 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds—that’s half a second faster than the "standard” Audi S5. With these kind of numbers, the car is faster than the BMW 650i, Mercedes CLK 550 and the Lexus IS-F. All this performance comes at a price: $9,995 for the Touring Edition and $13,995 for the Challenge Edition - both with the security of a 4-year/50,000 mile warranty.
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