Where smooth, fast and beautiful come together

Ok, so I’ll start this review with the conclusion first: The all-new Audi S5 is far and away the most enjoyable car I’ve driven so far this year. It’s a perfect balance of gorgeous exterior styling, the best looking interior in the business, under-the-hood power and butter-smooth all-wheel-drive handling.

Until now, the only coupe Audi offered was the TT. The A5 is aimed directly at the BMW 3-Series and 6-Series coupes and Mercedes-Benz CLK and CL. The A5 seats four adults, but those relegated to the back seat will not be comfortable if they are any taller than 5-foot-5.

Our test car, a Brilliant Red S5 with black silk Nappa leather seating and brushed aluminum trim, turned heads everywhere we drove. We couldn’t tell if it was the visually striking design or the terrific rich burble from the quad exhaust pipes. The performance version of the A5, the S5, with a starting price of $50,500, has been on sale since November 2007. The 265-horsepower V-6 A5 arrived at dealer showrooms in February with a base price of $39,900.

Outside, the S5 features the signature Audi trapezoidal grille with a distinctive S5 badge. The sheet metal is taut with a flexed muscular look. The roofline rakes back to a short rear deck with an integrated spoiler and a repeat of the S5 badge. Quad exhaust pipes and an aluminum optic rear diffuser finish the look. The S5 rides on aggressive 19-inch wheels with 35-series tires.

Inside, the interior is what we’ve come to expect from Audi: superb materials with fit and finish to match. Similar to the larger A6, a large dome over the steering column houses the speedometer and tachometer gauges. The optional navigation and information screen sits mid-center stack and is controlled by Audi’s Multi-Media Interface system (MMI).

Standard on our S5 was an oversized panoramic sunroof that tilts up but, oddly, doesn’t slide open. Nor does it have a retractable shade to keep the hot Arizona sun out in summer.

Our tester was equipped with the optional $850 505-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system. Believe me, it’s worth every penny. Other options included the navigation system and a technology package with rear backup camera, adaptive headlamps and advanced ignition key.

Most vehicle functions are controlled via the MMI’s central control knob just behind the manual gearshift. It isn’t our favorite way to operate things, but it’s much less confusing than BMW’s iDrive.

It’s hard to describe just how comfortable and enjoyable the S5 is to drive. A wide range of seating positions available via electronic adjustment, plus power tilt nad telescoping steering wheel renders it unimaginable that any driver couldn’t find a comfortable position. There was ample room for my 6-foot-6 frame.

Powered by Audi’s 4.2-liter 354-horsepower V-8, our S5 covered zero to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. I estimated the quarter-mile in a very quick 13.2 seconds. That might not be as quick as competitor BMW M3, but flat out speed isn’t the only category one needs to consider. BMW has an impossible mission in trying to match the S5 in overall appearance, ride and handling quality and sheer driving pleasure.

Safety gear includes six standard airbags, four-wheel disc antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability control. The S5 has not been crash tested.

While the price will keep the S5 from being a common sight on the roadways, this latest offering from Audi is nothing short of superb. This is one sweet ride.

 

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