If you look up 'diversity' in the dictionary we are sure there will be a picture of the Audi engineering plant. Mere days after announcing its
new bi-turbo TDI powerplants the Ingolstadt giant has moved in the opposite direction with a new TDIe unit that can return up to 64.2mpg.
The new 2.0-litre diesel unit comes in 136- and 163hp outputs and both options are available in the A5 Sportback - with the higher output variant offered in the Coupé. Whatever the combination sub 10-second 0-62mph times are promised as too are CO
2 emissions of as little as 115g/km.
Improvements to the turbine geometry and flywheel make for increased engine response at low revs allowing for earlier up-shifts with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and more efficient driving.
Also new to the Audi A5 range is the SE Technik specification that was first seen in the A4. Costing £1,000 on top of the SE model for the Sportback - or £500 on top of the SE - for the Coupé, it adds DVD satellite navigation, Audi Music Interface (AMI) iPod connection, the Audi Parking Plus system with front and rear sensors and cruise control to the equipment list.
TDIe powered Audi A5s are on sale now with 136- and 163hp versions of the Sportback available from £27,320 and £27,825 respectively while the 163hp A5 Coupé starts at £28,775.
Paul Healy - 3 Feb 2012