Ladies and gentle folk, welcome to the same sausage, different model year approach to automotive design. The car in question here is the all-new Audi A5 Coupe; and like its new A4 Sedan sibling, progress has been rather subtle, if almost continental drift-like.

Now, far from bashing Audi for not stepping away from the norm, it’s a formula that works for the German luxury carmaker – buyers like the reserved, yet beautifully refined nature. And to be honest, I do too….

Familiar Germanic Styling:

When the out-going A5 coupe was revealed, it was regarded as a breath of fresh air for Audi; until that point, it never had a true rival to BMW’s 3-Series Coupe.

Unfortunately for 2017, the A5 loses that uniqueness by following in the new A4’s footsteps, but it’s not all that bad. Inspired by the Audi Prologue Concept, the grille is wider compared to its sister car, giving it a much bolder front-end graphic. Subtle changes to the lower air intakes see them appear narrower, yet more angular.

Fenders and hood are more curvaceous, with character lines sweeping up over the wheel arches before intersecting with the taillights. The DLO (daylight opening area) is very similar to the out-going coupe, while the side sheetmetal is broader and athletic.

An Upscale Cabin:

Mirroring its sister car, the A5 will gain a much more upscale interior with many aspects improved for better packaging, ergonomics, comfort and convenience.

Cue a sportier steering wheel, wireless phone charging, repositioned MMI controller and corresponding 8.3-inch MMI interface with LTE and smartphone integration. Audiophiles will be catered for with a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system.

What Will Power It:

Motivating the A5 Coupe will be a range of powerful four and six-cylinder engines; 2.0-liter TFSI, 2.0-liter TDI and 3.0-liter V6 TDI. These units will be offered with varying power levels targeted for both performance and fuel economy-minded buyers. Later on, we’ll get the more potent S5 and RS5 models with supercharged V6 and turbocharged V8 engines respectively.

Getting power to the tarmac will be done through a six-speed manual, a 7-speed S tronic, or 8-speed tiptronic gearbox with front wheel drive and Quattro options, depending on the trim.

Market Positioning:

The A5 sits within an exclusive segment of middle-meddling luxury coupes. It trades brand snobbery with foes such as the BMW 4 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, Lexus RC and Cadillac ATS Coupe.

BMW is the one to beat for handling dynamics, whilst the others stand out in their own right with alluring styling (Cue the ATS and RC) and luxurious appeal. Can Audi beat BMW at its own game? Well the ingredients are there; a lighter body, sharper handling and improved performance – we’ll officially see what Audi brings to the table in early 2016.

Tell us what you think of the all-new A5 Coupe in the discussion area below.

By Josh Byrnes

Photo Renderings Copyright Carscoops / Josh Byrnes

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