AF Site Team

Here she is, the refreshed 2012 Audi A5. And while we've always been quite fond of the current model's styling, the subtle touches to the front and rear fascias of the new car make it look even more elegant than ever before. As for the S5, well, it just looks downright mean now. We approve.

2012 Audi S5The A5's new nose now uses styling cues found elsewhere in the Audi lineup, specifically, the new-for-2012 A6. Unlike the A6, however, the A5 and S5 do not get Audi's adaptive LED lighting treatment, instead relying on an attractive wraparound LED running lamp combined with a standard projector-beam xenon unit. Out back, the taillamps are only slightly different than the ones found on the current car, save for a larger, thicker running lamp right through the center of the light cluster.

Powertrain options don't change much for 2012, with the A5 coming standard with Audi's turbocharged 2.0-litre, 211-horsepower inline-four. The big news for the new car, however, is that the S5 Coupe will no longer be available with the excellent, free-flowing 4.2-litre V8 – the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 is the only powerplant available. In the S5, it carries over unchanged, rated at 333 hp, though a new, 272-hp version of the 3.0-litre engine will be offered up in the A5, as well.

Look for the refreshed A5 and S5 to go on sale later this year, with prices only expected to increase very slightly.

AF Site Team

Regina_TTS

What's amazing about this is how it seems that all of the media has the model year wrong. The facelift (or refresh) is happening for 2013, not 2012.

From what I have read so far, people are confusing the fact that this is news about the 2012 A5/S5, but that the A5/S5 won't actually be updated until the 2013 model year. (Does that make more sense Saki?)

sakimano

no 4.2 = boo

the S5 4.2 has forged internals and can handle a good chunk more power than the B6/7 S4 4.2 . A JHM supercharger on an S5 4.2 would be fantastic...good for a comofortable 450 WHP/400 WTQ. So I guess the 2008-2012 S5 will hold it's value nicely now.

The bit about fuel efficiency is a frigging joke. REAL WORLD the B8 S4 3.0T averages about 19 mpg...while the S5 4.2 FSI averages about 18 mpg. The difference is nominal. Certainly NOTHING like the 20% they keep claiming.

All in all a little disappointing to see one less V8 option for the fun Audis. You'll need to get an RS5 4.2 FSI...which will be about $80,000...or an S6 4.0 TFSI (which will be about $90,000.

Regina_TTS

Yeah, yeah...I edited to make a better attempt to explain myself above.

Who's to say there will be a new chassis for 2014 for the A5/S5? Based on the success of the current design, why not extend it a little longer? Granted the TT stands quite a bit apart from the rest of the line up, have a look at it's chassis life cycle.

New A6 should be here shortly. It's at rail yard in town waiting to have the launch car "port hold" released. I just need those guys at Stasis to hurry up with software and exhaust! Then a guy won't need an S6...yet.

prdtmgr

Europe gets the facelift as a model year 2012 and will start production this year. North America will not get it until model year 2013 with production starting next year.

This is the same as what happened when the B8 A4 came out. Europe started with a 2008 model while North America didn't get the new model until the 2009 model year.

Regina_TTS

Now that makes perfect sense. Thanks for enlightening us!