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2018 Audi A5 gets a manual and S5 gets 369 lb-ft of torque

Update: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that the A5 was the only Audi model to offer a manual transmission with the 252-horsepower inline-four. Audi will offer the same combination on the A4 in the near future. The text has been updated to reflect this. When Audi revealed the new A5 and S5 coupes, we knew the elegant lines of the European model would come to the United States. But the big question was, would the drivetrains, and in particular, the manual transmission, come along? The answer is yes. The 2018 A5, with its 252-horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque turbocharged four-cylinder, will be offered in America with both a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and a classic six-speed manual. These combinations will take an A5 to 60 mph in 5.6 or 5.7 seconds, respectively. The A4 sedan will also offer the manual with the same engine soon, in case you need an extra pair of doors. The four-cylinder model is also the only A5 model with a manual, since the turbocharged V6 S5 only comes with an 8-speed automatic. To make up for a lack of shifting involvement, drivers can take advantage of the S5's readily available torque. Like the Euro-spec model, our S5 will come with 369 lb-ft of twist, and it peaks at a stunningly low 1,350 rpm. That torque, combined with the engine's 354 horsepower, launches the S5 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Every type of A5 or S5 also funnels its power through a Quattro all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring. A5 owners can also personalize how their cars ride and handle, with either a sport suspension with different sway bars, shocks, and springs, or with the comfort adaptive damping suspension. The latter uses constantly adjusting electronic shocks for improved ride. The S5 has an available sports adaptive suspension that works similarly, as well as a dynamic steering option that can change steering ratios. Capping things off is an extensive list of gadgets and safety features, some standard, such as the LED interior lighting and panoramic sunroof, and others optional, such as Audi's Virtual Cockpit LCD instrument cluster and lane keeping assist. A new feature for the A5 line is the MMI touch system, which allows drivers to write in characters with their fingers. Something Audi hasn't revealed about the A5 and S5 is the pricing and availability, but those details should come soon. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Audi A5 View 27 Photos Image Credit: Audi LA Auto Show Audi Coupe Luxury Performance quattro audi s5

Audi A4 TDI plans scrapped for the US

It comes as no great surprise, but Audi of America president Scott Keogh told Automotive News that the automaker has ditched plans to offer the 2.0-liter TDI-powered A4 here in the US. Despite what you may be thinking, Keogh claims the decision isn't based on the ongoing talks between parent company Volkswagen and US regulators regarding the diesel emissions scandal. (Currently, Audi and Volkswagen are awaiting EPA certification for their diesel engines in the US.) The reason, he says, is that the demand for diesel sedans is low here, particularly when compared to the company's lineup of crossovers. "The marketplace speaks, we listen to the marketplace, and the marketplace told us, 'Go with SUVs,'" says Keogh, presumably in his usual straightforward, assuring manner. That's not to say, though, that one doesn't have an effect on the other. We've already seen that the scandal has had an impact on sales. Now, in a country where many were already under the assumption that diesel engines were dirty and noisy, it's no revelation that automakers are less than enthusiastic about expanding their grease-burning offerings. While the news is a bit of a bummer for those of us who have long hoped for more widespread diesel options here in the States (and for whom the whole Dieselgate debacle is downright depressing), there's still plenty to look forward to in terms of greener, cleaner Audis. At the A3 E-Tron event late last year, Keogh was bullish on EVs, promising that it was just the first step in a "substantial commitment." Audi's plan is, in Keogh's words, to "start with the plugs, come in with the full BEVs and then keep rolling from there." He repeated these assurances at the LA Auto show, saying that he expects 20 to 25 percent of Audi's sales to be plug-in vehicles by 2025. Plus, despite the whole diesel thing (which, to be fair, affects far fewer Audi cars than Volkswagens), Audi has been killing it lately. February sales marked a streak of 62 consecutive months of record sales in the US. For an automaker that is repeatedly saying that it believes the future is in electrification, this bodes well for us. Related Video:

NHTSA awards Audi A3 and S3 sedans five stars

The Audi A3 and S3 sedans aced the New Car Assessment Program tests run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, each scoring five stars overall. The A3 sedan adds this latest five-star rating to its Top Safety Pick+ award bestowed upon it by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earlier this year, and Audi says it's the only Euro premium luxury compact to do that double. The only place either car dropped a single star was for a male driver in the frontal barrier test and in the rollover test. It's clear from the lengthening list of top marks – and its list of safety technology – that it's among the safest sedans you can buy. Featured Gallery 2015 Audi A3: Review View 36 Photos News Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [1], [2] via Audi World Government/Legal Audi Safety Sedan crash test audi s3