Nice perspective there Matt; when it comes to the after-market, customisation-prone contingent, I feel that such modification is done more on the level of personal expression than dissatisfaction with the actual styling of the vehicle concerned. Regardless of how mould-breaking or avant-garde a car might be in standard trim, there's always going to be demand for personalised treatment. Take the 6 series for example; certainly not conservatively styled, I'd wager that many examples in your State are given the same working-over you described.

That's a very funny story Artist... you do realise that deep down you're a bully and a hooligan eh?

^lol yeah ive been told so.. im trying to change..belive me

I appreciate your stance on this topic Sunny - you're definitely part of the majority here with this sentiment. So I can't disagree.

I just find it interesting that, as we've observed the gradual toning down of "Bangle-ization" so too have Mercedes Benz and, more topically, Audi who are clearly gunning for BMW's place in the market. They must've realised that cold and conservative is one thing but being too controversial can also be detrimental to sales. Here Audi have once again gone for the middle of the road approach, which in my mind, is synonymous with so many aspects of Audi's brand / model positioning and marketing.

This A5 is no revelation - despite it's maker claiming the reinvention of the coupe - but it's no dead duck either. It dove-tails perfectly into the current line up without sending mixed messages to the market as to Audi's identity. A Nuvolari-type design would most certainly have introduced an unwelcome level of incongruity in the Audi range - it would look completely out of place imo. There is a clear strategy at Audi to maximise potential sales by not polarising the consumer base with controversial and challenging designs and I identify with this approach wholeheartedly.

On that whole "Audi - Never Follow" theme one could argue that that's exactly the approach that they're taking: straight, down-the-line, middle of the road product positioning.

IMO coupe buyers want more flair than just a 2-door sedan which is bascially what the A5 is. It doesn't have the clean look of most Audis, and the wavy side line clearly isn't Audi-like at all IMO. Luxury/sport coupes like the A5, CLK or 3-Series don't have to scream "look at me" with their design, but they should still be head turning. The 3 coupe just looks a little dull/fat around the mid-section/doors compared the previous model, but other than that seeing it on the road it does a decent amount of flair over the S sedan. Hopefully the A5 will have that too, but I noticed that the car was kinda big and block/boring even in the spy photos. It just doesn't have the "coupe" look to it from some angles, but I'll reserve final judgement until I park next to one and look at it.

M

Precisely Martin.

I understand what you're saying here, but doesn't that get boring? I mean isn't a coupe supposed to show up the sedans in the range a little? I guess I wanted something to produce the same "wow" as the R8 did.

M

Marcus, it's hard to put across but as I see it, the idea of the premium small coupé is to up the stakes in desireability by building on the looks of the donor sedan (in this case I have to assume that the forthcoming B8 A4 will promote a logical lineage with the A5) without detracting from the core model identity. In this way the coupe derivative is sleeker, more svelte but instantly recognisable for its place in the line-up. Look at C and CLK, 3er and 3er Coupe.

These are not halo models in the R8 (please don't get me started on that one - there's no accounting for personal taste) vein but rather aspirational iterations of otherwise rather regular automobiles.

That curvy swage line is bound to elicit some criticism, clearly it's a rather glaring element in two dimensional pictures. But wait until you see it on the road, I'm betting, because not only does the line curve in the vertical plane - it also curves, in and out, on the horizontal it appears. And that always makes for some dramatic proportion in the metal.

That is a good observation Martin, and not entirely unprecedented for Audi.

Remember this:



In fact, I can see some [probably deliberate] similarities with this classic Audi coupe.

I feel as though I'm being taken to design school!

Seriously though I get what you're saying here. I don't think the A5 is a bad looking car by any means, its just "safe" for Audi IMO. Their first and only real coupe (R8 is a coupe, but more of a sports car) could have been a little more daring, IMO. I'm curious to see how Audi will position the A5
here in the U.S. both price and engine lineup.

M