Welcome return for Audi

COMBUSTION: NEW A5 A TOUR DE FORCE RESURGENCE

- Charl Bosch

Former Audi design boss Walter de Silva famously described the original A5 as having been the most beautiful piece of design he had ever created.

Positioned between the A4 and A6, the A5's niche placement took an unexpected turn last year via Ingolstadt's change in badge denominators. Whereas even numbered models were to become fully electric, those with odd numbers would remain combustion engine powered with a form of hybrid system.

The decision was scrapped in February but still means the A5 replaces the A4 as either a sedan or Avant estate aimed at the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Residing below the combustion A6 rather than the A7-replacing all-electric A6 e-tron, the A5 also represents a crucial addition to Audi's product range in South Africa.

Having struggled for a number of years without a ground-up new model, the A5 represents the first generation of "new Audis" to arrive on local soil instead of being another facelifted model.

Only offered as a sedan and exclusively powered by the 2.0 TFSI engine without any electrical assistance, the arrival of the A5 for the week-long stay made an impact from the start.

The first Volkswagen Group model to also premiere the new PPC or Premium Platform Combustion architecture in South Africa, the A5 cuts a sleek figure, arguably last seen on the A7.