AUDI S5

WHY IT'S HERE? To see how it fares in the daily shenanigans around Mumbai

- RIDER: RAMESH SOMANI

MONTHS INTO LIVING WITH THE AUDI S5 IN Mumbai, the honeymoon phase has mellowed into a complicated romance - one that smells faintly of premium petrol and monsoonsoaked Alcantara. The S5 remains a headturner; every traffic light becomes a mini photo shoot, with bikers sneaking a glance at the sharp silhouette. But drive it daily, and you begin to understand its quirks.

The ground clearance is the most obvious nemesis – Mumbai's enthusiastic speed breakers and crater-sized potholes in September's post-monsoon chaos are a true test of patience. And while the Quattro system handles waterlogged patches like a champ, your heart still skips a beat every time the underbody scrapes.

The 3-litre turbocharged V6 continues to be the star of the show – silky at idle, menacing when you prod it. There's an addictive surge past 3000 rpm that makes every Bandra-Worli Sea Link sprint feel like a private Nurburgring moment – if only for 10 seconds before you're back to bumper-tobumper reality. But 10 seconds is a long time – ask Usain Bolt.