Audi A5 bursts onto the scene

BUYERS: POISED TO GROW FOUR RINGS' MARKET SHARE

- Jaco van der Merwe

For over three decades, the Audi A4 rivaled its fellow Germans, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series for market share. This month, the premium sedan officially handed over the baton to its successor, the A5.

The internal combustion engine-powered A4 has been discontinued as the badge has been reserved for an electric vehicle (EV) in Ingolstadt's naming restructure.

The uneven model variants, the A3, 5, and 7, will keep their internal combustion engines while A4, 6, and 8, will become EVs.

The A5 is not only bigger, more powerful, and more advanced than the A4 but also not quite a sedan. With its lift-back tailgate, sloping rear roofline, and wide single frame grille derived from Audi Sport, initially there was debate on calling it a Sportback at the Audi headquarters.

Deciding on the sedan designation might turn out to be a masterstroke by Ingolstadt. Weighing it up against the A4's traditional rivals is not comparing apples with apples anymore.

The Audi A5 is 4829mm longer than the 3 Series (4713mm) and C-Class (4751mm), while its stunning design makes this sexy German stand out from the crowd.