Hybrid drive for new A5

The newly created Audi A5 range will be expanded with the introduction of new plug-in electric (PHEV) models, giving customers greater flexibility and choice within the range. Announced internationally, both the Sedan and Avant variants of the A5 range will be offered as PHEV models, with up to 270kW of power.

While the exact specification and arrival date of a PHEV variant for Australia was not confirmed at time of writing, members of the new A5/S5 range – which is built on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) platform – are expected to touch down in the first half of the year.

The new A5 and S5 family represent a completely new model line for the brand, effectively combining the A4 and A5 lines in an exciting new model offering to be available with both a sporty Sedan and Avant body style. The announcement of plug-in hybrid drive further builds on the choice being offered to customers, offering all of the benefits of powerful yet efficient combustion drivelines, with the added efficiency and emission-free motoring potential of all-electric drive.  

The new Audi A5 Avant e-hybrid quattro and the Audi A5 Sedan e-hybrid quattro are powered by a 2.0 TFSI engine outputting 185kW, working with a permanently excited synchronous motor with a peak output of 105 kW. This system works through a seven-speed S tronic transmission with power going down to the road through all four wheels. 

Both Sedan and Avant models will be offered in Europe with 220kW and 450Nm output or a more powerful 270kW version with 500Nm of torque, the former accelerating from 0 to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and the latter cutting nearly a full second off that time to 5.1 seconds.

Both will utilise a new high-voltage battery system of 25.9 kWh (net 20.7 kWh) with maximum charging power of up to 11kW and a 0 to 100 percent charging time of just two and a half hours. This hybrid electrical system coupled with regenerative braking which can be adjusted using the steering wheel paddles, allows up to 116 kilometres* of driving on electric power when in EV mode. 

This means that, like Audi’s all-electric models, the degree of thrust recuperation in electric driving mode (EV mode) can be adjusted to three different levels using paddles on the steering wheel. The left paddle is used to select the electric braking and corresponding recuperation level, while the right paddle used to reduce the recuperation level.

Braking can also be used in power recuperation, with up to 88kW of power recovered and fed into the HV battery when the brake pedal is used in deceleration. The ‘traditional’ hydraulic brakes are only employed for hard braking situations, but regardless of the system employed, the brake feel remains the same for the driver.

The new PHEV models also offer a ‘hybrid’ mode which allows the management system to maintain a specific charge level as needed in order to save enough electrical energy for later use.

The system is designed for maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact, yet without compromising on performance and comfort. 

For example, the combustion is only employed to charge the high-voltage battery at speeds above 65km/h, so that at lower speeds, the charge level is simply maintained for maximum efficiency. 

The battery can be charged in this way up to 75 percent to ensure that it is charged with maximum efficiency while driving. Increasing the battery’s charge above 75 percent simply requires the use of an external AC charging source like plugging in at home overnight.

Customers will also be able to set the charge level before they embark on a trip, so that there will always be enough energy available for electric driving when they arrive at their destination, to safeguard against there being no charging option there for example.

Indeed, every aspect of these hybrid drive variants is designed to maximise efficiency by utilising electric power for as long as possible and to fully utilise the available battery charge en route to the destination. The PHEV model prefers to drive on electric power in urban areas for example, while at higher speeds, the proportion of hybrid driving increases. With active route guidance, the operating strategy even takes the planned route into consideration and the best possible energy configuration for the desired route is automatically selected.

This combination of performance, efficiency and the ability to drive exclusively on electric power will no doubt strike a chord with Australian Audi customers, having already proven popular in the current Audi Q5 55 TFSI e quattro S line and Q8 60 TFSI e quattro S line already available Down Under.

Although specifics are yet to be confirmed, the A5 PHEV is expected to arrive in Australia later this year, with full specification and pricing to be announced ahead of its local introduction.

* Using the WLTP EAER city value