With less and less new models announced this time of the year, it’s the tuning houses around the globe that have kept the auto freaks entertained. Adding to the excitement is the Abt treatment for the latest Audi A5 Sportback.

Dubbed the AS5 kit for the A5 Sportback, the tuning includes a new front grille, rear wing insets, a rear skirt set and diamond cut edition wheels finished in high gloss (18, 19 and 20-inch sizes). Performance being a key for Abt, the engine has been modified to justify a thorough upgrade be it for the 2.0 TFSI variant or the range topping 3.0 TDI ABT Power S. That means that the 2.0 TFSI renders between 180 and 275hp, and 320Nm of torque, while the 3.0L puts out nothing less than 310hp and 610Nm of torque. Neat!

The 2010 Audi A5, the trendy Sportback based on the curvaceous A5 Coupe and Cabrio has finally been announced with a full set of details but sadly, this car will not make it to the American shores. A derivative of the mid-size, five-door liftback, it comes with an extra set of doors and tailgate to combine functionality with form. Come September, the European buyers will get to choose from a set of six different engines, three each for gas and diesel units. The first one hails from the A4 territory and with a 2.0-liter capacity it can either churn 180 or 211 horsepower depending on what you buy, plus, there is also a 3.2-liter V6 option available.

The ones who prefer diesel would get 2.0-liter inline-four, 2.7-liter V6 and 3.0-liter V6 motors under the hood. The 170 horsepower rendering 2.0-liter TDI is rated at 45.2 mpg (US) on the EU combined cycle. All the engines firing on four cylinders will get automatic stop-start systems and the flagship models for both gasoline and diesel will run on the four-wheel Quattro drive. Three additional engines will be added to the lineage in 2010.

[via Autoblog]

Isn’t it true that those black and white movies from our childhood have a very charming feeling? I don’t know about you but looking at this Black and White Audi A5, my emotions are triggered even more.

Tuned up by the wicked chaps from Senner, the stylish Audi A5 tuning package includes a carbon fiber spoiler apron with matching side-mirror housings, a carbon fiber rear bumper, a new rear spoiler and lip, chic LED taillights, and a customized stainless steel quad-exhaust. All these for 3,377 Euro

But the black and white A5 also runs on 20-inch ASA GT1 alloy wheels that come in either Shiny Silver or Matte Black, Vredestein ultra Sessanta XL tires and Bilstein B16 PSS10 fully adjustable coilover suspension for better handling. Another 4,600 Euro.

And if you’re one of those that’d like some engine mods, Senner has them. A more powerful and performance-driven 3.0 liter that outputs 300 hp and 600 Nm of torque, with a new sport air filter and a max speed of 280 km/h, these will set you back  for 1,649 Euro.

We’re not going to do the bill for you. Instead we’re telling you that this cute Black and White Audi A5 is going to cost you a hot 11,700 Euro (some $16,500 at today’s rate).

Audi has come out with its new A5 Cabriolet sporting a real cool look and plenty of style with a retractable roof that can fold up in just 177 seconds while you are still moving at 50 km/h. The impressive retractable can seat four comfortably and comes with plenty of variety under the hood that ranges from the 160 hp 2.0-liter engine to the 265 hp 3.0-liter power packed engine in petrol. Then there is the 190 hp 2.7-liter diesel engine along with the 240 hp 3.0-liter diesel engine, allowing you to easier on your pocket. The top end V6 powered A5 races from o to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds and apart from all the power under the hood, A5 sports a host of features on the interior all at a price of €37,300. I want one … it’s so damn hot.

I’m going to apologize for not bringing any Audi RS5 news, but believe me the confirmed sketches for the new A5 Cabrio & Sportback, A7 and next A8 are just as juicy. You already know how the first one looks, I’m talking about A5 Cabrio and A5 sportback but I bet the other two are a nice addition. Audi A7 is a large four-door, that looks a lot like the A5 sportback but with a normal trunk instead of a rear hatch, while the next-gen Audi A8 is much different than what we knew before, with angry eyes headlights and a sharp grille. What do you think? – via Motor Authority

Our friends from Germany that always have new stuff about new models Audi, BMW of Mercedes is going to release, Auto Motor und Sport, have done it again. They may hold some confidential info that the new Audi A5 Cabrio is going to debut at the Paris Motor Show.

Things are supposed to change, because the A5 Cabrio will replace the A4 Cabrio and will not be build by the sub-contractor Karmann, anymore. The company will build it itself at the Neckarshulm production facility.

A few info about the new model mentioned that it’s going to use a canvas top and will be equipped with the standard diesel and petrol engines. Rumors talk about a S5 Cabrio with a 4.2L V8 engine that is also going to be built and about a RS5 Cabrio, so you can imagine how well the design and the power are going to be mixed in together.

2009 is the year when the Audi A5 Cabrio is going to reach dealerships for a 37,000 Euro price in Germany.

For all those that can afford an Audi A5 and have been saving to buy the convertible version we’ve told you about exactly one year ago, we have news. It’s going to be available in 2009 and manufactured in Neckarsulm, a city in northern Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. We are pretty confident that it will use the 3.2-liter FSI V6 engine but rumors say that S5 convertible with a 354-hp V8 engine should be available which is going to be dead fast.

Unlike BMW’s convertibles, Audi is going to use an electric soft-tops to save weight and cost.

We’re expecting it to hit the floors in January 2009 at the Detroit Auto Show.

via eGMCarTech