Audi is planning to make a huge impact at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show with three big releases confirmed. The S5 Sportback, the A4 3.0TDI clean diesel Quattro and the A3 1.2 TFSI will be the three big names showcased at the event. The Audi S5 Sportback is a five-door coupe which is driven by a 3.0-litre V6 engine equipped with a supercharger. It churns 333hp with 440Nm of torque at 2,900rpm to 5,300rpm and is capable of pelting from 0 – 100km/h in 5.4 seconds with a top speed of 250km/h. The V6 engine is mated with a seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission. Scheduled for a launch next year, the Audi S5 Sportback will come with a base price of €57,900 in Germany.

Based on the powerful Audi S5, the wicked German folks from ABT Sporstline – the largest tuner of vehicles from the VW group, came out with their own version. Dubbed ABT AS5-R, they beefed up the eight-cylinder standard 4.2 liter V8 (that used to output 354hp) to deliver nothing less than a whopping 510 horsepower and also added a breathtaking bodywork kit that screams power. We won’t be able to see it running the streets any time soon, but expect to get behind the wheel if you happen to be in Geneva for the Auto Show next month. Looks like an amazing ride, that we’d gladly take on. [via

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.

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