This camouflaged prototype gives a foretaste of the upcoming Audi A5 Sportback, which will be presented in 2024
(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – With all the camouflaged Audi A4 and A5 prototypes we’ve spotted over the past year, it’s hard to believe this is only the second time we’ve seen the A5 Sportback in action. Fresh pictures show an Erlkönig of the vehicle that will possibly take the place of the previous A4 sedan.
In case you’re a little confused, we’d like to remind you of the future of the A4. In March, Audi confirmed that the A4 and A6 designations will be reserved for electric cars in the future, while the combustion versions will mutate to the A5 and A7. Over the past year we’ve seen numerous nitro prototypes in various states of camouflage, but they’ve always been Avant models.
Our second Sportback sighting so far shows the prototypes up close for the first time. The sloping tailgate is easy to spot and we get a good look at the stock headlights. In general, the front end is similar to that of the future A5 Avant. (Sounds weird, we have to get used to it too.)
The thin taillights are also visible through the camouflage film, but things get interesting on the sides. We can see standard doors in contrast to the frameless doors of the current A5 (buy Audi A5 used car now) Sportback. It is therefore possible that Audi will drop the Sportback designation and simply call the successor the A5 sedan. In other words: A4 Sedan and A5 Sportback merge into one model.
From the B-pillar onwards, everything looks identical to the numerous A5 Avant prototypes we’ve seen. This also applies to the interior, which will feature a minimalist design with only a few tactile controls. Previous prototypes featured an interior with large digital displays for the driver and center console, leaving only a few buttons visible on the console and steering wheel.
We also know that it is a prototype with an internal combustion engine. The white camouflage around the two exhaust pipes is slightly discolored, meaning they aren’t just for show. Previous prototypes captured on video played different four-cylinder and V6 soundtracks, although we suspect the six-cylinder will be reserved for the S variants. A plug-in hybrid also seems conceivable.
As mentioned, cloaked prototypes have been on display for over a year, so expect a premiere soon. An exact date is still a mystery, but we’re definitely expecting a reveal before the end of the year.
Source: SH Proshots
