Moving the front wheels forward not only makes the S5’s styling possible but also yields a large improvement in weight distribution. The last S4 we tested had 61.9 percent of its weight on the front wheels. This S5 is only 57.7 percent front-heavy. Combined with the 40/60 front-to-rear torque split in the standard Quattro drive system, this reduction in nose heaviness provides the S5 with balanced handling and a natural steering feel when driven swiftly.
The improvement over the old S4 is not, however, as pronounced as we would have expected from the four-percentage-point improvement in weight balance—although that reflects how well the S4 performed. In driving an S4 and the S5 back-to-back, the coupe turns in a bit more sharply and accurately, but even the S4 has decent cornering balance. It likely requires the elevated speeds of a visit to the racetrack to find the benefits of the new architecture.
What is immediately apparent is the tighter structure of the S5. It’s rock solid, and even on our fractured Michigan roads, the suspension keeps body motions under control and the tires tightly pressed to the pavement at triple-digit speeds. We would prefer that the steering didn’t become unnaturally stiff above 80 mph, and the 35-series, 19-inch tires don’t have much compliance on rough roads. But the S5 is so refined and effortless that it’s easy to lose sight of just how fast it is.
Motivated by the latest version of Audi’s 4.2-liter direct-injection V-8, rated at 354 horsepower in this application, the S5 is a rocket, hitting 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and ripping through the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds at 105 mph. That performance is a testament to the power of the V-8, the short gearing of the powertrain (75 mph in sixth gear has the engine spinning at 3000 rpm), and the quick shifting of the six-speed manual transmission.
The improvement over the old S4 is not, however, as pronounced as we would have expected from the four-percentage-point improvement in weight balance—although that reflects how well the S4 performed. In driving an S4 and the S5 back-to-back, the coupe turns in a bit more sharply and accurately, but even the S4 has decent cornering balance. It likely requires the elevated speeds of a visit to the racetrack to find the benefits of the new architecture.
What is immediately apparent is the tighter structure of the S5. It’s rock solid, and even on our fractured Michigan roads, the suspension keeps body motions under control and the tires tightly pressed to the pavement at triple-digit speeds. We would prefer that the steering didn’t become unnaturally stiff above 80 mph, and the 35-series, 19-inch tires don’t have much compliance on rough roads. But the S5 is so refined and effortless that it’s easy to lose sight of just how fast it is.
Motivated by the latest version of Audi’s 4.2-liter direct-injection V-8, rated at 354 horsepower in this application, the S5 is a rocket, hitting 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and ripping through the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds at 105 mph. That performance is a testament to the power of the V-8, the short gearing of the powertrain (75 mph in sixth gear has the engine spinning at 3000 rpm), and the quick shifting of the six-speed manual transmission.