Audi A5 History

Unveiled at the March 2007 Geneva Motor Show (Typ 8T, B8 platform), the A5 marked Audi's return to the premium compact coupe market after the B4-era Cabriolet ended in 1996. It shared its MLB underpinnings with the A4 (B8) but offered the sleeker, more dramatic body styles the sedan could not — a two-door coupe, a convertible cabriolet, and the Sportback five-door liftback. The Sportback in particular became a bestseller in Europe, combining the A5's looks with hatchback practicality.

A second generation (Typ 8W6, B9 platform) arrived in 2017, and an RS5 performance model (with a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6) replaced the naturally aspirated RS5 V8 of the first generation. The A5 Cabriolet continued through the second generation before the body style was retired.

For 2024, Audi restructured its naming: the successor to the A4 sedan was renamed the A5 (replacing the outgoing A4 B9), effectively absorbing the A4's role while retaining the A5 coupe and Sportback body styles. This transition means the A5 nameplate is now Audi's core compact executive line.