Posts
AUDI A5 & Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Posted On Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at at 2:45 AM by Sanky
AUDI A5
The Audi A5 is growing on us. When we first saw the 3-Series rival, we weren't quite convinced by the styling, and an early drive of the S5 revealed it be, well, a bit lifeless.
But we've had the 3.0-litre TDI A5 in this week, and it's doing a sterling job in converting the office to the charms of the Audi coupe.
It looks good in the flesh - a lot better than in photos - and feels sturdier than a New Zealand prop forward.
And all those good portents just get better with the news that Audi is adding another couple of engines to the A5 line-up: a 3.2 FSI petrol and 2.7 TDI.
The 3.2 FSI is the same unit found in the A4 and A6, but with a power boost to 261bhp and 243lb ft of torque. That'll see the A5 to 62mph in 6.6 seconds and on to 155mph, with consumption in the region of 32mpg.
The 2.7-litre turbodiesel should be a tidy option, too. Once again, power is up over the A4 iteration of the engine, with 178 horses hauling the A5 to 62mph in 7.6 seconds while returning a highly respectable 42.2mph.
Both engines are available with Audi's CVT automatic transmission, but given the precision of the six-speed manual we've been testing this week, we can't see why you'd bother.
The A5 2.7 TDI starts at £31,640, while the 3.2 FSI weighs in at £33,230, and both should be in the UK by the end of October.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
The Audi A5 is growing on us. When we first saw the 3-Series rival, we weren't quite convinced by the styling, and an early drive of the S5 revealed it be, well, a bit lifeless.
But we've had the 3.0-litre TDI A5 in this week, and it's doing a sterling job in converting the office to the charms of the Audi coupe.
It looks good in the flesh - a lot better than in photos - and feels sturdier than a New Zealand prop forward.
And all those good portents just get better with the news that Audi is adding another couple of engines to the A5 line-up: a 3.2 FSI petrol and 2.7 TDI.
The 3.2 FSI is the same unit found in the A4 and A6, but with a power boost to 261bhp and 243lb ft of torque. That'll see the A5 to 62mph in 6.6 seconds and on to 155mph, with consumption in the region of 32mpg.
The 2.7-litre turbodiesel should be a tidy option, too. Once again, power is up over the A4 iteration of the engine, with 178 horses hauling the A5 to 62mph in 7.6 seconds while returning a highly respectable 42.2mph.
Both engines are available with Audi's CVT automatic transmission, but given the precision of the six-speed manual we've been testing this week, we can't see why you'd bother.
The A5 2.7 TDI starts at £31,640, while the 3.2 FSI weighs in at £33,230, and both should be in the UK by the end of October.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI Roll on the Impreza WRX STI. That's all we could think when Subaru sent us over these shots of the new Impreza, due to go on sale in the UK from this September.
We've seen a fair bit of the Impreza already, and these photos confirm what we suspected: that the third-generation of Scooby's chav deity isn't going to win any beauty contests.
There's a bit of Mazda 323 in there, a fair chunk of old Nissan Almera and a soupcon of BMW 1-Series - none of them beautiful cars in their own right and no more handsome when they're stuck together.
However, we're yet to see the WRX STI, which Subaru promises will be 'visually more aggressive' when it arrives in spring next year. Here's hoping that flared arches and a big ol' spoiler can do something for the Impreza's looks.
Ignore the appearance, though, and the Impreza could be a more tempting proposition. Bigger and wider than its predecessor, there's more bootspace and, promises Subaru, better handling thanks to the engine and tranny sitting 10mm lower in the platform. Aerodynamics have been improved while the weight is down, too - the WRX has shed 30kg.
Even the base spec Imprezas will get permanent four-wheel drive with centre viscous coupling, although only the WRXs will get Subaru's rear limited slip diff.
Boxer engines will dominate the line-up, with 1.5-, 2.0- and 2.5-litre four-pots available at launch.
Although there's no power boost for the WRX, with its 2.5-litre engine still putting out 227bhp, it should be more tractable thanks to better low-end torque and shorter gearing. It'll still hit 60mph in 5.4 seconds, but economy is up to 27.2mpg on the combined cycle.
We could go on with the stats, but the ones you really want to know are still conspicuously absent. We'll find out all the details on the WRX STI closer to its launch early next year, by which time Subaru's designers will hopefully have worked out a way to add a bit of bite to the Impreza's appearance.
