Audi S5 Atlanta GA

There is so much eye candy in the overall design of the Audi S5 coupe that it's easy to overlook what's beneath the sleek shape — a hard-charging, road-gripping German tourer of the first order.

But, oh, that shape. Developed under the tutelage of Walter de'Silva before he headed off to run all of VW Group's design activities, the S5 has sinuous, flowing character lines that give the coupe an elegant, yet muscular, presence. The single-frame grille is neatly tailored, hemmed in by a thin chrome accent that is offset by an eggcrate texture with large interlocked rings boldly announcing that this is, indeed, an Audi. Two lower inlets that house circular driving lights and mail-slot-thin headlamp nacelles flank this large maw. The projector-beam headlamps are framed below with LEDs that act as daytime running lights. Seen from the distance on the shimmering runway of our test site, the S5 has a menacing face.

In profile, the visage softens with the gentle curvature of the front fenders, sculpted sides and a clean tail that sports a slight ducktail. Only the C-pillar treatment seems out of place — it's a bit thick and makes the greenhouse appear more upright than it actually is. Standing outside the car, you can see how the trapezoidal shape of the rear side glass gives the impression that the S5 should have great rear head room — in fact, it's much tighter than it appears. I would have preferred to see a more rakish angle to the glass, similar to that found on the TT.

For full Road Test click here

For more Road Tests click here