Audi has launched its new plug-in hybrid A5 saloon and Avant models, badged - for the first time with plug-in hybrid Audis - as e-Hybrid.
The A5 e-Hybrid plug-in lineup includes two models: one with 299hp (220kW) and one with 357hp (270kW), which equals the power of the twin-turbo V6-engined high-performance S5 model.
That sounds brisk by hybrid standards…
Indeed, that 270kW model can hit 100km/h from rest in just 5.1 seconds, which isn't quite S5 fast, but it surely ain't slow. The less powerful 220kW e-Hybrid model does the same sprint in a very respectable 5.9 seconds. Combined torque stands at 450Nm for the 220kW version and 500Nm for the higher-power model.
Both models use the same new battery pack, which has an energy capacity of 20.7kWh (net). That's about 45 per cent more energy storage than the old Audi A6 TFISe plug-in hybrid, yet it only takes up slightly more space, and the net effect is that both versions have an EV range of up to 110km on a full charge. Both models are quattros, so you get full-time four-wheel drive thanks to the fact that the 105kW electric motor is built into the seven-speed S-Tronic automatic dual-clutch gearbox.
Official CO2 emissions start at 45g/km, while Audi reckons that on a long run, with a discharged battery, you should average 6.5 litres per 100km fuel economy.
The battery uses cell-to-pack construction, which means that the whole pack takes up slightly less space than it otherwise would. However, there's only AC charging, at 11kW, available in spite of other VW Group plug-in hybrids offering up to 40kW rapid DC charging. Still, you can charge from empty to full in about two-and-a-half hours, so it's still not too shabby.
Any other ways to put some power into the battery?
To help top up the battery as you drive, Audi says that it has improved the A5's regenerative braking system, which can recover up to 88kW of energy at peak, and which has a predictive system built into it, which not only monitors the car in front of you and helps you slow down when it does, but which also receives information from the sat-nav as to upcoming sharp corners, speed limits and so on, and which the system uses as prompts to more efficiently make use of the regen braking.
Audi reckons that the regen braking is so good in the A5 that it can deal with up to 90 per cent of all the braking you need to do without actually deploying the physical pads and discs. You can manually adjust the regen level using the paddles behind the steering wheel, and Audi says: “This has no effect on the braking feel for the driver, as the brake pedal and brake hydraulics are decoupled.”
The hybrid system has two operating modes: EV, which is pretty self-explanatory and keeps the car in all-electric mode until the battery charge runs too low or you activate the 'kick down' mechanism for maximum acceleration, and Hybrid, which is a fully automated mode in which the A5 juggles battery and petrol power for the greatest possible efficiency.
You can wake up the petrol engine full-time by selecting S-mode in the gearbox, in which case the engine and electric motor are both powered up to maximum for a bit of sporty driving. You can, of course, top up the battery level as you drive, up to 75 per cent full, but this will only happen when you're cruising at speeds above 65km/h in the interests of greater efficiency. Set a destination in the sat-nav, and the A5 e-Hybrid's systems will automatically start to save battery charge for driving in town.
There must be a catch…
There is an impact on the A5's space, though, as the battery eats into the boot, cutting luggage volume down to a relatively small 331 litres for the saloon version and 361 litres for the Avant estate. Helpfully, both models can tow up to 1,900kg of braked trailer weight and lug 90kg of roof load.
This being a partially-electric Audi, you can remotely control the air conditioning and seat heaters while the car charges up via the MyAudi app, and there's also a quick-climate button on the key fob which fires up all the necessary systems as you walk up to the car.
Christian Gussen, Brand Director, Audi Ireland, commented: “We have seen the demand for the plug-in hybrid models grow in Ireland. The new streamlined naming to e-hybrid represents a defining moment across Audi plug-in hybrid models and will make models instantly recognisable to consumers. Last month, we launched our “All in One. Twice as good.” campaign offering preferential finance opportunities across the Audi plug-in hybrid range. We at Audi Ireland would encourage motorists to take advantage of these affordable offers and visit their local authorised Audi dealer to personally experience all that Audi has to offer.”
Audi Ireland has announced details of its “All in One. Twice as Good” plug-in hybrid offer of 3.9 per cent APR interest across all plug-in hybrid models. These exclusive offers are available across all 11 authorised Audi dealerships nationwide from now until the 31st of April.
The A5 Saloon e-hybrid quattro with the base power output starts from €57,500. The new A5 Avant e-hybrid quattro is starting from €61,400. The new Audi A5 e-hybrid models, which are built in Neckarsulm in Germany, can be ordered in Ireland from Thursday, 27th March.