Bucket Seat: Audi A5 TFSI 146kW Black Edition

I'm a die-hard sedan fanboy, ever since I was a kid, our family owned a range of sedans, so the appeal of a hatch or SUV never swayed me. Even now with the range of SUV's and SAV's taking the market by storm, I still maintain the best car is a sedan but that all changed with the introduction of the Sportback/ Gran Coupe  which fused the sleekness of a coupe but with the practicality of a sedan. Audi and BMW have been the two leaders in this segment over the years and with the introduction of the latest Audi A5, Audi have announced that they have decided to axe the A4 from their line up and the A5 Sportback will be the only 4-door offering in this segment. A decision which I'm sure was not easy as the A4 was a much loved model by many but seeing that the A5 Sportback and the A4 were practically the same car, it makes better business sense to have only one. I got to spend some time with the new A5 Sportback TFSI 146kW Black Edition not too long ago and here are my thoughts on it. 

DESIGN

 The Sportback’s silhouette remains the selling point, with its long bonnet, swept roof and a hatch like back that gives the car a low, swooping profile while keeping uniformity. On this newest A5 the front end has been sharpened  with a wider, hexagonal singleframe grille, narrower LED headlamps and more pronounced sculpting in the bumper and flanks. The overall effect is sportier and a touch more aggressive than the previous generation, but still classically Audi. There are some elements of the etron range that come through in certain angles but the car remains a masterpiece in any way you look at it. If one had to describe the Audi A5 in a few words, it would be restrained, premium and undeniably modern. This continues in the cabin where we get a look at the latest in Audi's design language for their interiors which match the exterior in terms of the modern yet minimalist look.

PERFORMANCE

While we're used to previous branding from Audi that had the "35" and the "40" badges to differentiate the engine sizes, Audi has now opted to just put "TFSI" on the back and I'm guessing the diesels would just have "TDI", the A5 comes in two engine variants, both of which are 2.0L Turbo Petrol engines that have mild hybrid technology, the one is tuned to 146kW and the other is jacked up to 200kW. I had the 146kW engine spec in the Black Edition package.  I was fortunate to have a lot of driving lined up for the A5 during my week with it, which included a long distance trip in excess of 700km, so it was the perfect opportunity to test the fuel efficiency on the car.  The engine produces 146kW as state and 340Nm of torque, this high torque factor is assisted by the electric motor which often powers up when the car is switched on making you think you're driving an electric car. Urban driving with the A5 saw me have a higher fuel consumption around 9L per 100km which isn't bad when you think about it compared to other cars with similar engine sizes. 

The long distance journeys was where this car shone, with me having traveled around 720km, the car, it averaged around 7.6L per 100km with a range of 20km left from the 56L tank. The drive on the car is simply sublime, I could not fault one aspect of the on the road feel, it felt solid and commanding of the road.Audi has dialled suspension and steering for a balanced compromise that is composed enough for confident higher-speed cruising, supple enough to absorb poor urban surfaces if you choose standard suspension. Optional adaptive dampers sharpen handling without compromising daily comfort. Sound insulation and seat comfort are very competitive for the class; long trips are easy. If your roads are very rough, opt for the adaptive setup or softer suspension tune, because low-profile wheels with sports suspension can transmit more impact. Even in adverse conditions, the A5 handled like a charm. There is one gripe I had with the engine, which it is a down-tuned engine, it did feel like it was being held back at times, almost made me think I was driving a 1.4L but other than that, it certainly has risen to the top of my charts from the German contenders in terms of offerings and performance.

COMFORT

The cabin of the A5 is spacious, modern and futuristic, with it featuring its all new layout, that has a curved split screen dash, new steering wheel and the plush and high quality materials that we have become so accustomed with the brand.  The lines of the dash is what will catch you soon as you sit inside, the great merger of technology and luxury are brought to life in the cabin, with high-quality leather electric seats that slide back for you to get in easily, the instrument cluster has been re-designed to give you a more pilot like feel with the radar guidance being the main focus of the center dial, info either side of this can be configured to the individual. The 14.5" touchscreen infotainment unit controls just about everything, it has built-in wireless mobile applications, the new MMI UI is easy to use and can be configured to your liking with the options of having a favourites menu for your driver aids, I like this because you don't have to go into multiple menus to find things. 

The car came with the "Tech Pro" package which is listed at R100,000, I'm not exactly sure what is included in it but there was a shit load of tech. From surround view cameras, a digital sunroof, yes, the full glass panoramic roof can go opaque or swap in patterns of your choice. It's a pretty good party trick but also functional too. I like how Audi have moved all the driver controls to the driver side door in one neat cluster. So you can control everything from your memory seats, the side mirrors and even the lights from there. It just makes the dash a whole lot neater. This particular model also came with the infortainment package pro which adds an additional smaller screen for the front passenger. This gives them full access to the complete MMI menu and more with an app store to download games and video applications. The rear space is decent in the A5 with the passengers getting their own aircon controls and USB C ports for charging their devices. The Sportback hatch brings much more usable loadspace than a traditional saloon ideal for weekend gear or a pram. Rear headroom is slightly compromised compared with a taller sedan, but remains acceptable for adults on shorter journeys. 

VERDICT

The Audi A5 146kW TFSI really has surprised me, being a lover of the sportback styling it already had me won over on the looks department but the actual performance and the driving feel of the car is what blew me away. The quality of the materials used on the inside and the amount of technology you are getting in this package is truly outstanding and really is setting the benchmark for this segment. It should have their competition going back to the drawing boards to see how they can compete with this. While the competitors might have the edge in certain aspects, the A5 ticks all the boxes to be one of the best complete packages on the market. While the engine did feel under-powered at times, I'd like to have a go in the 200kW variant to see how that fairs. But to end, this car for me reminded me why I like sedans or sedan/ coupe should I say. It's not about having a lower center of gravity, there is just something charming about driving a long saloon. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	2.0L Turbo Petrol
Gear Box	7-Speed STronic
Torque	34Nm
Power	146kW
Average Fuel Consumption	7.5L per 100km
Price	R1,423,500.00*

*Price as tested

 

Bucket Seat: BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of BMW's Gran Coupe range, ever since it was first introduced in the 6 Series back in 2012 I fell in love with the concept. For one, the new shape 6 Series was just under a year old and to see something like an elongated version of a coupe with two additional doors was unheard of. Well Mercedes did have the CLS but that was a drastic change from the CLK at the time so while the two sort of did sit in a similar segment, the concept behind them was vastly different. The 6 Series was a luxury GT coupe, that embodied the best luxury BMW had to offer and couple it with the sporty finesse we know they're so good at, so when the Gran Coupe came along, it just ticket all the right boxes for and hence I made a concerted effort to get behind the wheel of one. I did get my chance in 2016 and while it might have not been the range topping M6, the 640d certainly had the hairs on the back of my neck up throughout the time. 

When I heard BMW were canning the 6 Coupe and turning it into their GT range, I was sad. Sad because it was such a beautiful car, even Chris Bangle's edition had a certain level of charm about it that still has you turning your head when you see it on the road today. Sadness quickly turned to joy after realising the reason for the change was due to the 8 Series badge being revived, concept sketches hit the internet, and it looked fantastic, a new dawn with a new 8 was on the cards. At the Geneva Motorshow last year, BMW through a curve ball and unlike before where most of the secrets were always leaked, the M8 Gran Coupe Concept showed itself. The motoring world was blown away by it, it was monstrous, beautiful and elegant all at the same time. 

Today, the fruit of that concept is born in the 8 Series Gran Coupe and like music to my ears, it's coming to South Africa in 3 engine variants for now, the 840i, 840d and the M850i, with I'm sure M8 versions due early next year. While the production car does chop away most of the dramatic styling from the concept, the car itself is still a stunner. The designers did well to keep that big rear end of the 8 Coupe and blend it in so well to the elongated body of the Gran Coupe to accommodate the additional doors. The side profile still is sleek and lowered to have that grounded effect of the car. Some stats on the engine performances, the 840i will be a six-cylinder in-line petrol engine producing 250kW and 500Nm of toque, the 840d, being a 3L six-cylinder that churns out 235kW and 680Nm of torque and the M850i xDrive having a 4.4L V8 petrol which throws out 390kW and 750Nm of torque. All engines come with an eight-speed steptronic transmission. My pick of the bunch? The diesel, it gives you the best of both world's, sportiness and good fuel economy, not to mention that great torque factor. Would I chose it over the M8 though? That is the question....

Bucket Seat: 2018 Lexus LS500

It's the first big motor show of the year and NAIAS 2017 didn't fail to deliver. A lot of the Asian manufacturers were eager to show what they had in store and with good reason. There were some surprised and some models that people knew about and couldn't wait to see it on display, one such model was the next generation Lexus LS. It first broke cover at the 2015 Tokyo Motor show and was dubbed the LF-FC concept and wowed the crowds with it's sharp edges and radical design. Most of it comes from the recently launched LC500. While it being the luxury flagship model of the Lexus line up, it looks sleek as a sports coupe. On the inside, it's a world of luxury and technology, from the premium leather stitched seats to the large information screen which is controlled by a touch pad. Lexus are really affirming their intentions of being the number contender against the Germans and this new LS surely proves that they mean business. While it has tough competition against the likes of the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes Benz S-Class, they really are giving the consumer something else to think about.