A5 photos leaked

While Audi cannot confirm it will lift the covers on the new A5 in Melbourne following its world launch in Geneva, the internet is abuzz with leaked pictures of the new coupe and its S5 performance variant.

The images appear to be official press pack shots and show both the standard A5 and its hotshoe S-badged counterpart. The A5's clean, handsome coupe lines are unmistakably Audi and the front-end reprises the TT's tight headlamps and waterfall bonnet line. At the same time, the S5 gets the now-traditional fussy grille and edgier body detailing.

The A5 will launch the German marque's new chassis when it is unveiled next month. The platform features a more rearward-located engine (though it is still essentially a front-engined front/all-wheel-drive configuration) and revised front-end suspension and steering set-ups. The structure will also underpin the new A4 when it is launched later this year.

While the A5 was no real surprise, the S5 was not expected to be seen until later this year -- perhaps for the Frankfurt show, alongside the new A4. It is likely the S5 will feature a toned-down version of the 4.2-litre V8 that powers the RS4 and R8.

Meantime, Audi is happy to confirm the line-up with which it will kick off the Melbourne International Motor Show (the A5 is not due until March 6 -- the show opens on March 2).

Taking pride of place in the interim will be the R8 supercar, but new to local eyes will be three brand new models -- the Audi TT Roadster, Audi S3 and Audi A6 Allroad Quattro.

The three will go on sale later in the year with the open TT and 188kW S3 arriving in June. The A6 Allroad will hit in May.