Audi talks Avant/Sportback/SUV overlap

Audi is looking to launch close to 20 new models in the next four years and it's the midsize arena that looks likely to get much of the attention. Indeed, the Ingolstadt carmaker is looking at saturation tactics in the segment -- at least, when it comes to vehicles with more than four doors.

Talking at last week's local launch of Audi's RS6 uber-wagon, Audi Australia General Manager Marketing, Immo Buschmann, hinted at the form Audi's five-door range could take, come 2010-12. And where competitors offer just one or two -- Audi's is a five-model range that leaves little wriggle room.

The two key entrants for Audi in the segment will be the A4 Avant (more here) and Q5 SUV (more here). Already on the road in Europe, the Q5 will arrive in Oz in the first half of 2009. But Audi is not content to let the A4 Avant, its supercharged S4 derivative, and Q5 looking after customers looking for five-doors.

It therefore now looks likely Audi will also offer an A5 Sportback -- perhaps as early as 2010.

The S5 Sportback has been variously 'scooped' by overseas media, but in truth is yet to see the light of day in final form. According to Buschmann the car will be simply: "an A5 coupe with and extra set of doors."

The swoopy A5/S5 coupe has quite a different character to the A4 and a more substantial presence on the road. Buschmann hints that this will help delineate the five-door version.

The length of the luggage area won't differ greatly from the current A4 Avant, says the local marketing chief, but the coupe's roofline will be retained and the hatch will be laid back at a much more acute angle.

Though it will offer utility, he says, it won't aimed at those in need of a practical wagon. Performance will be a strong point. Indeed, there is a very strong chance, the first 5 Sportback to see the bright lights of a motorshow (perhaps Frankfurt 2009) won't be an A or an S, but rather an RS5.

This would be a major departure for Audi which in the past has only ever built one RS at a time. A late 2009 launch for the RS5 would mean the RS6 would still be in production. Given a TT RS has been seen do the rounds, this hardly seems a problem.

The final vehicle is what will be a five-prong attack on the likes of Mercedes-Benz stand-alone C-Class Estate and BMW's 3 Series Touring and X3 pairing -- the A4 Allroad (more here). Featuring high-rode suspension and subtle body modifications, the all-wheel drive A4 Allroad is also likely to come Down Under in 2009.

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