AUDI S5 2008

Audi has been serious for decades, busily bringing us such engineering breakthroughs as the five-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive, the aluminum chassis, direct fuel injection and competition-prepared diesels. It's been like science class. At least the lab projects have been impressing the neighbors and even winning races at Le Mans.

But with the 2008 Audi S5, the technoid visionaries of Ingolstadt have finally lightened up. After all, we're Americans. We're just a simple people. Speed and style are what sell.
There's a Message in Style
At the moment, official pricing for the 2008 Audi S5 has not yet been announced, though we understand $53,000 is a reasonable estimate. This would peg it to the price of a Mercedes-Benz CLK550, which the Audi S5 resembles in character far more than the $74,700 BMW 650i.

For decades, Audi has been an artistic success in America, but it's also been largely unencumbered by commercial success. It's reinvented itself over and over again, trying to find the magic fairy dust that will make people notice.

The 2008 Audi S5 will grab people by the neck and make them pay attention. It has the commanding presence of a BMW 6 Series, runs with the Audi RS4 sedan and sits there at the same price as a Mercedes CLK.

Here in America, we're simple enough to understand speed and style. The 2008 Audi S5 is a classic American coupe, ideal for a country where the distances challenge you. You know, purple mountains majesty, amber waves of grain and all that. The science nerds in Ingolstadt must take their vacations here.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Ups: Warm, expressive new look; tractable V8 engine; better balanced handling; carefully crafted network of convenience, performance and safety features.

Downs: Too aggressive brake action; four-wheel-drive-style drivetrain windup.

First Impression: Beautiful, luxurious and desirable, this fast highway car takes Audi to the top step of excellence.

Base MSRP of Test Vehicle: $53,000

Options on Test Vehicle: Bang & Olufsen Audio System ($6,300 — includes 12 speakers, in-dash six-disc CD changer, MP3 plus WMA); Audi Navigation Plus ($2,100); Audi Rear Parking With Rearview Camera ($350); Advanced Keyless Entry/Exit ($350).

MSRP of Test Vehicle: $62,000