Although the new Audi A5 is officially labeled as a sedan, technically it is not. It has a more practical tailgate and will replace both the old A4 Sedan and the A5 Sportback. However, the A5L introduced today at the 2024 Auto Guangzhou show keeps the traditional three-box sedan formula alive. The elongated version for China has a trunk lid instead.
When we first saw the official images, we weren’t sure if the A5L was a sedan or not, although the rear of the vehicle seemed a little longer. None of the press photos showed the car with the luggage compartment open, so we decided to ask Audi. Josef Schloßmacher, spokesperson for Product and Technology, confirmed this in an email Engine1 that the extended A5 is indeed a conventional sedan. The ‘old-school’ body style is still hugely popular in China, where Lexus is showcasing an updated ES at the event.
Unlike the E concept of the newly established separate brand AUDI, which does not have the iconic logo, Audi’s A5L retains the Four Rings. It even lights them up from the front and back. A rival to the BMW 3 Series Sedan and Mercedes C-Class Sedan, which are also produced in China, the A5L is 193 inches (4,902 millimeters) long, so it has been lengthened by 73 mm (2.87 inches) compared to the global A5.
While no interior images have been published, we do know that the A5L offers extra legroom for rear-seat passengers thanks to a more generous wheelbase. The distance between the axles has grown by 2.55 inches (65 millimeters) to 116.7 inches (2965 millimeters). We expect the cabin to mimic the international A5, so chances are there will be a three-screen layout with few conventional buttons.
The A5L slots below the A7L in Audi’s Chinese lineup. The larger model is also a conventional sedan with a trunk lid, sold alongside the usual A7 Sportback with a trunk lid. Confusing, I know.
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Audi