Audi has revealed technical details of the all-new A5 plug-in hybrid, a model already confirmed for New Zealand later this year following the launch of the performance-oriented S5.
Like the S5, the A5 will be sold here in Avant (wagon) form only. And now that Audi has finally settled on what it's calling all its new cars, we can confirm that PHEV technology will have an "e-hybrid" badge, similar to sister brand Cupra. And that's final.
So this new model will be the Audi A5 Avant e-hybrid.
The e-hybrid powertrain features dramatically increased electric range compared to previous systems used by Audi. The turbo-petrol engine is a 2.0-litre, paired with an electric motor; combined they make 220kW.
The new high-voltage battery is mounted at the rear. Its 25.9kWh capacity is 45% up on the PHEV powertrain previously used in the A6 for Europe, while maximum charge rate has been increased to 11kW. Audi is claiming an EV range of 110km for the new model.
Drivers can now adjust the degree of "thrust recuperation" in EV mode using paddles on the steering wheel. The vehicle runs on electric power for as long as possible to fully utilise the available battery charge to the driver’s destination, based on data stored in the navigation system. It can also recover energy automatically without active route guidance.
Two operating modes are available: “EV” and “hybrid.” In EV mode, the PHEV models run exclusively on electric power. When driving in hybrid mode, the hybrid management system maintains a specific charge level as needed to save enough energy for later use, for example for electric driving in the city. In addition to the automatic hybrid mode, the desired charge level can now be individually selected using a digital slider.
When the brake pedal is depressed during deceleration, the A5 Avant e-hybrid quattro can recover up to 88kW of power and feed it into the battery. When operated as a generator, the electric motor accounts for more than 90% of all deceleration; the hydraulic wheel brakes are only used for harder braking manoeuvres.
