Audi's A5 range is about to receive an update, as evidenced by a prototype for an updated A5 Sportback.
The updates will match those recently introduced on the related A4 range, meaning revised looks, some extra goodies in the cabin, and mild-hybrid tech.
The updates represent a mid-cycle refresh for the cars and should be introduced for the 2020 or 2021 model years.
2021 Audi A5 Sportback facelift spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Looking at the spy shots of the updated A5 Sportback, we can see that the headlights feature new internals including a new design for the daytime running lights. The front grille is also slightly wider and lower than on the current A5 Sportback.
At the rear, the taillight shape is similar to the current A5 Sportback but extra details make the units resemble the design on the A6 and A7, and we may also see a new chrome accent join the lights like on the more premium models. Finally, there are also new exhaust tips with a rectangular shape.
There's no shot of the cabin but from the updated A4 we know that a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen display will be added to the top of the dash for the infotainment. The screen can be used like a smartphone and also controlled via natural-speak voice activation and buttons on the steering wheel.
New Audi A4
The base powertrain should be a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 matching the current A5 Sportback's 252-horsepower. However, an A5 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid is expected to finally join the range to plug the gap between the regular A5 Sportback and sporty S5 Sportback.
Speaking of the S5 Sportback, it and its more extreme RS 5 Sportback sibling should receive the same updates you see here.
Sadly, a manual transmission is no longer being offered in any Audi, as 2018 was the last year the automaker offered a car with a third pedal. A special run of A4 Ultrasport sedans was introduced to mark the end of the era.
