Audintichny S5

Any coupe by definition - a car individualistic, if not selfish. Roadster - as well, but he is also a joy extroverts and victims of chronic narcissism, a coupe, by contrast, preferred by those in whose character is dominated by introverted traits. The owner puts a coupe admiring glances of others not himself, and his special, "not at all like" car, staying for the time being in his shadow. "Five" Audi in this respect - as the saying goes, what the doctor ordered: a high board line, narrow window "slot" with tinted windows, sloping roof - for all of this is easy and pleasant to retire (and "double", incidentally, is also - has been used with anyone!). But all the same compartment - this box with a surprise: you should get out of his cozy "cocoon" in the light of day, and unfortunately they all look just for you: "Well, weave, weave, well, who's that we have such trendy and" not like everything? "Yeah ..." And you feel (as long as the movement for such a car would not everyday routine), depending on the bias in his own head, or the navel of the earth, or the person coming out of the house without clothes. Moving around the city in common, "netestovye" days on their good-quality, extremely comfortable, too German, but quite understated sedan, did not escape the test of this "striptease" and I ... The first evening a pretty and stylish, "glamorous" girl, the owner expensive and pathos car, recently became my neighbor in the parking lot and had not seen before "my" different test machines, gave me much more interested in sight and with more than a benevolent smile started to talk about ... However, it does not matter. Because I, in turn, sat behind the wheel is not normal, even wonderful, "five", and the S5! So, all that glamorous, pathos, style, together with all sorts of lovely young ladies takes a back seat: it is more important - sports potential of this compartment, its engine and driving performance. In view of the circumstances last summer, I was unable to attend the presentation in the European test of the new coupe Audi and then very angry. Now the circumstances are such that it is the S5 was the first car that I got to test just got to be editor of "Motor". And I thought it was a very good sign. There was a time - about 15 years ago when I was a rather staunch critic of the car with the four rings on the grille, rather than their fans. However, the unprecedented qualitative leap, which made the Audi brand in the coming years, has forced me to change my opinion on 180?. And it's not dolled up in R8, but the whole line of road Audi, among which a special place is occupied with the S and RS. Classify "eski" is quite simple: it is not RS, but by no means the basic A-version, so - this is a reasonable compromise between, let me some tautology, an uncompromising sporty and comfortable practicality. And as such they are very congenial to me. Well, from the S-version of "five" I was waiting for even more: it is no longer just a "shove" powerful engine in the A4, A6 or A8, "sharpened" the suspension - it's basically a new car. So, it turns out, I was definitely a positive biased, but, consequently, the demand from new car - to meet the higher expectations - was greater. Well, it turns out - more than Audi? Funny, but the manager, give me a car for a test, added fuel to the fire, when told about some of the features in the management of the new Audi, completed his sentence explanation, which would be aroused great interest among specialists in the psychology of the unconscious: "Well, the rest here everything is the same as in the Audi ". Not in the "old Audi", mind you, but just in Audi. That is, Audi S5 - it's sort of like not quite Audi ... you still retain the ability to monitor my thoughts? Well then, let's see what kind of animal is this ... As soon as I sit behind the wheel, immediately compare the S5 with the already well-familiar coupe BMW 335i - and the comparison is not initially in favor of Audi. In "treshke" as soon slam the door from the inside, there is a special "mechanical hand" helpfully takes you behind the buckle a seat belt, so you were not stretched, not tormented. Here there is such a convenient device, and you have to perform acrobatic corresponding sketch. In general, compared with S5's most powerful "normal" version of the new convertible BMW 3-series suggests, of course, right - yet these vehicles are most that there are direct competitors (as perceived shortcomings in comparison to M3 - completely incorrectly, it rival the future RS5). Although outwardly they with all their typological similarity differ markedly. BMW - a more elegant, refined, blows away even discreet aristocracy. Audi - a more brutal, more courageous, more aggressive. I would have found it difficult to make a choice - each of them is good in its own way. But, as a pleasant trip to the "Nurburgring" driving a magnificent "treshki" of the BMW remained in the memories of last year's spring, and in front of me - the wheel, "five" from Audi, coupe I like it more. Yes, and objectively and richly equipped with ultra modern interior is impressive S5 is much stronger than stylish, but quite boring, almost archaic and very Spartan, despite the top-category cabin 335i. But again, this is not important. It is time to properly settle and go. Surprisingly, when with his almost two meters tall, I habitually moved together with the seat back as far as possible (completely stripped so the living space behind the virtual passenger), steering wheel and pedals were suddenly very far away from me - on the verge of reach. At first it irritated - it will draw near to him almost right up! However, such a landing just as unexpectedly proved to be extremely comfortable and functional, as in the cockpit a racing car (which reminded fit behind the wheel of TT, but in a more "civilian clothes" version). All at your fingertips, it's very user friendly and at the same time beautiful. To start the engine to drown radioklyuch in the nest (option - start button), and pressed at the same time to lock the brakes and clutch, after which the needle is described "victory lap", and of the brand "four barrels" of the exhaust system is distributed perfectly familiar to previous " eskam "low, lush, menacing growl, which causes shudder nervously around him, and for being in the car sinks with increasing speed in excellent sound insulation, but always makes itself felt when braking and sudden acceleration engine" bottom ". And acceleration - a match that roar. Familiar to regular "eight" and charged "fours" V8 FSI of 4.2 liters and produces little deforsirovan only 354 hp against 420 under the hood RS4, but the moment he has 10 more lb-ft, and the more he is ahead on both measures, its own version under the hood of S4. As a consequence, for the same limited top speed electronically S5 accelerates to "hundreds" of half a second quicker than the sedan S4, which is quite noticeable. And it does not prevent acceleration to be very soft, elastic, and paradoxically this combination. We only need to adjust to the long-travel clutch in combination with highly sensitive at the beginning of your turn, the accelerator pedal, and then, as they say - full fly! Only manage to "tuck" the transfer of almost perfectly working CAT, although the elasticity of the engine are abundant and less frequent switching. And in all its glory is presented as exactly the quality that attracts "eskah" - in terms of urban traffic congestion car behaves quietly and without dergotni, but worth it "spurs" and he instantly demonstrate its serious dynamic potential, and the long journey manifest itself as a worthy representative of the class GT. Again, the suspension in combination with a transparent steering and body rigidity proper working perfectly, only collected and even made me involuntarily to open my mouth in amazement when the S5 on a very high rate slipped unnoticed "speed bump" as if it had never been! The ability of this compartment calmly swallow almost any uneven asphalt, almost without telling them about your "fifth point" - just fantastic! However, when it comes to classic Audi, you can not do without the mention of "fly" a different kind - the innate understeer, especially characteristic of small light cars with big heavy motors. Engineers have made significant efforts to ensure that if you do not get rid of her new coupe, then at least reduce it. To do this, they first found the engine is not in front of the front axle, as before, and behind it, and also changed the distribution of torque between front and rear axle with a 50x50 on 40x60 in favor of the back. However ... I will note immediately that the test conditions on wet winter roads suburbs were not as "sterile", as well roasted spring sun "serpentines" around "Nurburgring", where I was last year at the wheel enough pokolesil 335i, but even so It was obvious that to win understeer S5 creators could not - or they do not want to. In any case, while "treshka" BMW dutifully slips when you want, the rear wheels out, helping to fit into a corner, "five" Audi in excess of a certain speed at the inlet at about the same slide stubbornly turn out even with system off stabilizatsii.Ne think it's more than-headed Audi engineers were not able to solve this problem - rather, it is not wanted. After all, this car is positioned as a "sports car business class", and suspect that the second component of this definition, from a marketing point of view is more important than the first - after all, hardly notorious businessmen will travel to storm the orderly turns in a controlled drift. It will be sufficient and accurate, highly informative steering, combined with a tendency to understeer, much more secure than the excess. That's the whole secret. And fans more thrills - wait a couple of years and then will come along behind the wheel of a 450-strong "five" with the index of the RS and with an intelligent distribution of torque between the wheels, but all these meaningful discussions about the demolition-drift, in fact, only "to word. " The main thing in S5 is still not the ability to somehow take turns, and the impression he makes as a whole. And it seems, given that some shortcomings more than offset by the merits of a mass - the most positive. Life behind the wheel of this very harmonious "moderately sporty" Audi Coupe gets brighter and more pleasant, it is very dynamic, but do not curdle the blood transcendent extreme experiences, and this, whatever you say, and are attracted to this kind of avtomobile.Pozhaluy, S5 - and indeed " more than the Audi ". But when you consider that every new car built in Ingolstadt - always a significant qualitative step forward, it is absolutely authentic Audi.