Audi A5 launched

The Audi A5 is unveiled. Again.

This is the all-new Audi A5, which is the Ingolstadt firm's first competitor to the dominant BMW 3 Series since the old 80 quattro coupe died some time ago. It'll be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, but we've already seen it. How? Because industrial espionage is alive and well and living in Germany. Pics of the A5 were leaked on the internet over a week ago, causing some red faces round Audi way.

Still it doesn't take away from the importance of this new car, nor its beauty. The lines of the stunning Nuvolari concept car have been followed pretty faithfully and the A5 is yet another Audi design triumph, managing to look striking and subtle at the same time.

Under the bonnet, you'll find a choice of 1.8 petrol turbo, 3.2 petrol V6, 2.7 and 3.0-litre V6 TDI diesels and a range-topping V8 S5 model. Presumably, a bonkers RS5 is on the way, to take on the forthcoming V8-engined BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG.

But what's more significant is the chassis, which is the first in a new generation of Audi platforms that seeks to do away with the old criticism that Audis are beautiful cars, but aren't much fun to drive. For the first time since the late seventies, Audis will have engines that aren't slung out ahead of the front wheels like dumbells. The new platform allows the whole powertrain to move back, creating a better inherent balance. Recent experience of the TT and RS4 shows that Audi now has a far better handle on generating proper steering feel and tuning suspension to deal with lumpy roads, so the A5 could genuinely challenge the 3 Series for the title of best-handling car in its class. Certainly, the quattro four-wheel-drive models, with a 60% rear-drive bias should take the fight to the all-conquering Beemer.

Sales will start in June of this year, and prices will shadow the competiion pretty closely, so expect to pay around €54,000 for a 1.8, rising to around the €68,000 mark for the 3.2 FSi.

Meanwhile, Audi Ireland has just announced prices for the new TT convertible, starting from €54,340 for the 2.0 TFSi, rising to €66,040 for the 3.2 V6. The brilliant S-Tronic paddle-shift gearbox (recommended) is a €2,839 option on both.