Manual transmissions are becoming more and more rare these days, since more and more new car buyers choose the automatic gearbox in favor of a manual – see our Ed’s verdict on the Golf GTI manual vs DSG.

Lamborghini have already ditched the manual transmission, so did Ferrari and it also rumored that Porsche will abandon the manual gearbox for its performance models. Rumours have now also surface that Audi maybe next to make the chop.

The website for Audi enthusiasts, Fourtitude, reports that the German carmaker won’t offer manual transmissions in next year’s facelifted S4 and S5 in Europe. Audi will keep offering a six-speed manual for the Audi S4 and S5 models in the United States. Fourtitude contacted Barry Hoch, Audi’s product planning manager of Audi of America, who replied:

“They (Europe) lose the manual. We keep the manual! 100% confirmed, although I don’t know what other markets also get to keep it. I don’t want to fear for my life when I leave the office. The manual transmission enthusiasts are… umm… passionate individuals. Save the Manuals!”

Although many purists would argue a manual transmission offers more fun, Audi’s S-tronic transmission has a lot of advantages: the S-tronic can achieve faster shift times, there is no loss of torque transfer from the engine to the driving wheels during gear shifts, and it stands to offer improved fuel economy.

So, is this the end of the manual gearbox in a high performance car? Let us know what you think in the comment box below.

via GTSpirit

When the Audi A5 Coupé was launched in April 2008 it was, and still is, admired for being an athletic, elegant, handsome and stylish grand tourer. So when the cabriolet version arrived just shy of 18 months later, we were keen to discover what the new model’s effect would be on these adjectives.

Interior
Stylish and elegant are two adjectives that are certainly applicable to Audi’s current interiors, no matter which car in their range you refer to. This means you’ll find four very comfortable leather covered seats and steering wheel, ergonomic layout for driver controls and instrumentation, as well as everything you’d expect to find in terms of convenience such as climate control, cruise control, multi-function steering wheel and Audi’s MMI system with colour screen, to name but a few. Additional features are electronically adjustable front seats that move forward to provide easy entry and exit for rear passengers, as well as a seatbelt extender that moves forward from the B-pillar to ‘hand’ you the seatbelt and save you from having to search for it over your shoulder. With the canvas roof up, adult passengers will still find enough headroom in the rear, although legroom is lacking and is likely to result in some shuffling after an hour or so of travel time.

This car’s party trick is of course its fabric roof with glass rear window that can be folded away in just 15 seconds, or closed again in an extra two. Being able to open or close the roof while on the move, at speeds of up to 50 km/h, adds an element of practicality more useful than one may think. A one-touch button on the centre console lowers all four windows to give you true ‘wind in your hair’ motoring. Alternatively, Audi provide a wind deflector that covers the rear seats while keeping your precious hairdo in place and that can be folded and stored in the boot when not in use. Speaking of the boot and luggage space, the A5 Cabriolet has 380-litres on offer, which shrinks to 320 with the roof down, enough space to store luggage for a couples weekend getaway.

Whether the top is up or down, it’s a feel-good cockpit and one which can be enjoyed for hours on end.

Exterior
Audi has taken away none of the A5′s appeal in choosing to remove the roof. In fact, the A5 Cabriolet looks even better with the top down. With the now traditional Audi single-frame grille and eye-catching daytime LED running lights, crowned by the aluminium look windscreen frame, the A5 forges ahead with confidence. A taut and sweeping shoulder line, together with bold wheel arches, housing optional 19-inch wheels on our test car, make for a solid and elegant profile. The cabriolet is rounded off at the rear with a subtle integrated lip spoiler that differs from the hardtop with an integrated third brake light. Distinctive LED tail-lights and sleek diffuser framed by exhausts on either side complete the muscular yet elegant appeal of the car.

The Drive
An easy car to drive and a pleasure to live with, the A5 Cabriolet exudes class. The seating position is low, offering a sense of sportiness and security, with the car still wrapping itself around you even with the top down. We experienced some fierce south-easterly winds with the topless A5, certainly no conditions for top down motoring. However, the car always felt planted on the road and the fabric roof performed well to fend off the relentless wind, conceding a slight whistle only on rare occasions. A 15 mm thick insulating foam layer is also available to further reduce wind noise. When the weather plays along however, the A5 Cabriolet is best enjoyed with the roof neatly tucked away in the boot and the supplied wind-deflector in position, which works well even at high-speed.

Handling from the cabriolet is positive and the car tackled corners with alacrity, thanks to accurate steering, quattro permanent four-wheel drive and the optional low profile 19-inch tyres. The ride was firmer than expected partly due to the large 19′s, but they add to the car’s sex appeal and we’d have no regrets in adding them to our list of options.

Although there are no obvious signs of scuttle shake with the A5 Cab, the torsional rigidity of a car with no roof is always an issue and they’re prone to chassis flex when compared to their hardtop counterparts. Audi has done a commendable job of remedying this by strengthening strategic points of the chassis, in particular the walls of the side sills, transmission tunnel, front and rear cross members as well as the A-pillars. As a result the cabriolet weighs a hefty 250 kg’s over its coupé counterpart, which takes the edge off the 3.2 FSI’s sprinting performance. However, cruising is the cabrio’s forté and as such, the added weight and associated performance penalty are not too much of an issue.

Performance
The 3,2-litre V6 in the A5 Cabriolet 3.2 FSI produces 195 kW and 330 N.m of torque from 3 000 rpm to 5 000 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is 0.5 seconds slower than the lighter coupé model at a claimed 6.9 seconds, but the car doesn’t feel this quick. In reality this cabrio is not going to blow off any hot hatches, but then that’s not a game this car cares to play. Mated to Audi’s 7-speed S tronic gearbox, progress in the 3.2 FSI cabrio is swift and wonderfully smooth. However, the 7th gear does not make as much sense matched with this petrol engine as it does with Audi’s 3,0-litre diesel, which has 170 N.m more torque that saves you having to shift down as often. As a result we preferred using the S tronic’s sport mode, which made use of only 6 gears and is more responsive. With a top speed of 246 km/h the cabrio is no slouch and covers distance quickly and comfortably. Our pick of the range would be the diesel though, as it is quicker off the mark, has lower fuel consumption and works better with the 7-speed S tronic box.

What we like…

• Great looking, classy 2-door cabriolet makes for superb drop-top motoring.
• Solid and well-built feel in every aspect.
• Good handling and road manners mean grace with sufficient pace.

What we would like…

• Better sound quality from the standard sound system – it lacked a bit of depth.
• Slightly more vocal exhausts to hear the great sounding V6 more often.

“The Audi Q5 is the sports car of the SUV landscape, and the perfect vehicle for an active lifestyle – it is progressive and dynamic, spacious, multifunctional and comfortable.” This is what Audi had to say when they launched their Q5 SUV earlier this year. We covered over 600km in Audi’s Q5 3.0 TDI Quattro S tronic to decide for ourselves.

Exterior
Chunky, bold and solid. These are the words that come to mind when we look at the Audi Q5. Huge 20-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, high shoulder line, large single-frame front grille and stubby rear-end, define the Q5′s presence on the road. The LED day-time running lights in front, and tail-lights at the rear, further accentuate the lines and contours of the Q5,  making it one stylish and elegant SUV – not simply a down-sized Q7. However, some features are hidden from view, such as a video camera mounted next to the tailgate lever, as well as lights beneath the side mirrors, which illuminate the ground next to the car at night. Despite what its proportions may suggest, the Q5 has the lowest drag coefficient in its class of just 0,33 Cd.

Interior
Inside, our Q5 test vehicle was dripping with luxuries, however, they merely served to enhance what is already a superbly appointed and high quality interior. Looking beyond these optional luxuries, such as the panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation, park distance control with camera, bluetooth cellphone preparation and voice command recognition, the Audi Q5 offers its occupants a supremely comfortable environment, with enough support, head and leg room to rival any executive saloon. Which is no surprise really, as the Q5 is built upon Audi’s Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) shared with that of the A4 sedan and A5 coupe. From a drivers perspective, all controls are within easy reach and found in logical positions. The Q5 provides ample visibility from all angles and coupled with the park distance control, as standard equipment, makes driving in town anything but intimidating. Audi’s third-generation Multi Media Interface (MMI) system, features a full colour, hi-resolution screen and works well with the joystick controller. Admittedly it took us a bit of time to get used to the system, but we managed to find our way around the menu’s and use the sat-nav without begging for help from a 5-year old. Speaking of which, if we did have to ask one – and once they’d finished teaching us how to connect our cellphone via bluetooth – there is plenty of space for them and their mates in the boot. 540-litres of luggage space can be increased to 1560-litres with the rear seats folded down – more than enough space for the majority of your cargo needs.

The Drive
What can we say, we were surprised and impressed with the ride and handling of the Audi Q5 3.0 TDI. Riding 200 mm above the ground and weighing in at 1 865 kg, we did not expect the ‘compact’ SUV to handle the way the Q5 does. The steering is accurate, although without providing much feedback. Body roll is minimal and with the huge 255/45 R20 sized tyres biting into the road, the Q5 is able to negotiate turns at a surprising rate. The athleticism of the Audi Q5 is partly due to the Audi Drive Select (ADS) system. The push-button system on the centre console allows the driver to choose between comfort, dynamic, and auto settings. Switching between these settings creates a noticeable change in throttle response, gear change points, the electronically controlled suspension damping, and the power-steering ratio. When in ‘dynamic’ mode the Q5 responds crisply to steering, throttle and gear change inputs, providing genuine car-like handling, which coupled with Quattro all-wheel drive, inspires confidence and spirited driving – even in a diesel.

Performance
As we mentioned, the ADS system is only part of the equation that makes the Q5 the best compact SUV we’ve tested, to date. The other part is the 3,0-litre TDI diesel, which pushes out 176 kW and 500 N.m of torque from just 1500 rpm. Quiet, refined, plenty of power and torque, and relatively frugal consumption make the 3,0-litre TDI a benchmark engine in our book. To put the torque figure in perspective, the Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro we tested last month, produces just 30 N.m more, but you have to step on the gas to the tune of 6500 rpm to unleash it all. Usually you’d find a torquey engine to be a relaxing drive on the open road, where it would allow you to climb hills or overtake without the fuss of changing down a gear or two. But with the Q5 this is your experience no matter what the situation. Be it traffic or a cross-country sojourn, the Q5 handles it without batting an eye-lid and ensures you arrive at your destination feeling just as fresh as when you left. We should mention that helping the Q5 deliver its power to the road is a new 7-speed S tronic gearbox. As with all dual-clutch gearboxes these days, it capitalises on the torque of the motor to bring consumption down and provide lightening quick changes. Changes can be made either via the steering mounted paddle shifters or the sequential style motion of the gear level.

What we like…

• Bold, elegant styling with definition provided by the LED lights and flowing lines.
• Brilliant diesel engine provides refinement and performance.
• Audi Drive Select gives you a boulevard cruiser or a performance SUV.
• Comfortable and supportive seats inside a luxurious cabin – its a great place to be.
  

What we would like…

• A USB/iPod connection as standard – the stereo jack is adequate but doesn’t make use of the MMI system.
  
• An Audi Q5 parked in our garage please – it really is very very good.