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It took three years for it to come here, but a car as sleek as the Audi A5 can at least claim to be fashionably late. We just got back from the Audi Hangar in Glenmarie where the long awaited A5 was unveiled to the media and guests. There’s only one spec, for now – the 2.0 TFSI with 211 bhp and 350 Nm of torque from 1,500-4,200 rpm. This is paired to a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, which is Audi’s name for DSG.

This is the direct injected turbo EA888 engine, as found in the Mk6 Golf GTI, but with torque boosted by a substantial 70 Nm over the VW, and made at 200 rpm lower. This translates to 0-100 km/h acceleration of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 245 km/h. That sort of performance from just two litres, coupled with 13.3 km/l fuel economy, is why Euromobil isn’t offering a bigger engine, but if you really want to fight the downsizing trend, special orders will be considered.

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The handsome A5 Quattro retails for RM399,900 (on-the-road without insurance) which is more expensive than the recently facelifted 218 bhp/250 Nm BMW 325i Coupe, which goes for RM378,800. However, this S Line A5 is fully loaded with kit. Among the standard equipment are six airbags, ESP, adaptive xenons with Audi’s trademark LED running lights and Audi Drive Select damping control with three modes – Auto, Comfort and Dynamic. A tyre pressure monitoring system and electric parking brake is standard, too.

The familiar but classy and solidly built cabin boasts a Bang & Olufsen sound system (10 channel amplifier, 14 speakers, 505 watts output) with iPod, USB and Bluetooth compatibility. The system can accept six CDs and SD cards. There’s also a three-zone climate control system and Milano leather sports seats with embossed S Line logo plus an S Line multifunction steering wheel.

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Euromobil wants to sell 20 to 30 A5s from now till the end of the year, and we reckon that they’ll have no problems doing that. At the launch, Euromobil chairman Dato’ Sri Khamil Jamil promised that the waiting period shouldn’t be more than four months, a considerably shorter time than the Q5’s epic waiting list. What’s next for the brand? Euromobil is seriously looking at bringing in the A5 Sportback, which is a four-door coupe version of this car.

They are also looking into CKD assembly in Pekan which should be able to bring down the prices of the car as well as reduce waiting lists for the CKD models. To do this they need to sell at least 1,000 cars annually and this year’s target is about 700, so we have about 300 units to go before we see locally assembled Audis here.

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