Audi, Forget the A4 Replacement Go Straight for the Sportback

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland) 02/20/2014 at 10:07 • Filed to: 4 Door Coupes, Audi, A5 Sportback, articles

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I have almost come to terms with the fact that we are probably not getting any Avants here in the US. This is a sad realization, but we have been through it a million times, "Wagons don't sell." But you know what does sell? Four-door coupe thingies! Not only do they sell, but people will pay MORE for a 4 door version of a coupe that already has a sedan counterpart. Pure madness!

We can all agree BMW's Grand Coupe thing has gotten out of control, but BMW will sell the pants off these. In terms of other 4 door coupes, Mercedes has sold more than eight thousand CLS models and a whopping 14 thousand CLAs in '13. It should be mentioned that the CLA was only on sale for 4 months. Of course the main explanation for those numbers is the lower cost of entry compared to most Mercedes models. However, If Audi wants to stay in the game they need to answer and answer fast. The answer is simple: A5 Sportback.

The A7 does fairly well selling at about 8500 units in '13 but it is quite expensive and out of reach for a large portion of luxury buyers. If Audi can move over 18k A5 coupes last year, I see no reason why they couldn't break 20-25k units on the Sportback.

Throw in some oil-burning motor options in addition to the S/RS variants and Audi is bound to have another home run on their hands. As a very vocal wagon fanatic that clamors for more long-roofs every chance I get, I think I could "settle" for Sportback with a 2.0T and Quattro. Throw in a 3-pedal option and you have me sold! Yes, I know the S/RS variants would be so much cooler, but I am realistic on what my budget could handle.

Now, if Audi really wants to drop a bomb they won't do what BMW did and make a 4 door coupe that is more expensive than the 2-door version. They should forget the A4 sedan and bring the A5 Sportback into the A4 price range. With the A3 will handling the entry level sedan sales, the A5 Sportback would then undercut the 4 Grand Coupe while at the same time do battle with the next generation C-class, which by the way, is riding the line between sedan and 4-door coupe.

I realize this scenario is unlikely and if we do get the Sportback here in the US pricing it will probably be in line with the 4 Grand Coupe. But if Audi wants to put serious dent in the sales numbers of their competition they would be wise not to play the same game.

What say you readers…. should the A5 Sportback replace the A4? Do direct battle with the 4 Grand Coupe? Or stay on the other side of the ocean?

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is a professional car buying consultant, lover of all things automotive and a bit wagon obsessed. You can find more ramblings and plenty of carporn !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

(Lead image via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , A5 Sportback via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , 4 series Grand Coupe and C-class via Jalopnik. All sales figures via GoodCarBadCar.net)

ssidd47 > Tom McParland 02/20/2014 at 10:10

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Good point. I'm impressed with the A7/CLS sales. I had no idea they were so high.
I would totally buy a sport back over a sedan any day.

hethoughtofcars > Tom McParland 02/20/2014 at 10:24

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I tend to agree, but I highly doubt Audi does. The A4 to Audi is the 3 series to BMW, the C-class to Mercedes, the ES300 to Lexus. To be even more cliche, the A4 is Audi's bread and butter, which you simply don't take a risk on. Look at Infiniti having to bring back the G37 because no one understood the Q50 moniker. The A4 might someday be offered in non-wagon 5 door form, but it will be a variant and almost certainly not the standard.

That said, like pretty much everyone but BMW product planners, I hated the idea of a 4 series coupe sedan (er...Gran Coupe). But that hatch design and the presumably sportier 4 series chassis, has made it something I seriously have a case of WANT NOW. Or to use the meme: Shut Up and Take My Money!

Party-vi > Tom McParland 02/20/2014 at 10:26

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Ninja-edit.

/GoodguyMod

Tom McParland > Party-vi 02/20/2014 at 10:38

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Thanks what did you change?

Party-vi > Tom McParland 02/20/2014 at 10:39

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"BMW will sell the pants of these." Added an extra "f" to "of".

Unless you were stating BMW will literally sell pants made for the 4 GC.

Tom McParland > Party-vi 02/20/2014 at 10:41

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Thanks bud!

Brian Silvestro > Tom McParland 02/20/2014 at 11:35

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I bet if this gets FP'd half the readers are gonna be like, "There's such a thing as an A5 Sportback!?"

On a more serious note, I think you're completely correct. If people are willing to pay more for better looks and less functionality (Ex: People would rather have an A3 sedan than a hatchback because they think it looks better, but provides less usability, and same goes for the Fiesta and Focus) then Audi should definitely capitalize on it.

Tom McParland > Brian Silvestro 02/20/2014 at 11:36

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Probably not going to get FP'd it got buried too fast. Oh well...there is always next time.

Brian Silvestro > Tom McParland 02/20/2014 at 11:37

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You should repost it sometime today, like lunchtime or something.

MylesD > Tom McParland 02/24/2014 at 19:30

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I think the A5 sport back might be exactly what I've wanted...I didn't even know.

jfrid710 > Tom McParland 02/24/2014 at 19:33

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YES. The sportback is a such a good looking car. It's more practical and offering it at the same price as the A4 would set them apart from BMW and Merc. 3 Pedals and an S / RS model would just be the cherry on top of a really really ridiculously good looking cake

jayfieldstampa > Tom McParland 02/24/2014 at 19:43

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I would not replace the A4 but I would bring the A5 sportback to the states. I have two reasons why it hasn't showed here. One reason is it cuts into A7 sales the other is something about US DOT compliance with the slant of the rear window. I say bring it. When I lived in Germany the s-line or S version looked amazing. I would trade my 2012 S5 coupe in a heartbeat for the sportback.

Lastly bringing the sportback adds a litty something different to look at in the Audi line up. Great article

Tom McParland > jayfieldstampa 02/24/2014 at 19:46

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I wasn't totally serious...but I do hope the Sportback reaches our shores. My contacts at the Audi dealerships have a good feeling about it

Rico > Tom McParland 02/24/2014 at 21:28

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Yes Yes Yes. 1 Thousand Times Yes. The A7 is one of the sexiest cars on the road, every time I see one I become almost entranced. An A5 Sportback "baby" A7 would be fantastic and the point you make about pricing it at the A5 level is dead on. However, we know Audi, or no other company for that matter would ever do such a thing because it makes too much sense.

bob and john > Tom McParland 02/24/2014 at 22:01

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first time i saw one it confused the shit out of me. (saw it in romania on a family visit. i live in canada) and i spent the next 3 days trying to find it and figure out what the hell it was.

4theppl > Tom McParland 02/25/2014 at 00:36

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I first saw the A5 Sportback in Europe a couple of years ago. If anything, its proportions are even nicer than the A7's. I think it would be a killer replacement for the A4. Up until the latest version of the 3 series, the A4 always looked better than its Bavarian competitor, but I don't think that's true anymore. But the A5 is definitely better looking than the 3 series (and the 4 series, too).

ImOld > Brian Silvestro 02/25/2014 at 02:38

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I could swear I saw an A5 sportback in Italy this summer.

Abe Froman > Tom McParland 02/25/2014 at 07:14

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thats a hell yeah

kyngfish > Rico 02/25/2014 at 07:30

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Yeah see that's the thing. The Audi A7 is a good looking car. The CLS is as well. Not one of the BMW fastback looks right and they sell proportionally worse.

Brian Silvestro > ImOld 02/25/2014 at 08:10

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That's because they exist! They're sold in Europe, but not America.

Rico > kyngfish 02/25/2014 at 09:42

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I actually think the 4 GC and the 6 GC look very, very nice. Today I'd never take a 3 over a 4 GC because to me the 3 looks average and is literally everywhere, I'd actually prefer a 2 Series to a 3 if the 4 was absolutely a no go. And I'd take a 6GC over a 5 Series because I've never been big on the newer 5ers styling.

kyngfish > Rico 02/25/2014 at 09:51

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I see what you mean, but to me it just looks like a bigger, ungainlier car. The A7 looks purpose-built, whereas the Gran Coupes almost look like an afterthought. The CLS is handsome, but I must say I REALLY don't think it comes into its own until you get it into AMG trim.

I'm not a fan of Audi styling similarities, BUT: I love the A7 and the (dated) A5. Favorite European car designs right now in order are, SLS, 911, MB CL, BMW 6, MB C (Current class in AMG configuration), A7, and A5. I like the last gen M3 and 335i(s) coupe, but they can keep the current 3, and honestly, I don't think the current 4 is as handsome as the E92-3. The current 6 aside, I think the last truly handsome design BMW had was the E38.

quattrofl > Tom McParland 02/25/2014 at 10:29

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this colour = sex

Rico > kyngfish 02/25/2014 at 10:36

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That's quite a list you've got there. I too put the SLS above every other car aside from the Audi R8 which I would kill at least 3 leprechauns for.

The CLS is one of my favorite MB cars and the newest one in AMG trim looks amazing. Last Gen M3 is also equally amazing but you're right the newer 3 is okay at best, definitely would rather have an E92. The 2 Series is actually rather good looking especially in m235i trim.

6 Series GC looks really great and even more so in person, definitely doesn't seem like an after thought. The 4 Series and the 4GC seem like BMW's attempt to "sharpen" their line up to better compete with Audi and MB who's been eating their lunch over the past 5 years in the design dept.

Andrew T. Maness > Tom McParland 02/25/2014 at 13:08

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I think an A4 sport back would be a pretty car but for some reason I'd actually like to see Audi not go down the rabbit hole that BMW has.

Audi sells a ton of cars in the US because they have the market covered without having over saturated it. Anytime a friend is looking for a car I suggest a used A3, usually the TDI because all young people want is a hatchback that has good fuel economy, at least that's what automakers are trying to sell us on. The fact that there are a ton of used A3's now available for mostly reasonable prices gives buyers a chance to get into club Bavaria that previously wouldn't have.

jps0429 > Tom McParland 02/26/2014 at 17:37

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You do realize that the BMW is called the "Gran Coupe", right?

Not Grand Coupe.

Tom McParland > jps0429 02/26/2014 at 17:56

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Freud slip