The A5 range also includes the coupe, cabriolet, and "Sportback"—a five-door liftback with a fastback roofline—derived from the Audi A4 saloon and estate models.

For the fourth-generation A4 (B8), Audi decided to spin off the cabriolet, along with a new coupé and four-door fastback sedan, into a distinct nameplate as the A5.

The A5 was the first vehicle in the B8 family to be released (the others being the A4 and the Q5 crossover SUV), all of which were based on the Audi MLP (Modular Longitudinal Platform).

It adopted design elements from the Nuvolari quattro concept car and debuted with a 3.2-litre FSI V6 engine, delivering 195 kW (265 PS; 261 hp).

Although not originally sold in the United States and Canada,[17] the A5 Sportback entered the North American market as a 2018 model at the beginning of 2017.

In many markets, the S5 includes as standard, 19-inch alloy wheels with a five parallel spoke design, bigger brakes, heated leather sport seats, and other convenience features, some of which are available only as an option on the A5.

Changes for the 2010 model year include LED tail lamps, the introduction of Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels, and new optional equipment such as Leather/Alcantara seats.

The 2010–12 Audi S5 coupé had a 4.2 litre fuel stratified injection (FSI) V8 engine[4] that produces 260 kW (349 hp), while the S5 Cabriolet and Sportback have a supercharged 3.0 litre TFSI V6 engine producing 245 kW (329 hp) which is shared with the 2010 Audi S4 3.0 TFSI quattro sedan and avant.

[22] The Aluminium A5 Coupé is a prototype vehicle demonstrating the aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) concept.

It has 19 inch alloy wheels in an exclusive five arm structure design with 275/35 tires (optional 19 inch winter wheels), 365 mm (14.37 in) diameter ventilated aluminium front brake discs (optional 380 mm (14.96 in) diameter carbon ceramic front brake discs), aluminium 8 piston brake calipers with RS logos in high-gloss black, electronic stabilization program with integrated sport mode, speed dependent servotronic steering, Audi drive select with three (4 with MMI navigation system) modes of operation (comfort, auto, and dynamic, optional custom), and optional dynamic steering.

Aesthetically, the RS5 features a single-frame grille with a shiny charcoal gray rhombus pattern grid, Xenon plus headlights with a sweeping strip of LED daytime running lights, redesigned bumper tapers downward into a splitter, flared fenders inspired by Audi Quattro, side sills with angular caps, trim strips with aluminum look on the single-frame grille and near the side windows and the outside mirrors; a choice of 8 body colours, two oval exhaust pipes integrated within the bumper, spoiler in the tailgate automatically extends at 120 km/h (75 mph) and retracts at 80 km/h (50 mph),[25] extensively clad underbody integrating air vents for the seven-speed S-Tronic and the front brakes.

In the cockpit, the model has electrically adjustable sports seats in leather/Alcantara combination upholstery with side sections and integrated head restraints (optional bucket seats with more prominent contours and folding backrests, ventilated and luxuriously upholstered climate-controlled comfort seats; optional seat upholstery featuring special leathers and colours as well as silver headlining), steering wheel upholstered in perforated leather, black gauges with white lettering and distinctive scaling, driver information system with integrated lap timer and an oil temperature gauge, black interior with decorative inlays made of carbon fibre (optional dark stainless-steel mesh, black piano finish or brushed aluminum inlay), instrument panel fascia in piano finish, pedals, footrests, optional MMI navigation systems' control buttons in aluminum; door handles with two slim strips, aluminum inserts at door sill trims and RS 5 logos, optional suede-covered controls and floor mats bearing RS 5 logos, sport exhaust system with a sound flap and black tailpipe trims.

The RS5 weighs 1,800 kg (3,968 lb), with 56.3 percent at the front and 43.7 in the rear which makes it prone to understeer, Audi has added two electro-mechanical systems to counter its nose-heaviness.

The stability-control system attempts to stop front-end plow before it happens by squeezing the brakes on the inside wheels which effectively drag those tires enough to pull the car into the corner.

It includes a 2.0 TFSI engine rated 132 kW (179 PS; 177 hp) and 320 N⋅m (236 lbf⋅ft) torque, six-gear manual quattro drivetrain.

It included Prestige Package, Daytona Grey body colour, 19-inch 5-spoke Rotor design wheels, a two-tone Polar Silver and Black S5 sport seats, silver contrast stitching on the seats, armrests, shifter and steering wheel; floor mats with a silver leather border, aluminum 'Audi exclusive' badges on door panels, carbon fibre beltline and a piano black instrument cluster.

[41] The Ethanol E100 Coupé clinched overall victory in the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2010 eco rally over a distance of 350 kilometers.

The new front end includes pronounced air inlets, revamped grilles, and flat fog lights.

Changes to S5 (available as Sportback, Coupé and Cabriolet) include the 3.0 TFSI (333PS) engines on all models, new lights, modified body details, new crystal effect paint finishes, Quattro drive with the crown-gear centre differential, electromechanical power steering, special S sport suspension, standard 18-inch wheels.

[45] Changes to the RS5 Coupé for 2012 included upgraded dampers and springs on the suspension front, new electric power steering replacing engine-driven hydraulic power steering, exclusive retractable rear spoiler, red cam covers, and a carbon fibre intake manifold, optional piano black trim, twenty-inch graphite-coloured wheels, a sport exhaust system with black finishers.

A race version of the S5, the RS5 has a valved exhaust whose note can be tuned to suit driving conditions and personal preference.

[53] It includes a V8 engine rated at 340 kW (462 PS; 456 hp) with a new 6-speed sequential semi-automatic transmission, pneumatically-operated suspension using paddle-shifters on the steering wheel, engine electronics (Bosch MS 5.1) and the central display from Audi R8 LMS, larger and wider tires from Hankook, 120-litre (26 imp gal; 32 US gal) safety fuel tank inside a carbon fibre cell, and a larger rear wing.

As part of the 2012 A5 launch in the United Kingdom, BBH London, Park Pictures, The Whitehouse and The Mill produced a television advert titled 'The Swan' (directed by Joachim Back), inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's tale of 'The Ugly Duckling'.

The commercial featured black and white shots of the rebodied 1920 Audi concept car designed by Audi engineer Paul Jaray, trawling the streets of a sleepy Bavarian village, the streamlined model gets shunned by disapproving locals not taking too well to the new aerodynamic design.

Available in Sportback, Coupé, Cabriolet bodies, it includes 3.0 TFSI engine rated 333 PS (245 kW; 328 hp) and 440 N⋅m (325 ft⋅lbf), seven-speed S-Tronic transmission, S sport suspension, electronically controlled shock absorbers, dynamic steering, optional Audi drive select, 18-inch aluminum wheels.

[59] Available in Coupé and Cabriolet bodies, it is a version of A5 with 4.2 FSI engine rated at 450 PS (331 kW; 444 hp) and 500 N⋅m (369 ft⋅lbf), seven-speed S-Tronic transmission, quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with crown-gear centre differential and torque vectoring (optional quattro with sport differential rear axle), 20 mm (0.79 in) lower body, electromechanical power steering, exclusive 19-inch forged alloy wheels, optional carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs, Audi drive select dynamics system, optional RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC).

The all-new A5 and S5 Coupé, based on the ninth generation of the Volkswagen Group MLB Platform, were unveiled in June 2016.

Inside the S5 has standard front bucket seats with diamond-shaped stitching, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with S badging.

The RS 5 Coupé is powered by a 2.9 litre TFSI V6 twin turbo engine producing 331 kW (450 PS; 444 hp) and 600 N⋅m (443 lb⋅ft) of torque that is also used in the Panamera 4S.

Like all other vehicles based on the PPC and PPE, it uses the E³ 1.2 software platform developed by Volkswagen subsidiary Cariad.