A  performance car today, from Audi’s stable, the S5 Coupe.

Part of the Audi A5 family including Coupe, Sportback and Cabriolet bodies, the S obviously standing for Sport. The Coupe and Sportback are also available in a more potent RS5 grade but that’s another story.

The two-door S5 Coupe I tested $108,700. Along with this family of Audi’s it received a mid-life update late last year. No sheet metal changes but inside, a new centre console plus a new 10.1 inch multimedia screen and small changes to the excellent Virtual Cockpit instrument display. The 3.0-litre twin-scroll turbo V6 engine remains unchanged with 500Nm of torque from just 1370 revs, so too the 8-speed sport automatic gearbox driving through Audi’s Quattro or all-wheel-drive system.

Like the S6 sedan I raved about last year the S5 Coupe is simply stunning on road – dynamic performance with an astonishing grip on the road it’s a driver’s car through and through – a subtle superbly equipped performance road car with five drive modes at the pinnacle level of motoring with a high level of active and passive safety.

Subjective, but I would probably skew my preference to the Audi S5 Sportback five-door body sitting on a longer 60mm. wheelbase. The Coupe’s long doors difficult in parking situations with access to the rear as always in two doors rather awkward.

I’m David Berthon.

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