2008 Audi S5

Cops should go easy on Audi S5 owners.

When a new S5 driver asks, "Really, I was going 98 mph?" or says, "Yes, I knew I was going fast, but not thatfast," he will be telling the truth.

From behind the wheel of the 2008 Audi S5, the rest of the world slows down. Speeding becomes more of an innocent act than a traffic infraction. Free passes should come in the glove box of this $50,000 coupe, reading, "Forgive me officer, for I know not what I drive."

And most people hopping into the S5 really won't know what they're about to take for a spin. The luxurious interior, sleek styling and nearly silent ride mask the beast in this machine.

The performance version of the Audi's new A5, the S5 leaves aggressiveness under the hood. Its sophisticated looks hint at power but never boast. It's like an old veteran football player scoring a touchdown and handing the ball to the ref. No showboating, no smack talking, just confidence.

And like football, car design is a game of inches: The 19-inch wheels push out to the car's corners, stretching the wheelbase to 108 inches. With an overall length of 182 inches, the S5 remains very low (53.9 inches tall) but still very wide (73 inches) -- all-important measurements in a car's performance. It is a few inches wider than its German competitors, such as the turbo-charged BMW 3-Series coupe and the more powerful Mercedes-Benz CLK 550.

Clean, chiseled lines flow from the front to the back along the coupe's shoulder. The fenders bulge out slightly, suggesting speed but never giving away its secrets. The roofline curves elegantly to the back, tasteful and artistic. Pure Audi -- you know the S5 belongs in the German carmaker's family, but you're not sure where. Somehow the silver mirrors, four tailpipes, LED trim on the headlights and other S5 cues speak to your emotions in a primal "I gotta go fast" kind of way.

Even the front end, with its small S5 badging and oversized front grille denotes power but never shouts. There's nothing in-your-face with this car. It teases you with its striking looks but maintains its serious Fatherland composure.

Built to appreciate

Other drivers won't have much time to admire the S5 though, because it blasts its way through traffic.

Audi's 4.2-liter FSI V8 pumps 354-horses and 325-foot-pounds of torque through the 3,792-pound S5. It's a strong, magnificent heart. From a standstill, the S5 hits 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and its full torque kicks in at 3,500 rpm, which lets you feel the car's power through acceleration instead of just at the high rpm end.

While many drivers may not understand torque curves -- or what happens when Audi designs its transaxle so it can push the engine back to provide better balance, or the performance advantages of having all-wheel drive with 60 percent of the car's power in the rear axle -- every driver will feel it.

It's a surgical scalpel precisely cutting up every road it crosses. The steering is exact, even while accelerating through tight corners, and at high speeds, it's nicely weighted. The ride is clean and smooth, as the tight suspension holds corners but cleans up bumps along Interstate 75.

The six-speed manual transmission is silky, clicking through each gear with short, fast throws. No automatic transmission is offered, a move I applaud because it means if you want to drive the S5, you first need to learn how to drive.

It's the total combination of ride, handling and power that create the speed deception. You never notice it until you're washed in red and blue lights trying to catch up.

Putting the driver first

The final piece de r�sistance is the inside of the S5. It's immaculate.

Audi continues to outshine other luxury sports cars with well-designed and executed interiors. Audi designers note comfort by shoulder room, and my test vehicle, complete with S5 sport seats, offered 54.3 inches of shoulder room. Designed for two people, the second row feels cramped and lacks head room because of the sloping roof. But it's comfortable enough for around-the-town jaunts. Children would be comfortable, as long as they don't mind a modest view, thanks to the S5's high beltline.

My European spec test vehicle came with Magnum Red premium leather seats, the boldest design statement in the vehicle. It's just the right amount of attitude to go with this Audi, though there are three other interior color choices that are much more subtle. Between the eight-way adjustable seat and the telescoping and tilting racing steering wheel, it's easy to find the perfect driving position. Well, not that easy, with so many choices, I became the Goldie Locks of seat positions, tweaking this and adjusting that until it was just right.

The instrument panel is designed for the driver and no one else. Every gauge is oriented toward the driver. The navigation screen, which also operates the stereo, works off a single knob between the driver and passenger seats, known by Audi as the MMI, or Multi Media Interface. It takes a day or two to get used to the different menu items, but it's easy once you get the hang of it. Ultimately, the system lets you keep your eyes on the road longer without fumbling for controls.

The best Audi offers

One failure of the S5 is its huge optional sunroof. It only tilts ajar instead of actually opening. Audi decided to do this because it would have had to either make the roof thicker or have an ugly piece of glass hanging next to an open hole.

Audi says it just couldn't deface the car's beautiful profile with some chunk of glass. It's the kind of logic an enthusiast or German unquestionably understands.

An American, however, may not appreciate having a giant window to the world that doesn't open. Even though they may never use it, the fact that they can't is more frustrating than a 105 mph breeze blasting down your neck.

But that's a minor misgiving, no different than not having cruise control on this vehicle -- why on Earth would you notwant to drive this car every second you're in it? That's like making the perfect banana split and letting someone else eat it.

This machine brings out the best Audi offers: Sophisticated but understated design, superior performance through science and technology and a passion for the open road only truly understood in a country with no speed limits.

As for us Americans, we may be able to buy into that passion, but we need to remember our roads still have limits.

And when an officer taps on the window of your S5 and asks you for your license and registration, you really shouldn't be surprised.

source: info.detnews.com