Not long ago, we shared the news about some allegedly leaked sketches for numerous future SEAT cars -that may or may not be official- including some that showed a design proposal for an Audi A5 Sportback-like hatch. Now, a member of the Hungarian site 'Hvtm' has taken an A5 Sportback and turned it into a SEAT by restyling the car's nose and rear end as well as the profile. Check out both pictures after the jump and tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Source: Hvtmu
The just introduced A7 Sportback and its more compact sibling, the A5 Sportback, aren't the first fastback, liftback, hatchback, five-door coupe or whatever else you'd like to call cars with four doors and a rear hatch, from Audi.
The automaker from Ingolstadt toyed around with the idea of a fastback model in the upper-medium segment more than 30 years ago with the presentation of a hatchback version of the A6's predecessor, the 100, carrying the Avant nameplate.
That was before Audi began started using the Avant moniker for its Station Wagon models beginning with the third generation of the 100 in 1982.
The 100 Avant hatchback made its debut on the second generation of the 100 in 1977 and was sold alongside a two-door coupe and a four-door saloon version of the series. Here's what Audi had to say about the 100 Avant in an archived press release:
"Its hatchback and large tailgate characterized a new vehicle concept in the upper midsize segment. Due to its many possible uses, this estate car with four doors and split rear seats increasingly became a bestseller in years to come."
It's worth mentioning that while the body style of the A7 Sportback invokes the 1977 100 Avant, the design of the car's rear end as well as of the third side window with the upward pointing tip are inspired from the coupe version of the first 100 from 1969 - something that is noted in the A7's official press release.
1977 Audi 100 C2 Avant
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1969 Audi 100 C1 Coupe
The Grand Prix is Senner Tuning's take on the new Audi S5 Sportback. Starting with the engine, the German company brings output from the standard 3.0-liter TSI's 333 horsepower and 440Nm /325 lb-ft of torque to 375HP and 495Nm / 365 lb-ft. The power boost comes from a reconfigured ECU, the addition of a performance air filter as well as a custom sport exhaust system with four tail pipes.
The S5 Sportback Gran Prix also gets a set of sport springs that lower the ride height by up to 40mm or 1.58-inches and new two-piece 20-inch alloy wheels shod in 245/30 R20 tires up front and 295/25 R20 at the back.
Finally, the Audi's interior is revamped with a carbon fiber trim package.
ABT Sporstline has built its reputation on modifying just about anything on four wheels that comes out of the VW Group's plants. Their newest proposal concerns the Audi A5 Sportback which has been modified with a variety of aesthetic and performance goodies.
The tuner jazzes up the five door coupe's appearance with numerous aero add-ons, including a new front bumper, ABT's trademark grille, front fender air-vents and a rear apron with a diffuser shrouding chrome exhaust tips.
Customers can choose between 18-inch and 20-inch alloy rims which are available in two different designs.
For the time being, ABT offers power kits only for the A5 Sportback with the 2.0 TSI petrol and the 3.0 TDI diesel engines.
After the tuner gets its way with the powerplants, the entry-level 2.0 TSI's output is boosted from 180HP to a hardy 275HP while the 3.0-liter V6 diesel can be lifted from 240HP to either 282HP or 310HP. The most powerful version of the V6 diesel hits the 100km/h (62mph) mark in 5.8 seconds.
The tuner finishes off the package with a sport suspension and a high-performance braking system with either 345 mm or 380 mm disks and eight piston calipers.
Ingolstadt has whisked the covers off the sportiest version yet of the A5 Sportback, the S5 that will be displayed for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The S5 Sportback uses the same 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine as the latest-generation S4 sedan that cranks out 333 horsepower and 440Nm (324.53 lb.-ft.) of torque between 2,900 and 5,300 rpm.
The 3.0 TSI engine is mated to a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission that puts power to all four wheels through Audi's a Quattro drivetrain while a sport differential, which variably distributes power on the rear axle between the rear wheels, will be offered as an option.
The German firm cites a 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.4 seconds (S4 Sedan: 5.1 seconds) and an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h or 155mph.
Audi says that the S5 Sportback returns a combined fuel economy figure of 9.7 liters per 100 km which is the U.S. equivalent of 24.25 mpg.
In typical Audi fashion, a subtle body kit that includes a deeper front bumper, aluminum-look exterior mirror housings, side skirts, specific grille and a small boot lid spoiler plus 18-inch alloys shod in 245/40 tires distinguish the S5 from its lesser A5 siblings.
Inside, a three-spoke leather steering wheel with contrasting stitching, the aluminum trim, gray dials and of course the sport seats covered with Silk Nappa leather let you know you're behind the wheel of a special A5.
Sales of the Audi S5 Sportback are pegged to start in Spring 2010 with prices set to start in Germany from €57,900.
