2009 Audi S5

The Audi 2009 supersonic S5 is mannered muscle with poise and performance. This 2-door, 5-passenger luxury sports coupe is a carryover from 2008. Compared to its more sedate sibling, the A5, the S5 is out to impress - and impress it does. Like the A5, the new S5 features an engine placed behind the front wheels, resulting in better weight distribution between the axles. The A/S5 is underpinned by Audi's newest platform, B8, making its debut here. Endowed with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive with rear-biased torque split, the ‘09 sticks and handles hard and sure.

But the S5's most eye-watering trait is what’s under the hood. Its direct-injection, 4.2-liter V8 engine doesn’t just purr, it roars. And when it does, it goes 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, pushing out a top speed of 155 mpg.

The S5 may come in only one trim, but it has options. Take the transmission, which is either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic and paddle shifters. As you’d expect fuel efficiency is rated at a meager 14/21 mpg. But this isn’t a machine for a cross-country drive. And, true to its pedigree, this paragon of performance drinks only premium gas.

The S5 is instantly recognizable as an Audi, with the brand's customary wide-mouth grille flanked by lower air intakes. The car seems downright angry thanks to a grille with vertical chrome bars and angular headlights. The 2009 comes equipped with S5-specific standard features that improve its all-round handling and comfort: a sport-tuned suspension, bi-xenon headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front sport seats and aluminum interior trim elements. Options include a Bang & Olufsen audio system, voice-activated navigation, adaptive cruise control, and Audi Side Assist. The S5's dashboard looks much like that of Audi's larger A6. A broad dome overlaps the gauges and central information screen. An auxiliary input jack is newly standard, and the optional navigation system gains voice control.

At Audi, speed and safety go hand in hand. The ’09 gets all the safety checks and equipment with all-disc antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags, and an electronic stability system. Fast is secure.

This supersonic coupe is aimed at the likes of BMW's M3 coupe and Mercedes-Benz' CLK-coupe. It surpassed these and most cars on the road. And unlike them, the Audi is sure-footed throughout the winter months, thanks to its AWD, and lickety-split fast the rest of the time. Audi’s 2009 S5 is unmatched and quite probably untouchable.

By Michael Persson