Interior and infotainment
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The interior design philosophy
In its concept, the interior conveys clear structure on the one hand but also emphasizes homely ambiance on the other. The colors and high-quality materials, some of which are made from recycled plastics, extend seamlessly to the seat upholstery. The materials were selected not only from a functional point of view but to ensure a clear design differentiation between the various areas in the interior. Comfort-oriented spaces are emphasized with generous surfaces and soft materials.
The interior design of the new Audi A5 is based on four characteristic features. Firstly, the interior has a Human-Centric design, i.e., it is consistently geared towards the needs of its users. The second special feature is the Digital Stage, which is clearly arranged in front of the occupants in the form of the Audi MMI displays. With its Material Driven Design, the new Audi A5 meets the demand for a generous sense of space with high comfort. The clear layout and logical operation also provide an overview of all situations and form the fourth feature, Visual Clarity.
Human Centric
The precise structure of the new interior blends and balances technology, aesthetics, and sustainability. The deliberate placement of elements in the foreground or background creates a three-dimensional spatial architecture individually tailored to each occupant in terms of design and ergonomics and conveys a generous sense of space.
Digital Stage
The Digital Stage with the Audi MMI panoramic display and the optional MMI passenger display shape the interior. The clearly arranged displays are perfectly integrated into the interior. The slim, free-standing Audi MMI panoramic display features a curved design and OLED technology (organic light-emitting diodes). While the curved shape of the display ensures optimum accessibility of the touch area, the design of the outer contour is strongly reminiscent of the typical Audi Singleframe.
The panoramic display emphasizes the driver-orientated dashboard and provides a sharpened cockpit feeling, giving the driver a perfect overview. Special ambiance lighting sets the scene for the digital stage and makes the curved display appear to float.
The “black panel” architecture directly below extends from the driver's to the passenger's side, creating space for the optional MMI passenger display. Active Privacy Mode allows passengers to use the infotainment system without the driver becoming visually distracted. At the same time, it offers support with tasks, such as navigation. In the base version, a black high-gloss panel is installed instead.
Material Driven Design
To bring contrast and balance to the digital and technical areas, the new interior of the Audi A5 features the so-called “Softwrap”. It runs from door to door across the entire width of the dashboard and visually stretches the interior horizontally. Together with the cloth panels in the doors and armrests, this creates a homely ambiance. This Material Driven Design philosophy allows customers to customize the interior to fit their tastes. The interior colors and high-quality materials extend to the seats and the Softwrap. The seats, Softwrap, door mirror, and armrests in the sporty interior S line equipment line feature Cascade cloth and Dinamica microfiber manufactured using sustainable materials primarily from recycled polyester.
The Cascade cloth is reminiscent of natural materials such as wool and is not additionally dyed. It is based on recycled materials such as selvages and recycled polyester. The edging is made from Impressum cloth, which is mainly produced from recycled plastic fibers. Dinamica looks and feels like suede but is made from up to 47 percent recycled polyester sourced from discarded textiles, among other things. The applications in the door and center console complete the overall look. The natural brown apple wood comes mainly from old apple trees from southern Germany.
The materials were also selected from a functional point of view and to clearly differentiate between the various areas of the vehicle interior. Comfort-oriented areas are emphasized with generous surfaces and soft materials, such as Dinamica microfiber containing recycled material. In contrast, the precisely designed control areas are finished in high-quality, high-gloss black to ensure the necessary clarity when interacting with the vehicle. The “Smart Door Panel” is an excellent example of this material philosophy. The control element in the “black panel” styling is integrated into the handle of the driver's door and blends seamlessly into the modern interior. It contains the most essential functions, such as mirror settings, seat and door functions, and settings to aid visibility, such as light controls, window defrost, and heated mirrors.
Visual Clarity
Functionality and aesthetics are realized in the interior down to the smallest detail. This design approach is evident in the door opener and air vents. These are formally connected to each other via trim that visually continues from the control panel to the door. The contour light and the exit warning function are integrated into this detailed element. The Bang & Olufsen lettering is illuminated in appropriately equipped vehicles. Low-lying, slim, horizontally aligned air vents harmoniously complete the overall picture. This exceptionally high-quality area demonstrates how the clever integration of functions leads to clarity in design.
Interior light design
The Audi A5 family’s distinctive interior design is also unmistakable in the dark. The contour lighting in the dashboard and doors emphasizes the width of the interior. The indirect light below the Audi MMI Panorama Display and in the center console creates a visual floating effect. The high-quality materials in the doors are illuminated to great effect.
Added to this is the dynamic interaction light (IAL), which has a variety of functions to support interaction between the car and its occupants. It spans the entire width of the interior as a generous arc. LEDs are installed in the light strip, which means that the IAL fulfills three central functions. Firstly, it sets the scene for the interior. Secondly, the welcome function indicates when the vehicle is locked and unlocked. Thirdly, it provides support in terms of safety, such as visualizing the dynamic turn signal light.
However, the IAL always remains an additional display and does not replace a turn signal in the Virtual Cockpit. The dynamic interaction light is part of the ambiance lighting package plus.
Audi MMI panoramic display
The digital stage belongs to the Audi MMI panoramic display and the MMI passenger display. The slim, free-standing Audi MMI panoramic display has a curved design and OLED technology. It consists of the Audi virtual cockpit with an 11.9-inch visible screen diagonal and a 14.5-inch MMI touch display. The panoramic display gives the interior a generous and airy feeling of space. With its curved shape, it is oriented towards the driver so that they can operate all functions easily without taking their eyes off the road for long. Special ambiance lighting makes the curved display seem to float at night.
Audi complements the digital stage for the front passengers with an optional 10.9-inch MMI passenger display, which is also perfectly integrated into the dashboard design. This allows the front passenger to visit websites, stream video content, navigate, or search for a gas station. Thanks to the dynamic privacy mode, the driver cannot see distracting content, such as videos, while driving. If the front passenger display is not being used or if no passengers are detected, digital decor is displayed as a background image. In the base version, a black high-gloss surface is installed in this position instead.
The Audi virtual cockpit has also been redesigned. In the future, the most important display – the central "round instrument” will be in the middle: It provides the driver with traffic-relevant information and always displays driver assistance functions while driving. In addition, the Audi virtual cockpit visualizes other road users and shows the situation the vehicle's sensors are detecting. The trip computer and the infotainment function controls are to the left and right of this. The driver can also switch between different views in the Audi virtual cockpit to create their own personalized display. Broadly, the new Audi virtual cockpit has been streamlined from the ground up and focuses on the essentials.
Audi assistant and Android operating system
Audi’s new MMI operating approach focuses on a touch-based concept with extensive voice control. The aim is to enable fast, safe, and simple operation at all times while driving. The new Audi operating concept follows the global trends in consumer electronics: more innovative functions are anticipated worldwide, while at the same time, the requirements for fully networked vehicle functions and voice control are also growing.
Therefore, the information architecture on the 14.5-inch MMI touch has been completely revised: The menus have a flatter design, and settings can now be accessed with fewer clicks. The new dashboard combines the most important functions at a glance, provides recommendations suggested by artificial intelligence, and can be highly personalized by the driver. For infotainment, Audi relies on an Android-based software platform that is totally customized for the brand and tailored to customers’ needs. It also allows owners to install their favorite apps from the smartphone world in their vehicles.
On the center console, in addition to 12-volt and USB-C connections with up to 100 watts of charging power, fixed switches and rotary controls for essential vehicle functions are within easy reach – from the start button for the engine and the gear selector to the switches for the hazard warning lights, ESP, or Audi drive select. The ambiance lighting highlights the curved display in a particularly impressive way at night.
In the models with the new E3 1.2 electronic architecture, Audi is expanding the existing self-learning voice assistant, Audi assistant. Passengers can activate the assistant as usual with "Hey Audi" or via the push-to-talk button on the steering wheel to ask their questions.
The Audi assistant automatically recognizes whether to execute a vehicle function, search for a destination, or, for example, obtain a weather forecast. Only when the Audi system is unable to answer questions, for example, those requiring general knowledge, are they forwarded to ChatGPT. From the driver’s perspective, this happens seamlessly, as all functions are integrated into the Audi assistant. Data security has the highest priority. Questions and answers are deleted after processing to ensure the highest possible data protection. In addition, ChatGPT has no access to vehicle data at any time.
The Audi assistant dashboard is also new and is the central representation of the Audi assistant. Here, users will find proactive suggestions from the Audi assistant, tips on operation, and useful routines that enable drivers to set and enjoy various settings automatically in the future.
Head-up display and Bang & Olufsen premium sound system
The Audi A5 has a configurable Head-Up Display (HUD) that has been developed further compared to its predecessor. Audi is thus taking a significant step forward in this display technology. The HUD can display a wide range of information in a clearly structured manner, such as speed, assistance systems, navigation instructions, or media data.
In an exciting first, the new Audi A5 gives the driver the option of controlling the vehicle and infotainment functions via the head-up display. The controls also allow the driver to scroll through lists with direct selection using the steering wheel buttons – another new feature. This makes it even easier to select recent destinations, for example, without taking one's eyes off the road. Calls can also be answered via the head-up display, and recent calls are displayed and can be selected in the corresponding menu. Media is also controlled via the HUD: in entertainment mode, drivers can use list controls to select their favorite radio station or podcast, for example.
The new head-up display in the Audi A5 models offers the option of integrating driver assistance systems. The new integrated driver assistance display in the head-up display is a 3D visualization of the driver assistance view. For example, if the system detects other cars, cyclists, pedestrians, buses, or trucks, these are displayed in the HUD.
If the vehicle is turning and detects another road user, the system actively indicates their presence in the respective turning direction. A calm mode is also available for the HUD display, which reduces the information displayed to a minimum. In this mode, only the speed or navigation instructions are shown, for example.
Other individual display modes are available depending on the model variant and equipment. The new Audi S5 models have a specific HUD view, the "S-Mode", which displays the current speed, the current gear in manual mode, and a G-meter.
Thanks to the maximum utilization of the installation space and the adapted display technology, the visible image area is over 85 percent larger than before, and the display is even more precise. Thanks to an exceptionally high-quality glass mirror, the image in the windshield is incredibly sharp, high-contrast, and bright, making it perfectly legible at all times. The refresh rate is 60 hertz, which ensures a smooth display.
Music in the car exactly as it was recorded: The optional Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound and optional headrest speakers in both front seats for the sports seat and some variants of the sports seat plus ensure a natural, acoustically precise, impressive sound experience.
Two highly efficient amplifiers are at the heart of the Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System, which drive 20 loudspeakers with 810 watts of power. Four are integrated into the front seat headrests (if available), enabling personal surround sound, personal navigation announcements, and phone calls. Additional loudspeakers in the A-pillar and the mid-range speaker create an incomparable 3D surround sound.
The "Symphoria" technology developed by the Fraunhofer Institute plays an integral part in this. It adds dimensions essential for natural sound: Width, depth, and height. This creates a feeling of space in the car. The vehicle interior appears acoustically larger, and music can unfold in its most original form. Compared to the Audi sound system, the Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System has Vehicle Noise Compensation (VNC), which compensates for disturbing interior noise. Customers can also enhance their sound experience at any time with features that can be added via Functions on Demand. The Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System is also a real eye-catcher: illuminated lettering showcases it at night.
Panorama glass roof with PDLC technology
A new panoramic glass roof that spans almost the entire interior/passenger compartment enhances the new Audi A5 models. On request, the interior can be darkened or brightened using PDLC technology (polymer-dispersed liquid crystal), which can switch from a light to a darker tint at the touch of a button. In the A5 Sedan, the panoramic roof extends over six individually switchable segments, while the A5 Avant has nine such segments. These electrically switchable glass elements contain two PDLC film elements with eponymous liquid crystals floating in between. If no voltage is applied, the crystals form an opaque layer, making the glass roof non-transparent. When electricity is applied, the crystals align, and the roof becomes transparent. At the touch of a button and whenever the user chooses, individual patterns called "zebra patterns" with roof segments alternately switched off and on are available.
Infotainment and connectivity
Customers experience digitalization in the new Audi A5 from an entirely new perspective thanks to the E3 electronic architecture. The new infotainment system uses Android Automotive as its operating system. In addition, content can be updated over the air – for example, from infotainment packages. Apps such as Amazon Music or YouTube are available via the Audi Application Store, which is directly integrated into the system and does not require a smartphone. The integrated eSIM is compatible with the 5G mobile communications standard. It establishes a connection to the Internet and comes from the factory with 3 gigabytes (GB) of data volume per month for three years, which can be increased for an additional charge if required. Alternatively, smartphones can be connected to the vehicle via the tethering function. The infotainment system calculates the data volume using the smartphone data plan.
The phone tray with inductive charging function and mobile phone coupling antenna ensures a smooth connection between supported smartphones and the Audi MMI; new features of the phone tray include increased charging power (previously 5, now 15 watts) and a cooling function. It ensures that the smartphone works and charges reliably. The Audi connect services "Remote & Control" have been extended to ten years. With these functions, drivers can control the vehicle remotely using their smartphone, switch on the air conditioning, or open and close windows. They can also view important data such as the vehicle's location, fuel level, and estimated range.
E³ enables high-performance networking in the vehicle
With the new electronic architecture E3 1.2 for the A5, customers can experience digitalization more directly than ever before. The name E³ stands for End-to-End Electronic Architecture. Its core elements are five high-performance computers, which Audi calls "High Computing Performance" (HCP). They cover all vehicle functions – from the drivetrain and assistance systems to the infotainment and comfort systems to the safety systems and back-end networking. The E³ architecture is a scalable electronic architecture used throughout the Volkswagen Group.
One focus of development was on high-performance and secure networking of domain computers, control units, sensors, and actuators to master more complex systems and maintain modularity. Another goal was to achieve a high-performance, seamless back-end connection for car-to-x swarm data applications and computationally intensive offboard functions. Audi plans to implement the electronic architecture in all future models.
Optional extras via Functions on Demand
The configuration and customization of the vehicle do not end with the ordering and delivery of the Audi A5 models. With Functions on Demand, customers can book functions from the areas of infotainment and lighting online – as required and at any time. This means that the car can be continuously adapted to individual needs even after delivery, for example, if the function is not needed permanently. Customers can purchase functions for different periods of time – monthly, annually, or permanently.
The infotainment package includes automatic level adjustment and music revitalization to improve the sound of compressed music files. Another function is the "Virtual Surround Sound", which enables a virtually generated surround experience. The vehicle occupants are in the center of the action and enveloped by the sound of the music. The "Virtual environments" function simulates sound spaces and environments: Users’ favorite music can be experienced as if they were in a concert hall, jazz club, or open-air concert.
The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.