“With the successor to the Audi A4, which is now called the A5, we knew right from the start: It had to have a sporty look, with a powerful road stance and a dynamic, premium appearance. For us in Exterior Design, it was a great stroke of luck that the new Audi A5 is the first model of the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC). Even in the basic version of this new platform for Audi vehicles with a combustion engine, we were able to coordinate key points with the engineers: Where exactly is the A-pillar positioned? What is the radius of a glass barrel? How can we influence the package of the doors in order to be able to model the flank in a taut and powerful way, thus creating athletic highlights in the interplay of light and shadow? Platform development and design development soon interlocked like two cogwheels. This enabled design possibilities that I am incredibly grateful for.”

“The proportions are fundamental to an attractive design language and the look of the car on the road: How long is the front end? Where does the cabin sit? How do the wheels compare to the body of the vehicle? How does the greenhouse (the cabin) sit on top? Plus: Does the ‘internal pressure’, i.e. the tension of the surfaces, fit? How sharp are the edges? And finally: How do I play with overarching curves, how do I express power, or dynamics? The proportions of the new Audi A5 are ideal. The front end has a short overhang, and the A-pillar is positioned far back. The cabin sits relatively far back on the vehicle body. This creates a forward thrust, and strong dynamics that are already visible when the car is stationary. This is followed by a short boot lid, a very fast rear window and a flowing C-pillar, which gives the Audi A5 a particularly coupé-like rear end, even though it has a large tailgate.”

“The lights play an extremely important role in the design, where ‘Progress through Technology’ is particularly visible and can be presented in a highly aesthetic way. The headlights in particular are a much stronger design element than before. The brand-typical Singleframe naturally characterises the face of every Audi. In the new A5, it is much wider and somewhat flatter than before, making it much more horizontal in general. With three-dimensional honeycombs that catch a lot of light, it has a very sculptural and expressive design. This design expresses sportiness and dynamics. But it is also the headlights, like eyes, that make a special contribution to the aura of the vehicle’s face. They look confident and dynamic in the new Audi A5. Thanks to the latest lighting technology, we could opt for an even narrower design of the light units. Visually, they are clearly divided into two parts, light at the top and dark at the bottom, with sharp and precise lines. At the top is the daytime running light, which is bright in both day and night design, with various selectable signatures that can create completely different light characters. Below is the darker area with the light modules that are only visible at night. Especially from the side, you can see the sweep of the front, which pushes the outer area of the headlights far towards the front wheel, and the precisely shaped edge, the so-called tornado line, which runs along the entire side of the vehicle as far as the rear lights. For me, this main axis is the equator in the design, as it runs through the entire car – starting with the headlights and ending with the light strip. It divides the upper part of the vehicle body from the lower sections, which are slightly retracted towards the bottom and ensure an agile stance on the wheels.”

“The bonnet is crucial for the architecture of the car. It has to fulfil all the requirements for pedestrian protection, many areas must be designed to be particularly soft, others especially hard in order to comply with worldwide crash laws. The engines of the new emissions standard also require more installation space in some cases. All of these framework conditions determine the design of the bonnet volume and the position of the bonnet joint. In the new A5, the Singleframe therefore does not run right up to the bonnet joint and the headlights, as in many Audi models to date, but instead we opted for a front with a so-called soft nose. This means that the bonnet starts further back with a very fine, clearly defined joint in the paint area, which you only really notice at second glance. It gives the new A5 a sporty, deep face at the front, which clearly distinguishes it from its predecessor. This impression is reinforced by the fact that the bonnet is not drawn forwards in a long, sloping curve, but is deliberately modelled tightly with notched surfaces at the sides before dipping forwards. This power dome design, which is drawn out in width with striking features, sets a strong accent from both the side and front view and emphasises the power in the front end.”

“There were iconic Audi production vehicles, such as the first-generation Audi TT, but also concept cars that anchored this roof arch in the Audi design DNA. And that’s what inspired us. Together with the proportions, the roof arch is the feature that most strongly characterises the new A5 sedan. It was very much present in my first sketches and makes the production vehicle unique. The taut arch directs its power downwards to the rear wheel. This precise curve right up to the D-pillar, where the roof arch rests on the rear wheel, is extremely important to me and turns the A5 into this dynamic sculpture with a well-toned body and a powerful road stance. Of course, the roof arch also stretches over the steering wheel. When creating all the design themes, I always asked myself: Where is my position as a driver inside the car? Where are my eyes? What is my sitting position in relation to the car’s body and wheels? Because it is extremely important to develop a feeling for the spatial interaction between driver and vehicle in the design. The design of the new Audi A5 radiates a dynamic driving experience even in its architecture.”

“The rear is also crucial to the sporty design of the Audi A5. On the one hand, the design is dynamic thanks to the striking rear spoiler. This forms an interesting contrast to the full-width rear light strip, which is a first for Audi in this segment. I am always fascinated by this highlight, which perfectly showcases ‘Aesthetics in Motion’. It has an extremely high-quality design and an almost magical effect. Especially in the dynamic digital OLED light signature: You will clearly perceive that the individual elements of the signature pulsate very subtly in the brightness, which radiates an almost tangible liveliness and warmth, and always reminds me of a smouldering campfire. Due to this lighting design in combination with the rear spoiler, the light strip is extremely prominent and emphasises the unmistakable design.”