The Audi A5 and RS5 long represented the brand’s competition to the BMW 4-Series and its entry into the broader coupe segment as a whole. However, Audi is currently streamlining its model lineup and when you add in increasing SUV sales to the mix, it spelled doom for the coupe and convertible which will leave Audi’s model lineup after the 2024 model year comes to a close.
A5 to have sportback future
While the A5 and RS5 coupes and their droptop counterparts are going away for 2024, the nameplate is not completely dead. Instead, the luxury brand will focus on the A5 and RS5 Sportback which are the slightly more practical alternatives in the family. Audi doesn’t break down individual sales numbers by body style, but two Audi dealers that we spoke with here in Michigan confirmed that the Sportback is the “volume seller” of the A5 lineup with the two-door coupe and convertible being reserved for niche buyers.
The Sportback’s claim to fame is its “four-door coupe” body style with the rear having more cargo space than a traditional two-door coupe. That feature has resonated well with buyers and have allowed the Sportback to get a modest following among consumers especially if they go for the spicier RS5 variant. The A5 coupe is not the first coupe offering that the brand has axed either with the TT being axed due to slow sales and the R8 supercar being retired due to its aging V10 no longer complying with fuel regulations.
A5 Coupe’s axing part of broader trend
The decision to axe the A5 Coupe and convertible follows a broader trend that its two main rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have latched onto to try and address the fact that two-door cars are slow sellers. Rumors suggest that BMW will not give the 4-Series a new generation in ICE form and will instead make the 4 into a pure EV to factor it into its growing portfolio of all-electric vehicles with the Z4 and 8-Series also allegedly living on borrowed time.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz fused the E-Class and C-Class coupe and convertibles into the CLE in an attempt to streamline its own manufacturing processes while also axing slow-selling pet projects like the S-Class Coupe and the SLC. SUVs are also surging in demand and all three German brands are adjusting their sales plans to include more of them into their model portfolios. To help fit them in, excess vehicle glut has to be removed and in this case, it comes in the form of slow sellers like coupes and convertibles with the space they leave behind allowing the companies to have more room to not only sell them in dealer lots, but also more development dollars to build the next iteration of these utility vehicles with the aforementioned coupes and convertibles no longer getting precious development money that can otherwise be used to boost SUV and EV development.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.