i mean, if you make a really amazing looking car, you don't need to give it amazing performance. People will buy it anyway, and you'll make more money. Look at Aston Martin, that strategy seems to work for them.

would be the incentive of spending $20K more for a car with 420bhp. The next RS5 will more than likely get a bump from the current 420bhp but as it is now, there is more room with the 70bhp difference.

At least the performance numbers are very good if not great and maybe the actual bhp output is rated conservatively.

Still wondering why the new Quattro and DSG aren't available though...

I like the lack of a sunroof and new amenities...

So that puts the RS5 at what $75 - $80k? I'm sure it will be incredible though.

The good thing is since the S5 still has the old Quattro, picking up a 2007 RS4 now might be a consideration for me.

I just came from the dealer this afternoon and the '07 S4s were all stickering $55k MSRPs. Since the A5/S5 is a higher model line with many more features, I'd say $5k ($60k) is a conservative price jump. That would put it right under the pricing of the A6 4.2 S-Line also.

Seriously, they better opt for DSG as the auto option.

performance (0-60mph):

A5 3.2L: 5.9 (6.1s to 100km/h)
CLK 350: 6.4
328iC: 6.2

S5: 4.9 (5.1 to 100km/h)
CLK 550: 5.1
335iC: 5.3

RS5 will be competing with the new M3 and MB AMG models.

A5 3.2 base: 40-42k
S5 base: 48-50k

They just need to keep the pricing in check because Audi doesn't really have the same status as an Aston...correct me if I'm wrong.

I expect the S5 to be priced with or near the upcomming M3. There is no way in hell the S5 will base anywhere near the 335i. Audi could potentially be shooting itself in the foot if the pricing of this car gets too out of control. I love the styling/features/quattro of this car but Audi needs to start realizing its place in the market. Sure, MB can get away with marking up the CLK nearly 20k over what it actually costs to build (i heard it actually costs MB less to build the CLK than it does to build the C-class) but Audi just doesnt have the same brand cache in the general public's eye. Sorry for this short rant but the direction Audi is going these days is begining to scare me. Sure they are begining to inch the engine back and decrease weight but IMO they need to do something a little more drastic.

Here is a thread from a different forum (watch forum) that you guys might find interesting...<ul><li><a href="http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&amp;goto=2527008&amp;rid=0">http://forums.timezone.com/index.php?t=tree&amp;goto=2527008&amp;rid=0</a</li></ul>

In a sense, I would say yes, but not pricing wise. Audi mentions that Coupes are an emotional purchase, and once they mentioned that in their press release - they essentially just prepped us for higher prices. Generally, emotional purchases command higher prices.

Seems that Audi's intention was to create a line similar to what Mercedes has done with their C Class and CLK Coupe. On Mercedes' end, the C350 Sedan bases at$38K and the CLK350 Coupe starts at $46k for their 268bhp V6 engined cars. These are base prices but throw on some options, like NAV, interior bundles and a sport package and the CLK350 will hit $60k real fast. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if the A5 V6 goes past $50K fully optioned not to mention what the S5 will probably go for.