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The new Audi A5 Sportback: As elegant as
a coupe; as practical as an Avant estate..

THE AUDI A5 SPORTBACK combines the best of different automotive worlds. It is as emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a saloon and as practical as an Avant estate. The Sportback joins the Coupe and Cabriolet as the third member of the A5 model family — and at the same time creates a new segment.

With an exciting design, great everyday utility and highly efficient and powerful TFSI, FSI and TDI engines, the A5 Sportback will arrive at UK Audi Centres in October.

Audi A5 Sportback

On-the-road prices will start from Ł27,140 for the 2.0 TDI SE version.

The A5 Sportback represents a milestone in car design. The five-door coupe excels in its elegant, elongated, sporty profile and the new large hatchback fits perfectly into the tail-end styling. The spoiler lip and the diffuser insert provide contrast and emphasize the athletic tautness of the elongated contour. The coupe-like silhouette is the result of a roof section with a long, tapering roofline that is moderately lower (36mm) than the A4 Sedan and of the short overhangs at the front and rear as well as the long wheelbase (2,810mm) and the four frameless doors with their slim, dynamic window styling.

The unusual hatchback design is distinctively emblematic of the vehicle's excellent functionality. With the Sportback, the designers of the Avant are setting trends in tail-end design while combining sportiness, comfort and utility in a completely new way.

The unique functional concept, in conjunction with the emotion-packed design, creates a cutting-edge mix of coupe and Avant estate. The luggage volume of 480 litres nearly equals that of the A4 Avant, and with the rear seatbacks folded down this more than doubles to an impressive 980 litres.

The A5 Sportback provides a full measure of comfort on all four seats and convenient entry and exit through every door. Despite the fact that its exterior height is less than that of the A4 Saloon and that its roof tapers at the rear, the Sportback has comparable headroom and legroom.

The powerplant of the A5 Sportback is another advance along the path of innovative technologies that Audi has been charting. All the engines are of the direct injection type: the diesel versions are sophisticated common rail TDI units while the petrol engines are based on the FSI concept. All engines meet the EU5 exhaust emission standard and diesel versions are equipped with particulate filters.

Initially, the A5 Sportback will be available with a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines. The two petrol versions (the 2.0 TFSI quattro with an output of 211PS and 258lb ft of torque and the 3.2-litre V6 quattro generating 265PS) are both equipped with the Audi valvelift system. This feature can produce more power and higher torque as well as lower fuel consumption.

Start-stop system

The following engines are also available right from the start: the 2.0 TDI with 170PS, 258lb ft, a 6-speed manual gearbox and start/stop system; the 2.7 TDI with 190PS and 295lb ft; and the three-litre V6 TDI with 240PS plus an enormous 369lb ft of maximum torque and quattro all-wheel drive.

The newly-developed ESP control with electronic differential lock on the front axle ensures noticeably improved steering response as on the Coupe and Cabriolet and compensates effectively for change-of-load reactions — which increases driving safety.

The perfect addition to this technology package is the Audi Drive Select dynamic driving system — this allows the driver to choose between three different modes that influence the throttle response characteristics, the shift points for the seven-speed S tronic or multitronic transmissions, and support the servotronic steering. If the vehicle is equipped with the MMI operating system, a fourth, freely-programmable level is also available.

Audi drive select can only be ordered in conjunction with one or more of three additional technologies — adaptive shock absorber control, dynamic steering with continuously-variable assistance and quattro with sport differential for the 3.0 TDI and 3.2 FSI versions.

Check out Audi.

UK Sandwich Chain bans use of endangered
Bluefin Tuna...

ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL applaud the popular sandwich chain Pret a Manger for removing their tuna and cucumber sandwichs from the menu at all 155 locations.

The decision was made after Pret a Manger founder Julian Metcalfe watched the documentary The End of the Line, a film that examines the imminent extinction of bluefin tuna.

After viewing the documentary in a private screening, Metcalfe wrote a letter to the film's producers saying: "We no longer sell the tuna and cucumber sandwich. No tuna in the box at all... so more in the sea, where they belong."

The announcement from Pret a Manger has other companies, such as Marks and Spencer and all major UK supermarkets, following suit by eliminating the sales of all bluefin tuna.

In addition, celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver have banned bluefin from their restaurants. [Well done, guys! — Ed].

In 2007, 61,000 tons of bluefin tuna was caught worldwide adding to the endangerment of the species population which has declined a shocking 90 percent in 30 years.

Many scientist project that the species will become completely extinct in three years.

For more information about the documentary The End of the Line, please visit endoftheline.com.

ADI Chief Executive, Jan Creamer: "This is a fantastic response, we congratulate Julian Metcalf and Pret a Manger, as well as Marks and Spencer, on taking firm action to save these precious animals from destruction and preserve the world's heritage.

"If more businesses were willing to show leadership and responsibility like this, we and the other inhabitants of planet Earth would have a more secure future."

About ADI

With offices in San Francisco, London and Bogotá, Animal Defenders International (ADI) campaigns to protect animals in entertainment; replacement of animals in experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution; and conservation.

ADI also rescues animals in distress worldwide. Our evidence has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them.

Please visit www.ad-international.org for more information.

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£58 per-person per-night
B&B summer offer at the
Thamesside Compleat
Angler, Marlow...

THE MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER, which overlooks the Thames at Marlow Bridge, Bucks, is offering midweek B&B stays from just Ł58 per person per night (Ł116 per room) for two sharing throughout the summer school holidays from 20 July until 3 September.

Children under 12 years sharing their parents' room stay and eat breakfast for free.

Dating back to the 17th century, the stylish hotel takes its name from Isaak Walton's world-famous book on angling.

It's now a peaceful haven by the Thames, perfectly placed for fishing, golfing, boutique shopping and exploring royal history in nearby Windsor and Henley.

Dinner is by candlelight in a choice of restaurants — either the two AA Rosette Bowaters, with its riverside terrace, or fine dining in the three rosette Aubergine, sister to the Michelin-starred restaurant in London's Chelsea.

The summer breaks can be booked any time from now onwards but must be paid in advance of the reservation date.

For details and a brochure call the Macdonald Compleat Angler on 0844 879 9128 or visit compleatangler.

Demand for 4x4s soars...

THE 4x4 LOOKS LIKE becoming this summer's 'must-have' item, according to Motorpoint.

Sales figures for the last month show that demand for 4x4s has soared as motorists of all ages clamber to take advantage of unprecedented savings on a range of new- and nearly-new models at the UK car supermarket giant.

This contrasts sharply with 4x4 sales nationally, which were down again last month according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The most popular model with customers has been the SsangYong, with Motorpoint selling dozens in recent weeks thanks to offers such as an 09-Reg SsangYong Kyron 2.0 S for Ł8,999 — Ł1,000 cheaper than the new-shape entry-level Ford Fiesta!

Proving equally popular is the 09-Reg Chevrolet Captiva 2.0 VCDi for Ł11,999 and the 08-Reg Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD for Ł10,999 — both of which offer savings of over Ł6,500 on equivalent new models from franchised dealers.

Paul Winfield, Operations Director at Motorpoint: "The 4x4 is definitely back with a vengeance, with customer travelling from across Wales to buy them. In spite of the Government's attempts to tax such vehicles off the road through additional fuel duty and road tax hikes, the 4x4 has never represented better value for money, and drivers are responding accordingly.

"Motorpoint believes that far from becoming obsolete, the 4x4 remains extremely relevant. And thanks to the great deals on offer at the moment, as well as the advancements that have been made to make them far more environmentally-friendly, 4x4s will continue to prove popular for the foreseeable future."

Founded in 1998, Motorpoint is the UK's number one car supermarket group. It currently operates from five locations: Burnley, Derby, Glasgow, Newport and Peterborough.

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