Return of the coupé?

Audi has been making coupé's for more than 50 years - but has not had one on its books since 1996 when it stopped making the S2.

That position changes later this month as the first examples of its new A5 arrive in UK showrooms.

The A5, along with its sportier twin the S5, are based on the Nuvolari concept coupé which was one of the stars of the 2003 Geneva Motor Show.

Top Italian designer Walter de'Silva has given the final version of the car more flowing lines, though it retains the trademark Audi front end.

The car seats four, has a large boot and a range of diesel and petrol engines will be offered.

Audi has high hopes for the A5: it is expected to account for a third of all sales in its market segment and also provides the platform for the new A4, due out next year.

Prices will start at around £26,000 when the 1.8 petrol model arrives - but just two derivatives are available at the moment: the 3.0 TDI A5 at £33,430 and the flagship 4.2 V8 petrol S5 at nudging £40,000 on the road. Both of these are four-wheel drive Quattro models.

A hotter RS5 and convertible are also likely - though Audi has ruled out a hard-top convertible in order to keep the weight down.

Apart from its new bodyshell the car has the longest wheelbase of any mid-sized Audi, with the front axle moved forward by nearly five inches.

The A5 also has a particularly wide track, along with a new front, and revised rear, suspension set up.

The car's outstanding residual values are expected to prove a big selling point - the A5 is being predicted to depreciate slower than any vehicele in its class.

Audi expects to sell around 8,000 A5/S5 models next year in a market traditionally dominated by BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A5 will be positioned as a slightly more upmarket rival to the Volvo C70 and Alfa Romeo Brera and is also expected to appeal to those who are 'down shifting' from exotic models like Maserati and Bentley.

By Peter Carroll