With the official release of the BMW 3 Series mid-term facelift and the new generation of Audi A5, the mid-level sedans of the three giants of the German luxury brand BBA have all been replaced.
Exterior design Audi comes from behind?
The previous generation Audi A4 was officially released in 2015, while the current BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class were released in 2018 and 2021 respectively. With the launch of the new A5, Audi can finally raise its eyebrows, and the interior and exterior design have been greatly renovated.
Here we must reorganize the "family tree" of the next generation of Audi models: the two fuel car series of A4 and A5 that we were once familiar with will be merged into the A5, and Audi's next generation of pure electric mid-level sedan will inherit the A4 logo. To put it simply, the odd number is a pure fuel or hybrid car, and the even number is an electric car, and the SUV product line will follow this principle as well.
The new Audi A5 goes a step further on the original family-oriented design language, adopting more digital features, and the overall style can be said to be "evolutionary, but not subversive". The most striking features of the front face are the retention of the iconic large hexagonal grille and honeycomb texture, the traditional one-piece rather than split headlights, sharper air vents on both sides of the bumper than the previous generation, and a flattened emblem.
The current Mercedes-Benz C-class continues the decentralization of Mercedes-Benz's "from high to low" design language, and the appearance can still be called a "small S-class". The C-Class is available in two exterior styles, including the Deluxe Edition, which features a polygonal transverse grille and a vertical design, and the Sport version, which features a large logo and a "starry-eyed" grille design. The multi-spoke wheels are very good on both styles of bodywork. Overall, the design of the C-class is still luxurious and stable.
The BMW 3 Series has undergone a mid-cycle facelift, with daytime running lights changed to an "inverted L" style, the classic kidney grille retained, a large area under the bumper, and a sporty and luxurious feeling through the different colors of the body trim. The BMW 3 Series is also available in both standard and long-axle models to meet the needs of consumers. However, the BMW 3 Series is the first of the three cars to be launched, and the overall design is indeed relatively "old".
In terms of overall dimensions, the new A5 standard wheelbase version measures 4829/1860/1444 mm in length, width and height, and has a wheelbase of 2900 mm. The BMW 3 Series standard axle version has a length, width and height of 4728/1827/1452 mm, and a wheelbase of 2851 mm; The long-axis version measures 4838/1827/1454 mm in length, width and height, and has a wheelbase of 2961 mm. The length, width and height of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class long-axle version are 4882/1820/1461 mm, and the wheelbase is 2954 mm.
The Audi A5 is expected to be further lengthened after its introduction into China, and the final size may be close to that of the BMW 3 Series long-axle and Mercedes-Benz C-Class long-axle models. It is still unclear whether the hatchback structure used in the current standard axle version will be retained.
In the era of large screens, the interiors are quite equal
The interior of the new Audi A5 has changed more than the exterior, replacing the previous combination of the center console and instrument cluster with a curved dual screen. The curved screen actually consists of an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and a 14.5-inch entertainment screen, with an optional head-up display. The passenger seat can be equipped with an optional 10.9-inch entertainment screen. The in-vehicle system on the European version of the model supports the Internet of Vehicles and application expansion, and in the future, domestic models are expected to adopt Huawei's intelligent in-vehicle solution. In addition, in terms of layout, the all-new A5 adopts multiple touch panels, and the gear shift mechanism has been changed from an electronic gear lever to a push-pull button. Electronic exterior mirrors are also available as an option.
Like the exterior, the interior layout of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class still follows that of the S-Class, with a combination of a 12.3-inch hovering instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch center display, and the optional HUD is also available. The center console is decorated in a style similar to that of a yacht's deck, and the design of the air intakes with ambient light strips has been retained, and the gear shift mechanism is a pocket gear. The vehicle machine is updated to the MBUX intelligent interaction system, which supports functions such as Internet of Vehicles, voice control, and remote control. Overall, the interior does a good job of creating a sense of luxury.
The BMW 3 Series after the mid-term facelift also uses a curved dual-screen design, consisting of a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch central control screen, and an optional HUD. The original air conditioning control physical button was canceled, and the control function was integrated into the screen. The classic "chicken leg" lever has also been changed to a push-pull button similar to that of the Audi A5. The car is equipped with the latest iDrive8.5 system, which can be operated via touch or control module on the center console.
In terms of space, because it is a standard axle model, the just-released Audi A5 is not superior in terms of space, and it can also be seen through the official picture that the rear space is only enough level, and the future domestic extended models should improve in this regard.
The long wheelbase of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series adds to the rear riding experience, and with the low floor and thickly padded seat cushions, both cars have a better ride. However, in terms of comfort configuration, in addition to the basic electric adjustment, functions such as seat heating and ventilation need to be optional, and the BMW 3 Series and even the whole series do not provide seat ventilation.
Power combinations Each technology has its own merits
In terms of power, the new generation Audi A5 will be powered by the fifth-generation 2.0T EA888 engine, and will use Porsche-developed VTG variable geometry turbo technology, mated to a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. The European version is available in 110kW/150kW high and low power. The power configuration of the domestic version of the model is not yet clear, and it has been rumored that the new generation of models will use the 1.5T engine as the entry version, and the 2.0T is the medium and high-end version, and the plug-in hybrid model will be launched later.
The current Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a combination of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine + 48V mild hybrid + 9-speed automatic transmission, and all models are C260L models equipped with a 150kW/300N·m high-power engine except for the entry-level C200L model with a low-power engine (125kW/250Nm·m). After the full replacement of the ISG motor, this powertrain has become stable and reliable, and has been well received by the market.
The BMW 3 Series offers a combination of a 2.0T engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission, of which the engine is divided into three power versions: low, medium and high, with an output of 110kW/250N·m, 135kW/300N·m, and 180kW/400N·m, corresponding to three models: 320, 325, and 330. The powertrain of the BMW 3 Series has almost no shortcomings and is one of the core competitive advantages of the entire car series.
summary
With the launch of the all-new Audi A5, the gap between the three cars in terms of product power has been further reduced, and the competition in market performance is bound to become more intense. However, the competitive pressure of "34C" also comes from the outside, and the situation of dominance in the past will no longer be the main theme, and how to deal with the impact of domestic intelligent vehicles is also something they should seriously consider. Would you still consider BBA for your next car? Which of the three cars would you choose? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss.