Impromptu Meeting With An S5
When the opportunity to spend a weekend with a 2019 S5 came my way, I knew it was going to be a good weekend. As a videographer specializing in car shows, I often get to experience some of the most tasteful vehicles up close and personal. Italian supercars, Porsches, some of the rarest Japanese metal this side of the Mariana Trench. But this time, the task was ever so slightly different. The goal? To create a commercial video for a client's S5, and the plan was to drive it to a car show two hours away that ended up being one of the best experiences I’ve had at a show since I arrived in Canada last January.
From the moment I pickjed up this car, it was clear that this was designed to impress. Its sleek lines, aggressive stance, and the unmistakable Audi grille made it a head-turner. The Mythos Black Metallic paint glistened under the sun, but not for very long. As you might see from some of the foortage below, keeping this car clean was something I failed miserably at. Twice, I washed it over the course of four days but Black paint is a cruel mistress at the best of times and whilst this model has both a menacing and sophisticated look to it, I don’t think there’ll ever be a Mythos Black colored one sitting in my driveway(more on that shortly).
Sliding into the driver's seat, I was greeted by an interior that exudes luxury and comfort. The seats, jesus wept would you look at the seats. Beautifully comfortable, yet straight out of the Iron Man catalogue. The virtual cockpit is slick, whether you’re gearing up for some hot laps or navigating the traffic-laiden streets of Toronto, its customizable display and the intuitive MMI infotainment system made it easy to get comfortable and set up for the drive ahead.
As I set off, the S5's 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 came to life with a satisfying growl. With 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque at my disposal, the car had enough grunt to have fun but it felt somewhaat gutless in the top end, a trait thats all too common in modern day performance cars. The drive to the car show was a mix of highway cruising and winding country roads, giving me a chance to fully experience the S5's capabilities.
Highway driving is when this thing puts its feet up. Having eight forward gears is truly hilarious, I engaged manual mode a couple times and found myself feeling like VIn DIesel on the worlds longest runway in whichever one of those Fast & Furious movies preceeded Tokyo Drift(the first 3 are great, the rest are shit and I won’t be told otherwise). But when the road began to twist and turn, the S5 truly came alive. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system and the sport differential worked together to provide exceptional grip and stability. The steering was precise, and the suspension struck a perfect balance between comfort and sportiness. Each corner was an opportunity to appreciate the car's engineering, as it handled with confidence and poise. This is the first car I’ve driven where engaging Sport Mode felt like the cars characteristics and handling changed. Unlike a 2021 Golf GTI that I drove recently, where sport mode simply bumps the engine revs by a couple hundred RPM.
Pulling into the car show, this thing gets you the odd look. People look at you and say ‘Nice, he must have a little money’ but thats as far as it goes.
The car show was such a vibrant event, with a diverse array of vehicles on display. You can read more about it here. Amidst classic cars and modern supercars, I chose to park the S5 down the back and in the shade because holy shit this thing gets HOT. Like, burn your hand and need to go to hospital HOT.
Spending a weekend with the S5 was a memorable experience. It seamlessly blends performance, luxury, and technology, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate driving. For a commercial videographer like me, the S5 was something I thought I might struggle to shoot but the stars have been aligning themselves for me lately and I’m super happy witht he video, which you can watch below. It was a captivating subject that made my work easier and more enjoyable and it gave me the opportunity to shoot in the evening and in the dark, something I’ve been wanting to do more of since its been a while since I shot that Cruz video. If you ever get the chance to drive an Audi S5, I highly recommend taking it – you won't be disappointed.
This weekend not only allowed me to create some stunning video content but also reminded me of the pure joy that comes from driving a well-engineered car. Like I said in the video caption, I’ll firmly take the keys to one of these any day but you’d never catch me owning one.
