It's been described by its designer and current Volkswagen Group design chief, Walter de Silva, as his favorite project to date. With its elegant yet simple lines gracing its coupe and convertible body, the Audi A5 has been a solid hit for the German automaker ever since it was unveiled back in 2007. Despite undergoing a recent mid-cycle refresh, the car's age is becoming evident in light of growing competition from the likes of BMW's soon to be released 4 Series and a new Mercedes–Benz C-Class Coupe.

As such, Automobile is reporting that the next-gen A5 will go on sale in 2016. It will likely be built on an updated version of its existing platform but with an added focus on overall refinement and a reduced weight by around 220 lbs. over the current model. Also in the pipeline is an even lighter weight variant called the Ultra, which will shed additional poundage with a lighter a/c compressor, generator, hollow-spoke wheels and more aluminum body panels. The exterior design will be an evolution of the current car without any radical changes while the interior will likely have optional driver assistance systems and a touchpad MMI.

Engines and trim packages are expected to be mostly carried over with one notable exception: the naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8 found in the high-performance RS 5 will be replaced by the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that's good for about 475 horsepower.