I love it when auto companies screw up. Especially when their screw up gives us all a sneak peak at upcoming models before we’re supposed to see them. So today, we must say ‘thank you’ to some more schmuck at Audi who is probably feeling a little sore-footed from standing around so much after getting a right royal caning that would impress even the strictest of headmasters.

Autoblog has the images of the latest Audi A5 that is due to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March. And while a lot of people will not like the new look car, personally I’m very much liking the direction they’re going with their new styling.

You can tell this car is going to be positioned to take on the BMW’s even without Autoblog stating it. The styling is very much a refinement of where BMW went with their cars in the past few years. That sort of “shark” look. Although, Audi keeps the very smooth clean lines its known for and still manages to make the car look a lot more aggressive in appearance.

It helps that this car has a 4.2l V8 under the hood. A couple of after market hair dryers on this thing would be most impressive to see. Audi engines have been, from my observations, very capable of taking a pretty heavy pounding. The RS4 is a good example of what Audi can do with an engine. I wonder if this suggests that there might be an RS5 in the works… Especially given the coupe body.

Autoblog says this is going up against the BMW 3 series… Actually, I’d probably put it up against the BMW 8 series. Remember the old 97-2000 BMW 850 coupe? Thats what I’d put beside this thing.

If they released this as an electric or as a hybrid, I’d buy one. Hell, if companies started styling their electric and hybrid vehicles more like their main product lines, they’d find they make a lot more sales. Personally if I ever buy a new car it’ll be hybrid/electric. Any car I do buy will have to have extreme gas economy.

For that reason, I’ll never buy this. Not with a 4.2 V8 petrol engine. Or maybe if it were diesel then I’d consider it. At least then I could run it on biodiesel and not have to pay through the nose for extortionist^W exhorbitant fuel prices.