Audi A5 Sportback offered exclusively in Europe, U.S. customers stiffed

Audi is expanding the A5 lineup in Europe with a Sportback version--we're talking a four-door with a coupelike roofline. It will join the coupe and convertible A5s now on sale.

The bad news? It’s not coming to the United States.

European buyers get a choice of two gasoline and three diesel engines. But our friends across the pond can choose from a range of gasoline and diesel engines. The gasoline engines are the 2.0-liter turbo four rated at 211 hp and a 3.2-liter V6 rated at 265 hp. The gasoline powertrains come with Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The turbodiesel lineup is a 2.0-liter four rated at 170 hp, a 2.7-liter four rated at 190 hp and a 3.0-liter V6 rated at 240 hp. The V6 diesel is combined with quattro.

Audi says the four-seat A5 Sportback has 17 cubic feet of cargo space, nearly as much as the A4 wagon.

Prices for the new A5 model start at the equivalent of about $50,000.

By Greg Migliore