For the coupe drivers the Audi A5 provides a strong and stylish choice. This new model to the range is big, comfortable and economical. Michael Moroney drove the diesel power A5 with a V6 engine that stuns in a performance and economy sense.

Audi has got it right with the styling of the new A5. This is a coupé that looks the part and delivers in terms of performance and economy, thanks to a high powered 3.0 litre diesel engine under the bonnet.

The new Audi A5 has style, comfort and an impressive V6 turbo-diesel engine that ensures keen road tax rates due to low CO2 emission levels. Prices start high at €64,900 before delivery charges.

The impressive and modern styling makes an immediate impact. Volkswagens Group head of design Walter de'Silva has claimed, "The Audi A5 is the most beautiful car I have ever designed." And I think that he's got it right.

The A5 is a four seat coupé that drives as well as it looks. This ability is provided by an impressive 3.0 litre turbo-diesel engine that if anything adds to the car's appeal. Normally, you consider diesel in the hard working but not high performance league, but in the new A5 that's not the case. The power is impressive and so too is the economy for a car in this class.

Audi uses an improved V6 turbo-diesel engine in the A5 coupé to deliver petrol car like performance with the added benefit of economy and low CO2 emission levels. That's partly why you'll be impressed to read that this A5 comes with a low Band C Road tax rating, which means an annual road tax rate of just €290.

So now you can be flash and stylish in your motoring choice as well as economical and environmentally clean, that is if you can afford the A5 prices. The base entry A5 with the 3.0 litre TDI engine comes on the market at €64,900 and that's before you add any extras and delivery charges.

The test car that I had on the road came with a list of extras and among the more expensive of these was the leather seating at €3,055, colour sat nav at €4,630 and metallic paint at €1,312. So the total from the extras listing added to a staggering €17,085! And that's expensive.

If you can cope with the numbers after that then the A5 is a dream. The V6 engine delivers 240bhp and a massive 500Nm of torque and it's quiet. That combination delivers impressive acceleration time of just 5.9 seconds in a 0 to 100km/hr race. That's marginally faster than BMW 3 Series coupe fitted with an equivalent engine, but there is little to separate them in a performance sense.

You'll be impressed with the A5 economy figures too. The car comes with a rating of 7.2 litres/100km (39mpg). That's marginally poorer than the equivalent BMW 3 Series performance but there's not much to separate them here either.

The 3.0 litre V6 A5 model comes with the Audi Quattro permanent all-wheel drive system as standard. This allows the car to achieve its best in terms of handling especially when matched to the six speed gearbox. The car has loads of low end torque to allow you to drive in higher gears and achieve the best in terms of economy.

When it comes to quality coupe choices it's down to the Germans. The Audi A5 seems to be bigger while the BMW 3 Series seems more agile. The new Audi A5 comes with a wide track, large 225/50R17 tyres and a short overhang for a firm driving appeal. Road noise from the tyres was noticeable once off the better quality roads.