Audi's new BMW 4-Series rival has something that will make car enthusiasts smile

Audi unveiled its new second generation A5 coupe on Thursday in a ceremony at the company's headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany.

The new coupe will serve as the long awaited sequel to Audi's highly successful first generation A5, on sale since 2008.

Based on the fifth-generation A4 sedan, the A5 is expected to feature the latest in Audi's powertrain, chassis, and infotainment technology.

This includes Audi's latest MMI infotainment system, as well as its innovative Virtual Cockpit instrument display, which debuted on the new generation TT sports car.

In addition, the A5 will arrive with high-speed internet connectivity, semi-autonomous driving and self-parking capabilities.

But what's truly exciting about the new A5 is that Audi has decided to offer the car with an old-school six-speed manual gearbox at a time when most car companies have abandoned the technology.

For those who appreciate the art of coordinating engine revs with your feet while changing gears with the right hand, this is a breath of fresh air, even though most cars will likely be optioned with the company's seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission.

Audi hasn't yet confirmed the A5's US engine options. What we're likely to get is a powerplant related to the new A4's 2.0-liter, 252-horsepower, turbocharged, inline-four-cylinder unit.

Audi also unveiled the high-performance S5 variant of the coupe. That car comes with an all-new, 354-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine. It's unclear if Audi will offer the S5 with a stick-shift, but we can always hope!

According to Audi, the S5 is good for a 0-62 mph sprint in just 4.7 seconds. The S5 will also be Audi's flagship coupe until the company's very fast RS5 variant shows up sometime in the next couple of years.

Audi has yet to announce official pricing for the new A5 and S5. The current generation A5 starts at $40,500 while the S5 starts at $53,100.

The all-new second generation Audi A5 and S5 is expected to arrive in US showrooms sometime this fall.