Audi has decided that the new RS5 will be able to drift, with the goal of having fun. Frankly, I hated the current generation of RS5. Don't get me wrong, it's objectively a perfectly good German sports coupe/sedan, but I've always found them completely boring and lacking in outstanding character. I haven't really clicked on a lot of Audis in the past half a dozen years This new B10 generation RS5 was the first Audi to say "man, I love this car" with a smile every time I get out of it, the plug-in hybrid set-up is a great way to get the most out of it.
It also meets Audi's long-term catchphrase of "Vorsprung durch Technik" or "progress through technology" - which is not only a necessary part of why I find the car to be attractive, but also because it feels worth existing."And I promise, the weight of the curb never crossed my mind.Audi's latest design language tickles my fantasies more than the one a few years ago, and while the regular A5 is a nice-looking lift back sedan, the conversion to RS5 is even more impactful than when Steve Rogers was given the super-soldier serum. The only body panel shared with the A5 is the hood. Yes, the days when RS cars are a bit nuanced and under the radar are gone - there's really no escaping the undeniable maw of the new RS5 on the front end
The grille is not the first thing you notice, as both your eyes and the light are secured by the RS5's flare fender. Almost all Audis have good shoulders, especially the RS models, and I think the new RS5 might have the best boxy Audi haunches ever, with both the front and rear fenders being enlarged by more than 1 and a half inches on both sides of the car, and more than 3 inches wider than the outgoing RS5. The arches are well filled with 21-inch wheels and a square 285/30 setup (20s is standard, but we didn't drive or see those cars), and the RS5's special suspension gives a great stance that the car sits almost an inch lower than the A5. The front fender has a vent, which is actually a functional vent, shaped like the RS3 one.
My favorite design element should be the rear diffuser, however, with a huge oval exhaust tip located close to the center of the bumper. OLED headlights and taillights that look like checkered flags are also nice. There are fewer design changes inside. The steering wheel has an additional new scroll wheel that is welcome in addition to 2 red buttons that do fun things. Bucket-style seats are great, with thick bolsters, good adjustment ability and ventilation and massage options; even after hours in the car, my buttocks and back are still not sold in forged carbon fiber trim for the options that extend to the exterior, but the build and material quality is overall great and looks like a perforated door card.
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The interior is mostly black with colorful stitching and accents, but 1 car on display has an Audi-only package with diamond silver and mint gray leather that looks fantastic. Another similar package has a black leather that combines neodymium gold with bright orange accents. Like other German rivals, Audi further expands its exclusive offering with all kinds of paint colors and custom leather schemes available and I think the design will do much better with extroverted specifications. At startup, in car comfort mode or balanced drive mode, RS5 will be electric only operation by default. A 22kWh (available) battery pack sitting on the rear axle, puts out 173 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, the latter amount more than the A5 Turbo Four Transmi Audi doesn't have an acceleration claim in EV mode, but it's certainly fast enough to keep up with traffic around town and it's a good idea to use it.
In the European cycle Audi says the RS5 has an electrical range of 54 miles, which is a truly usable amount. Running on country roads and towns, the RS5 has successfully earned its luxury brand badge. The ride is solid but comfortable, the cabin is quiet and the power supply is effortless. There are some regenerative brake settings, but the strongest is still far from a one-pedal drive. You can leave the car in electric-only mode, but aside from sharing the same displacement without pressing that button and the internal combustion engine turning on as needed, everything about the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 is a bit different compared to the old RS5's Twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6.
The engine makes 503 hp by itself, and already nearly 5 horses more than the old RS 60 competition, all together with 630 hp and 608 lb-ft of torque. Oh that's fine I tell you that the engine is turned on in gentle mode because there is a nice, constant burbly sound and feel, instead of annoying buzzy drones like some cars, the transition between gas and power is pretty seamless, with annoying behavior off the line, and available in hybrid mode too. There is a bit of a regen like this. When you put the car in dynamic mode, the exhaust gets a little sore throat, the chassis tightens, and you suddenly feel like you have more power on the tap, but it's still well measured for daily driving.
The RS Sport actually focuses more on traction than on a balanced handling setup and more rear-biased dynamic. Usually I find the Audi steering too overly light for my taste, and while the RS5's rack is lighter, it's more satisfying to me than the previous generation's or anything you get with the RS6. It becomes heavier in more sporty mode, and the rack is fast, accurate and progressive. After a few laps in the RS Sport, it's even easier to switch dynamically and induce the RS5 to a controlled drift. In one section, the car can even quickly change direction in a small slide, and it all feels natural and effortless. The five-link suspension and twin-valve shock absorbers continue to plant and configure the car, but there is still enough playfulness dialed to make such a small truck even more fun.
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I can feel the weight shifting (it has a weight distribution of 49/51), but I still don't know that RS5 weighs 5,192 pounds, which is legally nimble and feels much lighter than that figure suggests.The ceramic brakes are strong and have a good pedal feel, but there is a little deviation between the Rijen and the friction. You'll get a bit of a range back from the brakes, and the sporty driving with the engine turned on will also help charge the RS5 battery which will help when we get out of the mountain and back on the highway towards the scenic toll road road that climbs another mountain.
All of this performance does not come with a price. In Germany, the RS5 costs about €89,000 without VAT, or about fifteen grand more than the last model. That would be a starting price slightly above the starting $100,000 in the US, but the price, features, option availability and other details have not yet been announced in the US, which is certainly a hefty sum, but the RS5 is packed with a lot of stuff. Details for our market will be announced next year. Audi die-hard RS buyers will vibe with the RS5 plug-in hybrid system? I think they will, and I think it will appeal to more brand newcomers as well — it certainly got me more excited about the future of Audi. It's powerful, distinctive, really easy to use and more interesting than the old V6 to boot.
Yes, the car is heavy, but its dynamics are a big step forward for the brand and it's really fun. The amazing appearance and improved interior of the RS5 will only enhance its charm. "Vorsprung durch Technik," indeed. More than 100,000 RS models (RS4 and RS5) in this segment have been sold worldwide since its inception, with sedans accounting for about 60% of global sales and the United States as a whole being the largest market. Audi said the new RS5 has so far been the most successful sales start in RS history with "very strong" demand (whatever that means) and anecdotally, Los Angeles is certainly one of the highest concentration RS 1 products in the country, and for every RS7 I see there are probably 15 Rs6s. It will be. Come on, Audi, give us the Avant!
Because Avant really looks phenomenal. I love that it has a lift-back cargo area instead of just a trunk while maintaining a nice profile and greenhouse. But the wagon is simply even better. Sure, the rear glass rake is a bit less practical than other wagons and crossovers, but the shape is like an Audi throwback, and the RS5's styling enhancements are even more well suited to the Avant shape.
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