The new Audi RS5 keeps the V6 engine and has 40% more power, but there’s a catch

A new full-fat RS model from Audi is always exciting for a car enthusiast, and hardcore petrolheads will be delighted to see that this one still uses a V6 petrol engine. This is the new Audi RS5, and it’s certainly packing plenty of power.

However, being a plug-in hybrid with lots of electrical gubbins on board, it’s also carrying quite a lot of weight. I’m going to take you through the new RS5’s stats to see how that affects performance, as well as tell you everything you need to know about the suspension, design, interior technology and pricing.

New Audi RS5 engine and performance: hugely powerful, but what’s the catch?

Just like the old Audi RS5, this new one has a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine under the bonnet. It makes 510hp, which is 60hp more than its predecessor, but that’s not all.

This car is Audi’s first ever plug-in hybrid RS model, which means there’s an electric motor added on to boost the power. Combined, you get a total of 639hp and 825Nm of torque.

So the new RS5 has 189hp more than the old car, as well as 225Nm more torque. It’s also 109hp more than you get in a BMW M3, but it’s around 40hp less than a Mercedes-AMG C63 S.

However, there is a problem with the weight. The new Audi RS5 tips the scales at 2,355kg in saloon form, rising to 2,370kg if you go for the Avant (Audi parlance for estate). That’s over 600kg more than the old RS5 Sportback, and it’s also half a tonne heavier than a BMW M3.

And the result is slightly underwhelming performance. It’ll do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds, which is exactly the same as the BMW M3 and only around 0.1 of a second quicker than the old Audi RS5 Performance. Obviously,the RS5 is still blisteringly quick, but it’s not the jump forward in terms of performance that you might have been expecting.

New Audi RS5 suspension and chassis: how will it cope with all the weight?

Performance cars gaining weight is no new thing, and manufacturers are starting to get very good at hiding it. Take the BMW M5 as a prime example. It’s a 2.4-tonne behemoth, but it’s still impressively agile.

In order to pull off the same trick, Audi has fitted the RS5 with a new type of four-wheel drive system featuring something called Dynamic Torque Control. At the heart of this setup is a high-powered computer which can analyse your steering, acceleration and braking inputs in a fraction of a second.

This information is then used to split the power between the rear wheels at lightning speed, using a small electric motor on the rear axle as an actuator. It can deploy a torque difference of up to 2,000Nm between each rear wheel, effectively shoving the car into a corner and making it feel more agile.

There’s also a new centre differential to handle the power split between the front and rear wheels, and these systems work together to make sure you have enough grip at all times while still allowing a bit of slip in certain modes if you want to have some fun.

The RS-tuned suspension features clever dampers which can adjust on the fly to both minimise body roll and make the car comfortable over bumps, and the RS5 also features bespoke tyres to cope with all the power and weight.

All this sounds marvellous, but we’ll have to wait until we can drive the new Audi RS5 to see if all this new technology actually works in the real world.

New Audi RS5 design: it certainly stands out

You won’t be mistaking the new Audi RS5 for an A5 TDI anytime soon, because there are plenty of design changes to make it look more aggressive and muscular. Andthat’s whether you go for the saloon or the estate version.

Starting up front, the grille is miles bigger than it is on the A5. It stretches all the way down to the bottom of the bumper, and those massive air intakes in the corners are also unique to the RS5. Fins hidden within the intakes channel air around the front wheels.

To make way for the massive tyres, the RS5 is a full four centimetres wider than a standard A5, which gives it real presence on the road. It’s not as polarising as a BMW M3, and it also looks more purposeful than a Mercedes-AMG C63 S.

The bit I’m not so sure on is the rear end, specifically that diffuser. Audi’s RS models traditionally have large, ovular exhaust tips, but the new RS5 takes this to new extremes. They look big enough to house a small cat, but it’s the placement which looks odd to my eye. The way they’re positioned towards the centre of the bumper makes the rear end look pinched, a bit like it’s clenching its buttocks to hold in a fart.

If those tailpipes were pushed further into the corners it would look even more aggressive, but I don’t imagine it’ll be long before an aftermarket company comes up with a solution for this.

New Audi RS5 interior: plenty of upgrades

Inside, the new Audi RS5 has all the usual sporty upgrades you’d expect from a performance flagship.

There are some body-hugging RS sports seats with contrast stitching, carbon trim on the door panels and centre console, as well as an Alcantara steering wheel with big red drive mode buttons on it.

You also get some RS-specific displays which show your G-forces, engine and gearbox temperatures and turbo pressures. The head-up display can be configured to project the engine revs and current gear onto the windscreen, and there’s a built-in lap timer as well.

New Audi RS5 prices and specs: it doesn’t come cheap

Order books for the new Audi RS5 will open in the next few weeks, and first deliveries are expected by the end of the year. UK pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but in Germany it’ll start from 106,200 euros for the saloon and 107,850 euros for the Avant.

That translates to around £93,000 and £94,000 respectively, which would be a small bump in price over the old RS5 and put it in line with the BMW M3.

We’ll be driving the new Audi RS5 soon, so make sure you stay tuned for our driving impressions over the next few weeks.

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