New Audi RS5 revealed! 2.9 V6 survives with plug-in hybrid punch and camouflage carbon trim

Audi tonight pulled the covers off the all-sleek RS5 — its halo midsize performance automobile, and fans can breathe no longer decrease than a partial whisper of relief: the vaunted Porsche–Audi 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol has been retained.

No AMG-style four-cylinder faux pas right here. As a substitute, the sonorous six ekes out 15 percent vitality by itself — producing 375kW/600Nm — however total vitality for the sleek RS5 measures a mega 470kW/825Nm.

That is courtesy of a broadly expected and RS-explicit toddle-in hybrid gadget pairing a 130kW/460Nm electric motor with a 22kWh (usable) 400-volt battery.

Interior the broader A5 fluctuate, the 470kW/825Nm RS5 will contain an apex spot, sitting loftily above the gentle-hybrid S5 (270kW/550Nm) and standard A5 (up to 270kW/500Nm in PHEV layout).

Question pricing to take a seat effectively north of the S5 ($114,900 plus on-freeway costs). The outgoing RS5 Sportback price $168K ahead of on-roads.

Ingolstadt has resorted to PHEV vitality basically to hurry the RS5 via phenomenal European (and Australian) CO2 emissions regulations however it absolutely’s a case of making lemons out of lemonade.

The RS5 may well perchance perhaps weigh in at a (Euro) kerb weight of around 2350kg however it absolutely deploys its full of life-cooled battery and snappy-reacting e-motor to devastating enact in ‘RS Torque Rear’ — a euphemism for lunge in conjunction with the drift mode.

If the conception that of Audi leaning into vitality oversteer in a midsize automobile wasn’t ample of a shock, put collectively for the return of the RS5 sedan…of kinds.

The RS5 is the non secular successor to the RS4, which is mostly obtainable only as an Avant, or spot wagon.

Audi has fussed with mannequin naming programs for years and there is now advise of the RS5 — and the underlying A5 and S5 — being renamed A4, S4 and RS4 in a mid-lifestyles update.

But no longer only will an RS5 Avant be offered, however this may well perchance very effectively be joined by what Audi is calling the RS5 sedan. Level-headed, that product is truly a Sportback, with a hatchback-style tailgate.

No matter the physique style, the RS5 picks up exaggerated haunches and the physique is a nine centimetres wider than a standard A5.

With non-obligatory carbon mask trimming, indispensable grey or gloomy 20- or 21-scramble wheels, large matte grey oval tailpipes and aero aplenty, there is rarely this form of thing as a missing the RS5.

The general form is pleasantly comely and there is small doubt that Audi hopes to scoop up some displaced AMG clients as unhealthy-country rival Mercedes makes an try to transform its performance automobile plans.

A key rival to the RS5, the Mercedes-AMG C63 sensationally dropped its V8 engine for a toddle-in hybrid four-cylinder, though Benz is now reversing direction with a six-pot, non-hybrid C53.

Each Audi and BMW decided to preserve away from that quagmire. Whereas the RS5 retains its six and picks up PHEV tech, the next (petrol) M3 is anticipated to be a gentle hybrid six-cylinder.

Befriend to the RS5: inner, sport seating comes standard with cloth/Dinamica (no longer decrease than in Europe) with leather-basically based mostly more seemingly the default risk in Australia, in gloomy or grey.

The A5’s traditional 14.5-scramble OLED touchscreen carries over with RS-explicit whisper including detailed racetrack evaluation.

That repeat furthermore permits for careful witness of lunge in conjunction with the drift accuracy when the utilization of RS Torque Rear mode.

Stepping out the rear is more seemingly to be more easy thanks to an all-sleek transaxle with electromechanical torque vectoring taking into fable terribly quickly (5ms) torque transfer between the 2 rear wheels.

An updated Quattro centre differential is constantly partially locked and permits up to 85 percent of total torque — or a staggering 700Nm — to be sent to the rear wheels.

Driven delicately, the RS5 V6 PHEV can arrange 84km electric fluctuate ahead of delivering gasoline economy of about 10L/100km on a depleted battery.

Engage both of the automobile’s sportiest modes, though, and effectivity is thrown to the wind with the petrol engine put to quickly price the battery to 90 percent in repeat to direct max vitality constantly.

Stopping all that momentum is a job for standard metal brakes (with 420mm discs on the entrance) or non-obligatory carbon ceramics with 440mm entrance and 410mm rear discs.

European deliveries kick off in mid-2026, and Chasing Autos is utilizing the RS5 imminently. Stand by for a full first force portray.