New Audi RS5 Sedan: Every little thing We Know About Audi Sport’s First Plug-In Hybrid

Replace 11/10: The Audi RS5 has been caught flexing its muscular tissues but once more, this time in sedan kind, strutting via one other spherical of testing. Predictably, it’s nonetheless cloaked within the ubiquitous swirly camouflage that’s virtually a uniform for European prototypes, doing its greatest to maintain prying eyes from soaking in an excessive amount of element. Together with this recent batch of spy photographs, we’ve extensively up to date our article under with all the newest info now we have on the high-performance mannequin.

Audi hasn’t supplied a sedan model of the RS4 since 2008, selecting as a substitute to stay with the high-performance station wagon components. Nevertheless, that’s about to alter. The most recent technology will commerce its RS4 badge for the RS5 nameplate and can be supplied in each sedan and Avant types. This shift suits into Audi’s new naming technique, the place odd-numbered fashions stay loyal to inside combustion whereas even-numbered ones embrace the electrical future.

Extra: New Audi A5 Sedan And Avant Replaces A4 With Sleeker Seems to be

Earlier than diving into extra particulars, we should always make clear that whereas Audi is referring to your complete A5/S5/RS5 lineup as a sedan, it’s technically a hatchback or extra exactly, a liftback. Audi used to market this physique fashion because the “Sportback,” however for causes recognized solely to Ingolstadt, that identify has been shelved right here.

Design: Muscular but good-looking

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Our spy photographers have snapped the brand new RS5 testing on quite a few events in latest months, however all of the prototypes we’ve seen have been wagons. Because it seems, Audi has additionally been arduous at work on a sedan model, and that is our first close-up have a look at the four-door variant that’s shaping as much as be simply as butch and aggressive as its long-roof sibling.

Ingolstadt’s contender to the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63 encompasses a entrance finish that sits extensive and low, dominated by a big black singleframe grille sporting a brand new diamond-like mesh inside sample. On both aspect, giant vent openings trace at operate over kind, doubtless hiding a pair of symmetrical cost coolers behind their aggressive facade.

Watch: Can The Audi RS5 Avant Snatch BMW M3 Touring’s Nurburgring Document?

The muscular entrance wheel arches go away little doubt that it is a severe Audi Sport machine. A lot of the sedan’s aspect profile is hidden, though we will see the vertical vents behind the entrance arches, bulging hips on the rear, and a superbly smooth roof line. It’s an undeniably good-looking package deal, one that appears poised to offer its rivals a run for his or her cash within the design stakes.

The completed automobile can even have a rear finish that stands out as a lot because the entrance. Seen on this prototype are a small lip spoiler and enormous twin exhausts, a regular fare for an RS mannequin. Curiously, although, these exhausts aren’t positioned on the far edges of the bumper as seen on different RS fashions. As a substitute, they’re set nearer to the middle, evoking a format extra paying homage to the BMW M3.

Inside: Tech-Targeted with a sporty aptitude

We haven’t had a peek inside any RS5 prototypes but, however judging by the tech-heavy interiors of the usual A5 and the sportier S5 variants in each sedan and Avant guises, now we have a great sense of what’s coming. These will embody loads of sporty trimmings, liberal use of RS5 badging, a signature flat-bottom steering wheel, and deeply bolstered sport seats designed to maintain you planted throughout spirited driving. Audi will virtually definitely throw in a singular configuration for the curved panoramic show, full with customized graphics and unique RS-specific driving modes.

Chassis: Sharpened for pace

Beneath the flashy new sheetmetal of the A5 collection lies what Audi claims can be its ultimate internal-combustion platform, named the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC). Primarily an evolution of the outgoing A4 chassis, the PPC structure will function the inspiration for this swan track of gas-powered Audis, or at the very least that’s the present plan, as we’ve seen many automakers change course lately (see sister firm Porsche, for instance).

Extra: Porsche Adjustments EV Plan, Will Give Electrical Fashions ICE Powertrains Too

Regardless, the RS5 will profit from Audi Sport’s engineering experience, with extensively tuned suspension, steering, and braking elements, together with rigorously chosen wheels and tires to make sure it delivers the sharp efficiency you’d anticipate from the badge.

Powertrain: A plug-in hybrid evolution

There’s large information underneath the hood, because the RS5 would be the first Audi Sport mannequin to embrace electrification with a plug-in hybrid system, mixing outdated and new. Whereas Audi has remained tight-lipped on the specifics, it’s believed to function an up to date model of the present twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6, providing extra energy and fewer emissions.

The important thing improvement right here is the plug-in hybrid system, which is able to convey important positive factors over the present RS4’s pure V6, which produces 444 hp. Whereas this implies the brand new RS5 will exceed that determine, it additionally means we will anticipate a weight penalty, much like the newest BMW M5, pushing the brand new mannequin’s weight past the present 1,745 kg (3,847 lbs).

Evaluate: Is The New BMW M5 Touring Price The Weight?

It’s doable that Audi will sandwich an electrical motor between the engine and transmission, much like the setup within the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid, which makes use of a, you guessed it, 2.9-liter V6. In that mannequin, the V6 produces 410 hp, with the electrical motor including one other 134 hp for a mixed 536 hp and 25 miles of pure electrical vary. It wouldn’t be out of the query for the RS5 to hit 600 hp or extra. Will it rival the 671 hp of the C 63 S E Efficiency? Solely time will inform.

Availability: Coming later in 2025

The brand new RS5, in each sedan and wagon physique types, must be revealed within the coming months, with a market launch slated for later in 2025. Since Audi received’t be bringing the A5 Avant to North America—until they pull an RS6 on us—the RS5 sedan will doubtless be the one variant out there right here.

Extra reporting by John Halas

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