The New Audi RS5 Sounds Fairly Darn Good

Within the age of downsizing, Audi seems to be bucking the development with its next-generation RS5. Prototypes of the new sedan (technically a five-door liftback) and wagon have been noticed on the Nürburgring, making candy engine noise. The sound we hear positively comes from one thing with greater than 4 cylinders. Our cash is on a V-6, probably a plug-in hybrid to adjust to stricter emissions rules.

Audi has pledged by no means to supply a four-cylinder RS automobile, so it’s not stunning that the subsequent RS5 might retain all six cylinders. We haven’t forgotten in regards to the five-cylinder unit, however the 2.5-liter TFSI is now principally confined to the RS3, because the TT RS is lengthy gone and the RS Q3 is unlikely to return with the inline-five. In September 2019, Audi promised that the RS4 Avant successor would include an electrified six-cylinder powertrain.

The brand new RS5 fashions are clad in swirly camouflage however don’t disguise the fats oval exhaust ideas, which now sit nearer collectively, giving off Porsche vibes. The 2 exhausts are very a lot actual, with Audi having pledged to stop fitting fake exhausts on its automobiles, not that RS fashions have been ever responsible of that anyway. Whereas I usually suppose larger is healthier, these ovals may be only a tad too giant. Be at liberty to disagree.

Elsewhere, the RS5 duo sports activities bigger air intakes and bulging fenders, with the entrance ones showing to have massive (and hopefully purposeful) vertical vents to chill the brakes or for aerodynamic functions. Massive wheels with low-profile tires fill the arches properly, and Audi has added a small spoiler on the rear of the not-a-sedan.

In case you’re involved in regards to the new RS5 gaining weight, so are we. The outgoing RS4 Avant tipped the scales at 1,745 kilograms in Europe, or 3,847 kilos. Protecting the six-cylinder setup whereas including a battery and electrical motor might push the tremendous wagon above 2,000 kilograms, round 4,409 kilos. On the plus aspect, it’s sure to supply extra energy than the RS4 Edition 25 Years, which had 464 hp and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque.

New Audi RS6 Avant

Picture by: Carspotter Jeroen

However this spy video isn’t simply in regards to the new RS5. The bigger, next-gen RS6 Avant additionally seems, sporting equally positioned oval exhausts, now nearer to the middle of the rear bumper. It has even wider fenders and sounds aggressive as nicely. It’s unclear if the brand new RS6 may also go the plug-in hybrid route, however it’s a robust risk given how a V-8-only setup may wrestle below Europe’s tightening emissions guidelines.

Ex-Audi design boss Marc Lichte has mentioned these automobiles will symbolize the “last-generation RS ICE fashions,” including that the subsequent RS5 and RS6 will likely be “mind-blowing.” We’re right here for it. The common A6 has simply been revealed, so the RS6 should wait, particularly for the reason that new S6 has but to interrupt cowl. Audi may debut the brand new RS5 earlier than the tip of the yr or someday in 2026.