New developments in the car world are always closely guarded secrets, but in a world where a social media presence is essential to the sustained growth of a brand, mistakes are made relatively frequently. Presumably meant to be published later in the year, a now-revised post on LinkedIn appears to have accidentally leaked the news that the all-new Audi RS 5 will debut this year with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, as first reported by Motor1. The same post also revealed that the Ingolstadt-based brand will unveil a new “entry” EV sometime before 2026 comes to a close. All mention of either of these vehicles has since been removed from Audi‘s social media, but the announcements will likely be remade not too long from now.
What to Expect from the New RS 5
Audi
The post on LinkedIn read as follows: “The new Audi RS 5 is also nearing its debut and will be our first performance plug-in hybrid. Furthermore, we will unveil a new electric entry model. Stay tuned to our channels so you don’t miss any news.” This doesn’t tell us very much, but we already know a few things, including that this new RS 5 won’t be offered in coupe format. It will likely be available in both Sportback (sedan-aping hatchback) and Avant (station wagon) forms, though America will almost certainly miss out on the latter unless there is immense demand. Both variants are expected to feature the B9 generation’s 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, and combined with an electric motor, more than 600 horsepower is possible.
Related: First-Ever Hybrid BMW M3 Spied With Big Bulges
Spy shots reveal that the RS 5 Sportback will have vents behind the front wheels like the most recent RS 3, as well as a small wing on the edge of its tailgate. At the front, a large Singleframe grille with diamond-shaped mesh will be flanked by a pair of upright grilles for cooling the brakes, among other components. Flush door handles are also evident, as we can see in the video below, and large, oval tailpipes in a pronounced diffuser will help identify the M3 competitor, as will blistered rear fenders.
An Affordable Audi EV?
As for the other part of the announcement, little is known, but it seems that Audi was hinting at something that will slot in below the Q4 e-tron, its current smallest EV. Roughly two years ago, Audi mentioned that a new Q2 would arrive in 2027, and Audi’s announcement blunder comes at the right point for that timeline target to be achieved. A version of the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform makes the most sense for this new entry-level EV. This architecture already underpins the Q4 e-tron, while the MEB+ platform will find a home beneath the hotly anticipated Volkswagen ID. Polo. Thus, one can’t help but think that this new EV might even be a new take on the Audi A1. Either way, a small, relatively attainable Audi e-tron EV is unlikely to reach U.S. shores, but we’ll have to wait for an official announcement (that Audi doesn’t subsequently delete) to know more.
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