- Audi RS5 replaces the RS4 as the new performance lead.
- It will be offered in both sedan and Avant bodystyles.
- The new model targets the BMW M3 as its key competitor.
Audi is almost ready to unveil the next-generation RS5, effectively replacing the RS4 and lining it up as a direct rival to the BMW M3. The brand dropped a moody, shadow-drenched teaser video today, clearly hoping to build suspense. The internet, unsurprisingly, had other ideas.
Hours before the official reveal, photos of the performance model surfaced on social media, showing the aggressively styled sedan and wagon in full view, no dramatic lighting tricks required. So much for the slow reveal.
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The new model may be based on the A5, but the RS-specific body kit gives it the presence of a baby RS6, possibly even something a bit sharper. Judging from the photos, the performance flagship will be longer, wider, and lower compared to its siblings, while retaining the 2,900 mm (114.2 inches) wheelbase.
Up front, there is a redesigned bumper with a massive grille flanked by sizable cooling intakes. The front and rear fenders are noticeably wider and, unlike BMW, Audi has also replaced the rear doors rather than simply reshaping what was already there. The sculpted shoulders channel classic Audi Quattro vibes, and the alloy wheels wear a unique six double-spoke design that looks suitably purposeful.
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The rear is just as dramatic, with a towering diffuser framing dual oval tailpipes and an F1-style brake light that makes sure no one misses the point. The sedan gets a lip spoiler on the tailgate, while the Avant adds a roof spoiler. The trimmings on the bumpers, side skirts, and mirror caps appears to be available in either glossy black or carbon fiber.
Cabin Tech And RS Touches
Inside, Audi Sport leans into the familiar formula with plenty of Alcantara, red buttons on the steering wheel, and RS emblems scattered throughout. Expect unique graphics for the digital cockpit as well, which includes an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch infotainment display, and a 10.9-inch passenger screen.
Hybrid Muscle For The RS5
Audi has confirmed that the new RS5 will come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The most likely setup pairs the twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 with electric motors, sending combined output comfortably past the 362 hp (270 kW / 367 PS) produced by the mild-hybrid S5.
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A sharper suspension tune and larger brakes are also expected to keep all that added performance in check. Like the lesser A5 and S5, the RS5 rides on the PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture.
The official debut of the new Audi RS5 sedan and Avant is expected later today. It will line up against the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, the latter set to abandon its current four-cylinder PHEV in favor of an electrified six-cylinder setup in C53 form,at least for now, aligning it more closely with the Audi’s formula.
