The five-door, high-performance RS5 Sportback model now sits atop Audi’s A5 range and promises lots of usability and power in a well-designed package.
In a press statement, Audi announced it is accepting orders for its latest super-sport sedan in Germany, with other European nations to follow.
A wide and flat ‘Singleframe’ grille and massive air inlets with an RS-specific honeycomb structure adorn the front.
An RS-typical diffuser insert, the RS exhaust system with oval tailpipes as well as a surface-mounted spoiler lip provide sporty accents at the rear.
As standard on the RS 5 Sportback are 19-inch forged wheels; 20-inch wheels are available as an option.
If you’d like to burnish your green credentials, the Sonoma green metallic paint is exclusive to the RS5 Sportback. Yes, that sort of green.
Inside, the interior of the new Audi RS 5 Sportback is clad entirely in black and has space for five.
Details like the RS sport seats with optional honeycomb pattern in Fine Nappa leather and the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sport leather steering wheel underscore the RS5 Sportback’s, well, sportiness.
Audi RS5 engine & gearbox
Under the hood, the same engine that powers the RS5 Coupe has found its way into the RS5 Sportback.
It’s the same mighty 2.9-litre, TFSI V6 bi-turbo producing 450hp, with its maximum 600Nm of torque available between 1900 and 5000rpm.
Floor it and the Audi RS 5 Sportback accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds on its way to an optional top speed of 280 km/h.
An eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox with optimised gear changing drives the quattro permanent all-wheel drive with self-locking centre differential.
It distributes the power to the axles asymmetrically (40:60). When slippage occurs on an axle, most of the power immediately flows to the other axle – up to 70 percent to the front, and up to 85 percent to the rear.
Supporting all that weight is a five-link suspension both at the front and rear. With the standard RS sport suspension, the RS 5 Sportback is seven millimeters lower than the Audi S5 Sportback.
Audi Sport also offers the RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes and dynamic steering with RS-specific tuning.
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