The exterior design of the new Audi RS5 Sportback combines stirring curves and taut, athletic surfaces. The longer wheelbase, short overhangs and long, wraparound engine hood with power dome all emphasise the dynamism of the model.
The characteristic wavy shape of the powerful shoulder line is a visual highlight of the high-performance five-door coupe. When viewed at an angle from behind, the modelled sides look particularly impressive. Here, quattro blisters emphasise the strong bulges over the wheel housings, which have been extended by 15 millimeters. For the RS5, Audi Sport offers Sonoma Green Metallic as an exclusive paint option.
The 2.9-litre TFSI V6 twin-turbo engine offers both power and efficiency, and can achieve 450hp. Its maximum torque of 600Nm is deployed throughout a wide speed range from 1900rpm to 5000rpm. The RS5 Sportback accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in about 3.9 seconds, with the possibility of reaching a top speed of 280km/h.
The power of the 2.9-litre TFSI V6 is transferred to the quattro permanent all-wheel-drive with center differential via an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission with optimised shift times that is specially tuned to sporty driving.
It distributes power asymmetrically 40:60 between the axles – this guarantees dynamic handling with optimal traction alongside the greatest possible safety. When slippage occurs on an axle, most of the power immediately flows to the other axle – up to 85% to the front and up to 70% to the rear. This locking effect enables a clearly defined torque distribution and precise cooperation with the control systems. The optional sport differential selectively shifts the torque between the rear wheels.
The high-quality, sporty interior of the new RS5 Sportback is finished in black, and provides space for five people. The sporty nature of the five-door high-performance coupé is emphasised by details such as the RS sport seats with optional honeycomb pattern in fine Nappa leather, and the flat-bottomed RS multi-function sports leather steering wheel.
Read our local review of the Audi RS5 Coupe.
Read our 2010 comparison of Audi RS5 4.2 and BMW M3 Competition 4.0.