The new Audi RS5 is built for speed

Since the launch of the Audi Sport sub-brand in South Africa in 2016, the range of high-performance vehicles has seen impressive growth in sales. I tested the Audi RS5 Sportback and this speed monster lived up to all the challenges I put it through.

Take a seat in the cockpit and everything inside screams high-performance. The design of the racing seats with side and lumbar supports, to the steering wheel and the layout of the instrumentation cluster makes you feel that you are in a ‘souped-up’ racing car.

Image by Naresh Maharaj

In fact, that is exactly what it is. Available for the first time ever in Sportback guise, the new Audi RS5 Sportback is a brand new offering in the Audi Sport portfolio.

The standard quattro drive distributes the power of the V6 twin-turbo engine across all four wheels, giving the driver an awesome feel and drive. The one safety feature that really pleased me is the driver alert signal when changing lanes or when a vehicle comes very close for comfort. Whilst most vehicles have a small orange triangle light that glows with a warning tone, the Audi RS5 has a very distinct orange light, built on the inside of the rearview mirror and is far bigger and very noticeable. You are alerted almost immediately of a vehicle that is very close.

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Press the start button and the engine roars to life. With that, comes that sound that motoring aficionados love...that raw throttle sound. That constant growl from the twin exhausts that is loud enough to be heard a kilometre away.

Exterior contours

The exterior design of the new Audi RS5 Sportback combines stirring curves and athletic surfaces. The longer wheelbase, short overhangs and long, wraparound engine hood with power dome all emphasise the dynamism of the model.

Image by Naresh Maharaj

When viewed at an angle from behind, the car looks particularly impressive. Here, quattro blisters emphasise the strong bulges over the wheel housings.

At the front, the Audi RS5 Sportback features a wide, flat single-frame grille, solid air intakes with a honeycomb structure typical of an RS, and a front spoiler with matte aluminium quattro lettering.

Image by Naresh Maharaj

Aside from the headlamps, the vehicle features additional design elements in gloss black, making the RS5 Sportback appear even wider. An RS-specific diffuser insert, RS exhaust system with oval tailpipes and fixed spoiler lip give the rear end its sportiness and athletic look.

Driving dynamics

The RS5 Sportback shares its 2.9 TFSI V6 twin-turbo engine with its Coupé sibling as well as the RS 4 Avant, with a power output of 331 kW and a maximum torque of 600 Nm, which is deployed throughout a wide speed range from 1,900 to 5,000rpm.

The Audi RS 5 Sportback accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. I tested this claimed stop/start time on a flat straight strip of tarmac and the claim is verified.

The power of the 2.9 TFSI is transferred to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive with centre differential via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission with optimized shift times that is specially tuned to sporty driving.

Image by Naresh Maharaj

The five-link design on the front and rear axles allow for substantially enhanced comfort, even in the sportiest of driving modes. With the standard RS sports suspension, the RS5 Sportback is 7mm lower, adding to the aggressive stance of the Sportback.

Inside the RS5 Sportback

As previously mentioned, the interior is rather racy. The high-quality, sporty interior is finished in black and provides space for five people. Its square-shaped profile and loading width measuring exactly one metre enables optimum use of the 480-litre trunk capacity. Folding down the rear seats increases the capacity to 1,300 litres. Handy, when going on those outdoor trips.

The sporty nature of the five-door high-performance coupé is emphasised by details such as the RS sport seats with honeycomb pattern in leather and the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sports leather steering wheel. RS emblems can be found on the seats, the steering wheel, the sill panel strips and on the selector lever. Special RS information displays in the Audi virtual cockpit provide information on tyre pressure, torque and G forces.

In manual mode, the shift light display prompts the driver to shift up once the engine speed threshold is reached.

Standard equipment

The RS5 Sportback is available in South Africa with an extensive range of standard equipment. This includes LED headlights and LED rear lights, the RS sports suspension, 20-inch aluminium forged alloy wheels, the RS exhaust system and the Audi drive select dynamic handling system.

Other features such as automatic climate control, MMI Navigation Plus with Audi virtual cockpit, Audi connect, Bang & Olufsen sound system with 3D sound and Audi smartphone interface enabling Apple CarPlay are also included. The assistance systems Audi pre-sense rear, Audi pre-sense basic, Audi side assist, parking system plus and rear-view camera system supplement the extensive standard features.

Pricing

Audi RS5 Sportback 331kW Quattro tiptronic: R1,312,000* incl.
*Standard with the 5 year/100,000km