Audi energizes compact executive sedan segment with new RS 5

MANILA: Ladies and gents, feast your eyes on a model that’s set to change the way we think of sporty compact executive sedans. This is the new Audi RS 5, and it comes in two gorgeous bodies, the Coupè (two-door) and Sportback (five-door).

First unveiled in December 2019, it finally hits dealerships and proudly wears the new RS design language that was first seen on the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback.

Top highlights of the exterior include the 3D-like wavy shoulder line and the new Singleframe honeycomb grille that’s wider, flatter, and features a glossy black design. Behind the grille are air vents that’s a throwback to the classic ’84 Audi Sport quattro.

Standard lighting systems use Matrix LED headlights but buyers can opt for the RS-specific darkened Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light.

Tweaked for a sportier look are the large side air inlets that now have a pentagonal, geometric cut.

Wheel arches are flared by an additional 15mm on each side, and the RS 5 gets new sill trims, plus fun eye-candy with the light-and-shadow play visible on the door panels.

The RS exhaust system uses a diffuser insert for greater rear accent and dual chrome tailpipes, but as an option is the RS sport exhaust system with large black tailpipes.

Inside are highly contoured RS sports seats, which are electronically adjustable and use a mix of Alcantara and leather with honeycomb pattern.  Armrests are embossed with the RS logo.

The entertainment system uses a 10.1-inch touch display that’s based on a new third-generation modular infotainment platform (MIB 3) and is tilted to face the driver. It’s intuitive, equipped with acoustic feedback, and has natural-language voice control.

An optional feature is the RS Monitor that tells the driver info about the engine and transmission temperature, the maximum longitudinal and lateral acceleration values, and the tire pressure and temperature.

In the instrument panel is a 12.3-inch display that shows tire pressure, torque, output, engine oil temperature, boost pressure, and g-forces can also be shown. Lap times and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h can be started directly via a button on the steering wheel.

Under the hood is the same engine as what the Porsche Panamera 4S uses, a 2.9 V6 TFSI twin-turbo with 444hp and 600Nm of torque. It can go from standstill to 100kph in 3.9 seconds, but upon request, Audi Sport GmbH can raise the top rate from 250kph to 280kph.

The gearbox is an eight-speed tiptronic tuned for RS performance and can be manipulated via aluminum paddle shifters. Power is sent to a quattro permanent all-wheel drive layout that uses a 40:60 power distribution in normal driving conditions. Track conditions will allow the system to redirect 70% of the power in the front or up to 85% to the rear.

The RS suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control is available as an optional feature.

Driving modes include comfort, auto, dynamic, and two new ones, RS1 and RS2. Both can be individually configured, saved, and then selected directly and quickly via the RS Mode button on the steering wheel.

“Our RS 5 models are highly dynamic all-rounders. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive grants the RS 5 modelsthat decisive extra traction, dynamism, and stability — strengths that Audi put on the road 40 years ago with the first quattro and has continually optimized. The handling is made even more spontaneous with the optional sport differential at the rear axle, which distributes the torque actively between the wheels,” said Oliver Hoffmann, managing director of Audi Sport GmbH.

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