The super saloon is becoming an endangered species.
Mercedes-AMG's four-cylinder C63 experiment is effectively over, the upcoming C53 will sit below true RS5 rivals, the next BMW M3 is expected to be a mild hybrid, but with that controversial Neue Klasse design. Or an EV…. No. And if you move up market, you’re looking at cars like the M5 with a very different size, character and price tag.
Which is exactly why this new Audi Sport RS5 Sedan seems like It’s arrived at the perfect time.
In this video I head to Austria to drive #Audi Sport's all-new RS5 Sedan for the first time. A car that takes the much-loved RS4 and RS5 formula, adds a heavily revised twin-turbo V6, a plug-in hybrid system, a world-first electro-mechanical rear torque vectoring system and 639PS, then asks a very important question:
But: Can a hybrid still feel like a proper RS car? Especially at over 2.3 tonnes.
On paper the numbers are impressive. 639PS, 825Nm, 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and the ability to drive in EV mode for everyday commuting. But numbers don’t tell any of the story: so in this review I put the new RS5 Sedan through its paces, testing the V6 soundtrack, launch control performance, comfort, EV mode, fuel economy and overall driving experience to find out whether Audi Sport have managed to overcome the significant weight increase that comes with the new hybrid system.
We also take a quick look at the engineering behind the car, including the revised EA839 V6 engine, the permanent-magnet electric motor integrated into the gearbox, the new battery system, and the innovative rear axle technology that Audi believe can take quattro performance to a new level.
Along the way I'll compare it to some of Audi Sport's greatest hits, including the RS4 Competition and RS7, while also discussing where it sits in a rapidly changing performance car market.
Is this the perfect daily performance car? Has Audi finally built a hybrid that enthusiasts can embrace? And could this genuinely be one of the last great super saloons?
Let me know what you think in the comments!! Avant Review is coming up next.
