Audi South Africa has launched the all-new RS 5, the first plug-in hybrid in the brand’s high-performance RS line. Offered as a Sedan and an Avant, the car joins Audi’s halo models and extends the local brand’s recent run of new-product launches.
Powertrain
The RS 5 combines a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 470 kW and 825 Nm. Audi says the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. It’s the first RS production model to use electric assistance with the V6, and the company positions the motor as a way to sharpen throttle response rather than simply to improve fuel economy.
Power goes through an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox and Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. The 22 kWh lithium-ion battery offers an electric range of 78 to 84 km, and the car can charge at up to 11 kW on AC power. Drivers can choose between EV and Hybrid modes, set a preferred battery charge level, and adjust regenerative braking through the steering-wheel paddles. A ten-second boost function delivers maximum acceleration, with a countdown on the instrument display.
Audi is also highlighting a new drivetrain called Dynamic Torque Control. The company says it is the first production vehicle with an electromechanical torque-vectoring system at the rear axle, which distributes power between the rear wheels to improve cornering and stability. The car uses RS-specific sport suspension with twin-valve dampers. The standard top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, rising to 285 km/h with the optional Audi Sport package, which also adds more aggressive front and rear bumpers.
Styling
Visually, the RS 5 is wider than the standard A5 by four centimetres on each side. It has a Singleframe grille, a centrally positioned exhaust layout, and a red reflector in the diffuser that nods to the model’s motorsport roots. Standard wheels are 20-inch Audi Sport alloys, and buyers can choose 21-inch options. The exterior colour range includes Progressive Red, Ascari Blue, Daytona Grey, Plateau Grey and Mythos Black, with Bedford Green available only with the Audi Sport package.
Inside, the cabin features RS sport seats in perforated leather with honeycomb detailing, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and a digital instrument display with performance data such as lap times, tyre pressures and g-forces. A driving-experience function records lap and sector times and can automatically build track profiles. A standard Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, head-up display and electrically adjustable massaging front seats are also included. An optional 3D and 360-degree camera system and remote parking assistance are available through the Technology package pro, and a panoramic glass roof with switchable transparency is offered at no extra cost.
Recommended retail prices
Audi RS 5 Sedan: R2 430 000
Audi RS 5 Avant: R2 470 000
*Every RS 5 comes standard with Audi’s five-year, 100 000 km Freeway Plan. Buyers can view the car at Audi Centre locations in Bryanston, Centurion, East Rand, Hatfield, Rivonia, Sandton, West Rand, Wonderboom, Claremont and Pinetown, or configure one on Audi South Africa’s website.
