The gloves are off in Germany’s compact super-sedan war. Before Audi has even officially pulled the silk from the stage lights, the next-generation Audi RS5 has already strutted onto the internet runway—fully exposed, wide-hipped, and spoiling for a fight.
And make no mistake: this isn’t just another RS refresh. This is Ingolstadt consolidating forces. The new RS5 is set to effectively replace the RS4, streamline the lineup, and square up directly against the benchmark bully from Munich, the BMW M3.
A Baby RS6? Don’t Call It Cute.
Based on the new A5, the RS5 wears its RS-specific bodywork like tailored armor. If the standard car is business class, this thing is Special Forces. The widened fenders aren’t cosmetic fluff—they’re visibly broader, with Audi reportedly swapping out the rear doors entirely rather than simply flaring the originals. That’s commitment.
The proportions promise more attitude too. Longer, wider, and lower than its siblings, yet retaining a 2900-mm wheelbase, the RS5 appears planted and purposeful. The face is dominated by a massive grille framed by yawning cooling intakes, while the shoulders—oh yes, the shoulders—channel vintage Quattro muscle in a way that feels both nostalgic and freshly aggressive.
The wheels? A unique six-twin-spoke aluminum design that looks ready to chew through Autobahn asphalt. Around back, the drama continues: a tall diffuser, twin oval tailpipes (because round is for amateurs), and a Formula 1–style brake light for good measure. The sedan gets a subtle decklid spoiler, the Avant a roof-mounted wing. Black or carbon trim is available on the mirrors, side skirts, and bumpers for those who prefer their menace with a gloss finish.
If the Audi RS6 had a smaller, sharper younger sibling, this would be it.
Screens, Alcantara, and Red Buttons
Inside, Audi Sport sticks to its proven recipe: Alcantara everywhere your fingers land, RS logos stamped like passport visas, and red steering-wheel buttons that beg to be pressed irresponsibly.
The tech suite mirrors the broader A5 family but adds RS-specific graphics. Expect an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch central infotainment screen, and even a 10.9-inch passenger display—because nothing says modern performance like letting your co-driver monitor lap data while you concentrate on not embarrassing yourself.
Hybrid Power, Properly Applied
Here’s where things get interesting. Audi has confirmed the new RS5 will adopt a plug-in hybrid setup. The likely configuration pairs the twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 with electric assistance, pushing combined output well beyond the S5’s 367 horsepower mild-hybrid arrangement.
Translation: this won’t be some half-hearted eco exercise. Expect a serious bump in torque, sharper throttle response courtesy of instant electric shove, and enough combined output to comfortably exceed its predecessor’s numbers.
Underneath, the RS5 rides on Audi’s PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture—the same bones as the A5 and S5—but fortified with a tighter suspension tune and larger brakes to keep the added electrified muscle in check. In RS tradition, it won’t just be fast in a straight line; it’ll aim to feel surgically precise when the road turns interesting.
The Enemy Camp
Audi isn’t operating in a vacuum. The BMW M3 remains the dynamic yardstick, blending brute force with rear-drive antics (or all-wheel-drive confidence, depending on configuration). Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG is recalibrating its strategy. The outgoing four-cylinder plug-in hybrid experiment in the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance has faced its share of skepticism, and the brand appears ready to pivot toward an electrified six-cylinder formula in the C53.
In that context, Audi’s move to hybridize the RS5 with a twin-turbo V6 feels less like compromise and more like calculated evolution.
The Big Picture
This new RS5 isn’t just a facelift with bigger wheels. It’s a strategic reset—one model replacing two, hybrid muscle replacing pure combustion, and sharper design replacing subtlety.
If the leaked images and early details hold true, Audi isn’t just refreshing the RS5. It’s redefining it. And when the covers finally come off officially, Munich and Affalterbach will be watching very closely.
Source: Audi