2018 Audi RS5 – At The Right Time For It

We just wrote about brand new SQ5, and if the whole story is reduced to two words, it would be “not enough.” Its 3.0-liter V6 went from supercharging to turbocharging, gaining beautiful power band, but not even one horsepower more, keeping exactly the same acceleration time. In years of hard competition, which was never tougher actually, that kind of brand’s behavior could prove quite hurting. At first glance huge sense of disappointment may arise when we look at figures for new 2018 Audi RS5, falling in desperation that Audi obviously did it again. But take a big breath, because Germans were smarter and we don’t have another SQ5 case.

POWER THING

At first glance, things are looking disastrous. Old 4.2-liter naturally aspired V8 is exchanged for 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6, making exactly same power figure of 450 hp. This is enough to enrage any car enthusiasts, which might reach a conclusion that all that Audi did, is made new RS5 less fuel consuming and less polluting, which is of least importance for this matter.

But that is not the case. Now we have 442 lb-ft of torque, which is increased by 124 lb-ft, or huge one respectively, power band starts at 1,900 rpm and stretches all the way to 5,000 rpm and finally the whole car lost 132 pounds in weight. All that makes new RS5 accelerate to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, which is three-tenths quicker than before. Then, who cares if power figure is the same if you are that much faster?

ON THE ROAD

All that extra torque will be felt immediately, whether for overtaking or on the track. Both turbos are mounted between cylinder banks in an effort to reduce the time for air traveling, and you’ll quite appreciate that concerning it is one of the main tricks for reducing turbo lag.

This powerplant is mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission which is in the case of RS5 tuned to deliver quick and aggressive shifts, while Quattro AWD with 60:40 split will make that torque properly distributed to wheels. That all said makes RS thing that you actually want from Audi. S badge gives more power and handling, but for true sportiness, wild cornering and setting record lap times RS is the thing to go for.

2018 Audi RS5 LOOKS

It’s not just the wild driving side that makes you crave for RS badge, we have the looks also. If S shows its aggression in a subtle way, RS screams about it. Wider fenders, black meshed grille, large menacing air intakes, carbon fiber roof, wider diffuser with huge double exhaust tips, all makes this thing clear about tarmac ripping intentions, but somehow it always manages to remain sophisticated in appearance and never tacky even for a second.

There are also three exterior packages to spice things up additionally, playing with gloss black, carbon or matte aluminum varieties. On the inside, you’ll get all brand digitalisation offer in the form of Virtual Cockpit, MMI infotainment, and head-up display.

RS brings badges to many places, beautiful highly bolstered seats, carbon accents, flat-bottomed steering wheel coated by Alcantara, diamond stitching pattern for seats and double stitching all over the place. You have to opt for contrast red stitching, which makes interior sublime looking, totally destroying overall blackness of it.

SHOULD YOU?

Definitely. New RS5 is priced at €81k ($87,5k) in Europe, which is traditionally slightly above main German competition. Despite the fact that power isn’t increased, acceleration time is improved, and it reflects the same figure as M4 or AMG C63 Coupe have. In Europe times have never been better for it, as Alfa doesn’t offer Giulia in coupe addition, Merc always sticks more to its luxury side even with AMG, while BMW totally messed up with dynamic manners of M4 if we put aside Performance package.

Although it will feature some understeer, as all Audis, new 2018 Audi RS5 may, for the first time, seem most alluring when you have track intentions between the famous trio. When it arrives in the US, it can’t actually openly go against Camaro ZL1 or Mustang GT350R when lap times are concerned, but let’s say that after Dieselgate Audi is not so US focused, and it never actually was.