The Mighty New Audi RS5 Will Hit 62mph In A Supercar-Baiting 3.9 Seconds

The Audi RS 5 as landed, and it’s more significant than you’d think. The styling, a pretty big departure from what went before, sets the bar for the whole next generation of Audi products. Less Germanic and with a few more curves going on, it’s a bit of a looker.

A new 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 is the spec sheet highlight, cranking out 444bhp at upwards of 6000rpm and a beefy 443lb ft all the way from 1900rpm to 5000rpm. It’s going to be rapid in pretty much any gear. Audi also reckons that it sounds a lot like the original blown V6 in the B5 RS 4. Cool.

It uses a clever new variable-stroke technology that shortens the compression stroke relative to the power stroke, increasing efficiency via witchcraft and/or optimistic marketing. It also nicks the ‘hot vee’ layout pioneered by the Mercedes F1 car in 2014, where the turbos are located inside the two banks of cylinders.

The top speed can be limited to either 155mph or 174mph, and on the way there it can hit 62mph half a second quicker than the old RS5, at a frankly amazing 3.9 seconds.

But despite the extra performance, fuel economy is up to an official 32.5mpg and emissions are down to 197g/km, helped by a weight loss of up to 60kg depending on final spec. It’s 74mm longer than before, though, and will most likely need the 20-inch wheel options to balance its proportions out. Meagre 19s are standard beneath the arches, which have been flared by an extra 15mm.

Of course, it’s quattro-only, and as far as we can tell it’s never going to have a manual gearbox option. An eight-speed Tiptronic is your lot. The car will be rammed with technology, though, like optional Matrix LED headlights that can maintain main beam (allegedly) without dazzling anyone.

As you’d expect, there are options for Internet connectivity, a WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, there’s a multi-function touchpad and buyers can spec the Virtual Cockpit from the TT.