Audi RS5 test

 

So what exactly is this car? The Audi RS5 is, in fact, the high-end version of the A5, developed and built in Stuttgart at the Quattro Gmbh facilities, the birthplace of all Audi’s high performance vehicles. But all of the original A5 lines have been retained.

Both the wheel arches and side sill have been enlarged, the rear view mirrors are encased in aluminium, the radiator grill is honeycomb and the fog lights have been replaced by large air intakes. The RS5 is racy but not overly so.

It is the same story at the back with an integrated diffuser in the bumper, twin oval shaped pipe mufflers and a retractable wing

The 20-inch wheels come extra and they are the only wheels that can welcome the ceramic brakes.

No real surprise in the interior. It is typical Audi, handsome, functional and sporty.

Under the bonnet is the 4.2-litre V8 taken from the S5 but with a new management system. Horsepower has been increased from 354 to 450. This engine offers more torque and the optimal power range comes in late with a red zone starting at 8500 rpm.

The only drawback is a rather hefty weight of 1725 kilograms.

Even at slow speeds, the V8 delivers a captivating sonority while its elegant look turns more than a few heads. There is nothing particular to report when driving at a moderate speed, which makes it difficult to evaluate its size. The standard A5 gave us the same impression, fluid and elegant from the outside, but it feels a lot bigger when you get behind the wheel.

The S-Tronic seven speed gearbox is first rate. Despite the added power, the RS5 accelerates smoothly and makes you want to pick up the pace.

At this point the V8 changes personality, the sonority is more melodious, while delivering a surprising punch, while the sequential gearbox does its job to perfection. The new Quattro technology is a lot more rear drive like while the options such as a central sport differential, ceramic brakes and 20-inch wheels justify the extra €10,000 to the base price of €86,350.

Despite its considerable weight, the car runs flat, brakes extremely well and never catches the driver off guard.

The ease in which the car drives does become misleading because whether you realise it or not, the RS5 driven far from its limitations is a very fast automobile and the only way to push its limits is to head to a test track. But one thing is for sure, the latest high-performance street machine from Audi is a technological wonder.