Audi RS5 Coupe

Audi RS5 Coupe

The latest RS model from Audi, the RS5 coupe, which joins the TTRS and RS6. There have never been three RS models on sale at the same time before. It uses a new 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 with 444bhp and 317lb ft of torque. The motor isn’t a re-worked version of the old RS4’s V8, it’s actually 4/5ths of the Audi R8's 5.2-litre V10. The motor, which revs to 8500rpm, is nearly 30bhp more powerful than the RS4’s engine and yet produces just 252g/km of CO2 against the old car's 324g/km. A C63 puts out 319g/km. The chassis is arguably more interesting, with Audi choosing this car to showcase its new Quattro transmission, and in particular its new centre differential. This is a compact, mechanically operated unit that can put up to 70 percent of torque to the front wheels and 85 to the rear. It works alongside a torque-vectoring system (braking of the inside wheel) and you can specify the rear sport differential that was introduced on the S4. Audi claims it’s the best all-wheel drive sports car chassis on sale. It also uses the word ‘oversteer’ in its launch preamble, which in the past has proved to be an unwise move. Power is still provided by Audi’s naturally aspirated 4,2-litre V8 developing 331 kW and 430 N.m of torque. It’s a free-revving unit that’s quite happy spooling up to the 7-8 000 r/min mark and, with our test unit’s optional sports exhaust, probably one of the most aurally satisfying engines in its class; emitting a clean, metallic rasp to the staccato V8 note while downshifts are announced by an addictive huffing bellow. Its flexibility and low-end urge are also timely reminders that, in a segment that’s leaning increasingly towards forced induction, there’s little to match a well- sorted naturally-aspirated engine. Our previous experience with the RS5 saw a few of the testers walk away grumbling about the occasionally harsh downshifts served up by 7-speed dual-clutch transmission in ‘S’/dynamic mode. This malady didn’t seem to affect this particular car with both up- and downshifts being crisp and swift in both manual and auto/preset modes. A stint at our testing ground confirmed that the performance on offer is, quite frankly, blistering. Our first launch control-assisted acceleration run saw the RS5 breach the 100 km/h mark from standstill in 4,4 seconds (Audi claims 4,5), hit 140 km/h 3,3 seconds later and cross the 1 kilometre mark in 22,9 seconds at a speed of 231,5 km/h. Those of you paging back to our March 2011 issue test of the pre-facelift model will notice that there’s an appreciable difference in this car’s performance. We’re not sure just how much of a role that sports exhaust, temperature on the test day (16 degrees vs. 23 degrees) and the inevitabilities that are manufacturing tolerances played in this instance, but the new car is otherwise mechanically identical to its predecessor.