Audi’s A5 household at the moment consists of coupe, convertible, and liftback physique types, however a new A5 technology revealed in July solely options the liftback plus a brand new wagon physique fashion.
Excessive-performance RS 5 variations of each the liftback and wagon are deliberate, and a prototype for considered one of them, the RS 5 Avant (Avant is Audi-speak for wagons), has been noticed once more, and this time we’ve video of it testing on Germany’s Nürburgring racetrack. Prototypes for the liftback are additionally out testing.
The RS 5 Avant will change the present RS 4 Avant bought abroad as a part of a shift in Audi’s naming technique. The brand new technique, introduced final 12 months, provides fashions with internal-combustion engines an odd quantity of their names and electrical fashions a fair quantity. It means the subsequent A4 will probably be an electrical automobile.
We all know the most recent prototype is for an RS 5 Avant and never the common A5 Avant due to the additional intakes within the entrance fascia, the large fenders housing a widened observe, the large cross-drilled brake rotors, and the cutouts within the rear fascia to suit signature RS oval exhaust suggestions. The exhaust tips about the prototype seem like short-term items solely.
The prototype additionally sports activities each a gas filler cap and a charging port, in accordance with our photographer, indicating a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Yellow warning stickers within the windscreen seen in a number of the pictures additionally point out some type of electrification.
The soundtrack within the newest video factors to a V-6 engine serving because the internal-combustion part of the hybrid setup, and rumors level to the engine being the identical twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V-6 discovered within the present RS 5. The present RS 5 delivers 444 hp, however the subsequent one ought to have considerably extra energy to problem the 671 hp of the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S E Efficiency, which can also be a plug-in hybrid.
Search for the brand new RS 5 to debut early subsequent 12 months. The liftback is nearly sure for the U.S. market, although the jury remains to be out on whether or not Audi will deliver over the wagon. The common A5 wagon has already been dominated out for this market.
Audi at the moment sells the larger RS 6 Avant right here, although 2025 is predicted to be the automobile’s ultimate mannequin 12 months. Each an electrical RS 6 Avant E-Tron and a plug-in hybrid RS 7 Avant will fill the hole, although it is not cleather whether or not each choices will probably be supplied within the U.S.