(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – The new Audi RS 5 celebrated its premiere in February with an astonishingly large amount of public interest. Two things stood out in particular. Its drastic weight of nearly 2,4 tons and the fact that it continues to rely on a V6. While Mercedes, for example, ruined the C 63 for customers with a technically sophisticated four-cylinder, a four-cylinder was not even remotely considered for the Audi RS 5.
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Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport, told Edmunds that they had not thought about downsizing the RS 5 engine for “a single second.” Although a full hybrid (without plug-in) RS 5 was considered in an early development phase, the idea was discarded after test drives with plug-in prototypes.
According to Steffen Bamberger, Head of Research and Development at Audi, the weight advantages were not large enough to justify the limitations of a hybrid variant. Bamberger told the publication that “a range of 9,7 kilometers is not a realistic offer for the customer” – especially since the HEV system can also weigh up to 150 kilograms.
The new RS 5 now combines a 2,9-liter twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor. The system output is 639 hp and 825 Nm of torque. Even though the weight has increased by more than 500 kilos compared to the previous generation, the performance has improved.
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Photo gallery: Audi RS5 Sedan
The new RS 5 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3,6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 285 km/h. Its 400-volt system, required for the plug-in hybrid drive, also enables the use of a new type of electromechanical torque vectoring system on the rear axle, which is intended to noticeably improve driving dynamics. In about three to four weeks, we will be able to describe the first driving impressions of the latest Audi Sport offspring.
Motor1 says: It is gratifying that Audi did not follow the example of Mercedes-Benz and downsize the RS5 engine. That is exactly what enthusiasts do not want – at the same time, many are also skeptical of electrification and the associated additional weight. The RS5 is heavy and powerful, just like its competitors.
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Source: Edmunds
