PERFORMANCE COUPÉ, AUDI RS5

PERFORMANCE COUPÉ,  AUDI RS5. The new Audi RS5 is perhaps the truest descendant yet of the brand’s legendary Quattro that gripped and ripped through world rally stages in the early ’80s, and helped popularise all-wheel drive in conventional passenger cars. Like the original (‘Ur’) Quattro, the RS5 embodies the eponymous ‘quattro’ all-wheel-drive system, a two-door body and now – with this second-generation model – turbocharging. Two turbos, to be precise, nestled “cold side” between the banks of a 2.9-litre V6. The engine, co-developed with Porsche, matches the 331kW output of the previous-generation RS5’s 4.2-litre V8, but increases torque significantly – by 40 per cent, to 600Nm. Combined with a new architecture that cuts 60kg from the vehicle’s mass, the RS5 moves from idle to 100km/h six-tenths of a second faster (3.9 seconds), while also improving fuel efficiency.

Several judges lamented the loss of the old V8 that sounded glorious as it revved beyond 8000rpm, though there was no begrudging the new engine’s performance – certainly not by Michael Roberts, a former RS5 owner and director at real estate company Louis Carr. “The new RS5 feels lighter and a bit more engaging to drive compared with my old one. The twin-turbo V6 sounds good, too,” he said. Some members of the testing team were unfortunate to have their track time with the RS5 coincide with a brief, but heavy downpour over the Phillip Island circuit – though this would provide a perfect demonstration of the Audi’s limpet-like traction. “I certainly appreciated the quattro allwheel- drive when driving it on a wet track,” said property developer Benny Feng. Scott Rudgley, a media executive at Fairfax’s Domain, said: “It was fun on track despite the tricky conditions.”

former Porsche 911 GT3 owner and regular Robb Report US reader, also welcomed the quattro system, though she wasn’t alone in noting the need to manage the RS5’s tendency to understeer when pushed hard – including on a dry track. PERFORMANCE COUPÉ AUDI RS5 “All-wheel drive provided confidence in the wet, though the RS5 has handling limitations,” Leticia said. The limitations include a busy ride, which was highlighted during the road drive, and rather lifeless steering. Robb Report Editor in Chief Michael Stahl found the RS5 started to lose its cohesiveness beyond about seven-tenths driving rigour, though he remarked on the Audi’s ability to bring immense owner satisfaction on a daily basis.

“It is syrupy-fast – able to enliven the daily commute with frissons of accelerative excitement that’ll sometimes have you choosing the long way home,” said Michael. “It’s a very stylish, assertive, everyday coupé, with one of the nicest interiors of anything on the market.” As a package blending a sophisticated cabin, assured traction and scintillating pace, it’s understandable why the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63 are no longer the obvious go-to German muscle-car coupés. – JEZ SPINKS

Engine
2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo
Power/torque
331kW/600Nm
Transmission
Eight-speed automatic; all-wheel drive
Weight
1655kg
Performance
0-100km/h in 3.9 sec; Maximum speed 250-280km/h
Price
$156,600 (as tested $179,346)

Sources: Robb Report Australia, July 2018

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