Audi RS5 Sportback, The RS Saloon From Ingolstadt That Everyone Expected

With the arrival of this year’s New York Auto Show, Audi, perhaps the most successful German firm on the other side of the pond, has unveiled the new Audi RS5 Sportback. At the launch of the Coupé version in 2017 the firm admitted that the Sportback was considered to be coming out in 2020 as the deadline.

It has finally arrived, and it has even anticipated the convertible version of it. In this way, we find the most practical side of the A5 range in sports format. In addition, it represents a necessary patch in the range now that the sedan version of the Audi RS4 is not manufactured.

Design

Aesthetically there are no great novelties, being a set with a known design that hardly differs from the original model. Obviously, the only differences between this and the Coupé are the progressive drop of the roof and the two rear doors, in addition to the hatchback, which now includes the rear window.

This means it wears a relentless , much wider and more aggressive body kit, with huge front air intakes, 20-inch wheels and a prominent rear diffuser. As an option, carbon fiber inserts can be added to the bumper and diffuser.

Leather and carbon

If you take a look at the interior of the new Audi RS5 Sportback, as in its brother everything is lined in premium leather and carbon fiber throughout. The dashboard, the center console, the inserts in the doors, the carbon fiber is involved in practically all the elements that make up the interior.

As it could not be otherwise, it is equipped as standard with the fully virtual instrument panel –Virtual Cockpit– and the latest generation in terms of infotainment systems. In addition, through the central screen you can select between all the available driving modes.

specs

In the mechanical section, the new Audi sports car is presented without surprises. Under the hood it mounts the same 2.9-liter V6 biturbo engine that was already equipped in the Audi RS4 Avant and of course, the Audi RS5 Coupé. It delivers 450 hp of power and 600 Nm of torque to all four wheels thanks to the always-active Quattro traction.

Otherwise, the eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission is also retained . It is a change of torque converter, much more convenient in sporty driving than the double clutch to which Audi is accustomed. More noteworthy are the ceramic brakes, the adjustable Dynamic Ride Control suspensions and the 7mm lower chassis.

Price

The German firm has not yet discussed the prices of the new Audi RS5 Sportback. In fact, its arrival on the European market is not even confirmed. At the moment, the Ingolstadt firm has only mentioned the United States and Canada as markets in which it will be available, starting in the second half of 2018.

Be that as it may, should it arrive on European territory, it would do so with a price of more than 100,000 euros, the minimum figure that is required for an Audi RS5 Coupé.

Data Audi RS5 Sportback

• 5 doors
• 5 seats
• Trunk: 480 liters
• V6 biturbo engine with 450 hp and 600 Nm of torque
•  8-speed Tiptronic automatic  gearbox
• Quattro all-wheel drive 
• Consumption and emissions: From 8.7 l / 100km and 197 g / km of CO2
• Price: to be confirmed