Audi adds five-door Sportback model to RS5 range
German manufacturer has expanded its RS5 range with a five-door version
The Audi RS5 range has been expanded to include a new five-door Sportback model that features the same 444bhp 2.9-litre V6 engine at its heart.
Audi Sport pulled the covers off the Sportback at the New York motor show to reveal a model designed to fill the gap between the RS4 Avant – the high-performance version of Audi’s A4 estate – and two-door RS5 Coupe.
The Sportback is built on the same platform as the RS5 Coupe, which means the engine feeds a grippy all-wheel-drive system through an eight-speed automatic transmission, which results in a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 174mph. On-board computers can detect when the wheels are lacking grip and transfer up to 85 per cent of power to the front wheels and 70 per cent to the rear as required.
Michael-Julius Renz, managing director of Audi Sport, said: “The Audi RS 5 Sportback is more than just an international trade fair novelty – it offers something new to our customers. Our innovative interpretation of a five-door high-performance coupé has neither predecessor models nor a direct competitor.”
Styling is typical of an Audi RS model, with large air intakes up front, a bulging bonnet and flared wheel arches giving the RS5 Sportback the sportier stance its performance figures deserve. Meanwhile, 19-inch alloy wheels come as standard, with 20-inch wheels available for an extra fee.
The Audi RS5 Sportback will be made available in the USA and Canada in the second half of 2018, with details of its European release to be announced at a later date. Although pricing is some way off being confirmed, expect a modest increase on the RS5 Coupe’s starting point of £61,690.
