2022 looks set to be a big year for local Audi fans as the marque prepares to unleash its brand new RS5 Coupe and Sportback on our shores.
The new RS5 is a totally redesigned beast, offering several styling changes that differentiate it from its good-looking, albeit more conservative predecessor. The new model features far more aggressive headlamps, and the oversized blackout grill is more angular than the squarer version found on the outgoing model. The RS model body kit is also far more aggressive with added vents and diffusers, helping differentiate this top of the line model from its lower-spec siblings.
Adding the cars aggressive characteristics are the new 20-inch wheels that are available in bronze. This colour is very popular in the aftermarket and now finds itself as an OEM option. The bronze wheel option is a refreshing break from the usual black and dark grey we have become accustomed to, and I must take off my hat to Audi for making this brave move.
On the inside, the RS5 features everything we have come to expect from Audis top of the line interiors with added sporty touches to remind you which badge you can find on the boot. These touches include loads of matte carbon fibre, leather and Alcantara. Being an RS model, you know that the RS5 will come equipped with a set of sexy Recaro sports seats with added red stitching and details. The flat-bottomed Alcantara wrapped steering wheel is a nice touch and harks back to motorsport. Interior options also include branded floor mats and red seat belts, a small detail that makes an unexpectedly large impact on the cabin.
The interior also features a top of the line entertainment system with a large centre-mounted interactive display that could be mistaken for a full-sized tablet. The gauges are also digital, adding to the RS5s futuristic appeal.
All these new additions would mean nothing if the RS5 never had the power to back it up; this is an RS model after all. To ensure that the RS5 lives up to expectations, Audi has outfitted it with a rather small 2.9 V6 but dont let the size fool you. Thanks to two turbochargers, that small engine produces 326kW and 600 Nm of torque. That power is fed to all four wheels courtesy of Audis 8-speed paddle-shift transmission. The beauty of Audis new 8-speed ‘box coupled to the infamous Quattro drivetrain is that it gives the RS5 an eye-watering 0-100km time of under four seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.
Those are some pretty impressive numbers, but what number can you expect to pay when the RS5 hits local dealers? No local pricing has been released, but early speculation places the Sportback model at just over R1,000,000 before options, while the Coupe should start at R1,100,000.
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