First Drive of the Audi RS 5: The High-Performance Hybrid Combining Power and Efficiency

Discover the high-performance RS 5 hybrid, with a 510 PS V6 and a 130 kW electric motor, combining performance and electric mobility.

First drive in Morocco reveals the high-performance RS 5 hybrid, Audi Sport's bet on a high-performance plug-in hybrid, combining RS DNA with advanced hybrid technology.

The powertrain combines a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine with 375 kW (510 PS) and a 130 kW electric motor, making up the RS 5's powertrain.

Consequently, power delivery and torque are managed by the quattro system with Dynamic Torque Control, while the electromechanical differential on the rear axle offers torque vectoring for greater precision in corners.

The RS sport suspension with twin-valve dampers works together with the chassis to keep the body under control, even on challenging sections, while the design with 40 mm flared wheel arches and wheels up to 21 inches conveys an aggressive presence.

What is special about the RS 5

• Propulsion work: 2.9 L twin-turbo V6 with 375 kW (510 PS) and 130 kW electric motor.
• Quattro with Dynamic Torque Control and torque vectoring on the rear axle for agility and stability.
• RS Suspension with twin-valve dampers for body control.
• Design and Lighting: wider arches, wheels up to 21 inches, and optionally, Matrix LED headlights with RS signature.

Design and Daily Use

• 40 mm flared wheel arches and wheels up to 21 inches create a striking presence.
• Spacious interior and RS packages that combine sportiness and comfort, focusing on everyday practicality.
• Audi Exclusive customization options, including exterior carbon camouflage to enhance the muscular style.

Executives' Views

Gernot Döllner, CEO of Audi AG: the RS 5 offers triple value — daily usability, electric mobility, and pure RS performance — with efficiency that accompanies the driving emotion.

Horst Hanschur, Head of PPC/MLB: the sporty design, with flared arches and large wheels, combines performance with a practical interior and a generous trunk, maintaining quattro authenticity.

Rolf Michl, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH: the RS 5 inaugurates a new class of performance thanks to PHEV technology, being almost 200 PS more powerful than the RS 4 and reaching torque of up to 825 Nm, with dynamics amplified by the extra weight.

Steffen Bamberger, Head of Technical Development: the car uses a central differential with pre-load that remains partially locked, and a rear differential that distributes torque between the wheels in milliseconds, increasing traction and steering. The suspension reacts quickly, offering a more direct and controlled ride, including the possibility of controlled drifts in RS torque rear mode on tight tracks.

The hybrid offers instant power delivery from a standstill, with the electric motor working in tandem with the V6 for rapid acceleration. The updated V6 engine, with 510 PS, two variable geometry turbos, and redesigned airflow, promises faster response and maximum performance. The front end received suspension refinements to reduce pitch and roll, maintaining stable behavior even in challenging conditions. In RS torque rear mode, torque is directed to the outer rear wheel for controlled maneuvers and agility, demonstrating the fun-to-drive capability Audi designs for its customers.

Customization options, including Carbon Camouflage, remain to complement the high-performance aesthetic. In terms of engineering, the RS 5 elevates traction and steering with optimized components and dynamics that combine performance and comfort for daily use and on closed tracks.

What do you think of this integration of sportiness with hybrid efficiency? Leave your comment below: which feature of the RS 5 PHEV attracts you the most — raw power, electrified driving, or everyday performance capability?