Audi Sport has ushered in a new era for its RS line-up with the all-new Audi RS 5, the brand’s first high-performance plug-in hybrid that blends electrification with traditional RS performance.
At the core of the new RS 5 is a newly developed electrified powertrain pairing an upgraded 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 with a 130 kW electric motor integrated into an eight-speed tiptronic transmission.
The combustion engine alone produces 375 kW (510 PS), while the hybrid system delivers a combined output of up to 470 kW (639 PS) and 825 Nm of torque, enabling a 0–100 km/h sprint in just 3.6 seconds. A 25.9 kWh battery supports all-electric driving as well as performance functions, and can be AC-charged at up to 11 kW for a full charge in about 2.5 hours.
A major technical highlight is the introduction of quattro with Dynamic Torque Control, featuring a new centre differential with preload and a world-first electro-mechanical torque-vectoring system at the rear.
Controlled by a central vehicle dynamics computer operating at 200 Hz, the system can vary torque distribution between the rear wheels in milliseconds, improving turn-in response, traction, stability and corner-exit acceleration. The centre differential can variably split torque between the front and rear axles, enhancing agility while maintaining the trademark quattro stability.
The RS-specific chassis has been extensively reworked to match the electrified performance. A stiffer bodyshell, five-link suspension front and rear, RS-tuned steering and new RS sport suspension with twin-valve adaptive dampers allow a broad range of ride characteristics, from everyday comfort to track-focused precision.
Buyers can choose between 20-inch steel brakes or lighter and more heat-resistant ceramic brakes, with the latter capable of stopping the car from 100 km/h in just 30.6 metres.
Despite a kerb weight exceeding 2.3 tonnes, the integrated brake-by-wire system prioritises regenerative braking for efficiency while maintaining strong and consistent stopping performance.
Multiple drive modes give the RS 5 a wide spread of abilities. Comfort and Balanced modes enable quiet electric driving, while Dynamic sharpens responses for sporty road use.
The new RS Sport mode is tuned for maximum traction and neutral balance, whereas RS Torque Rear introduces a strong rear bias for controlled oversteer on closed courses. A push-to-pass boost function unlocks maximum acceleration for 10 seconds regardless of the selected mode.
Energy management is predictive and configurable, allowing drivers to preserve battery charge for urban EV driving or maintain a high state of charge for sustained performance. In the most aggressive RS modes, the system keeps the battery at up to 90 percent to ensure full electric support for torque vectoring and acceleration.
Visually, the RS 5 adopts a wider and more muscular stance than the standard A5, with flared wheel arches, large air intakes, a prominent honeycomb Singleframe grille and a functional rear diffuser with oval RS exhaust outlets. Darkened Matrix LED headlights with a chequered-flag light signature and second-generation digital OLED rear lights emphasise its RS identity.
Inside, the cabin is built around a curved OLED display combining an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, complemented by a 10.9-inch passenger screen.
RS-specific graphics show performance data such as G-forces, lap times, drivetrain temperatures and energy flow. The standard Audi driving experience system allows detailed track analysis, including sector timing and drift angle measurement.
Sport seats with honeycomb quilting, Dinamica microfiber trim, a flat-bottom RS steering wheel with integrated drive-mode controls, and multiple interior themes reinforce the performance focus, while massage seats and a high level of digital integration maintain everyday usability.
The RS 5 is offered in both Saloon and Avant forms and will be built in Neckarsulm, Germany. Order books for Europe open in the first quarter of 2026, with first deliveries scheduled for summer 2026.
With its combination of a powerful plug-in hybrid drivetrain, next-generation torque-vectoring quattro system and a broadened bandwidth between daily comfort and track capability, the new RS 5 represents a significant technological shift for Audi Sport as it moves its RS performance cars into the electrified era.
