Audi RS5: Australian pricing & specs

Audi Australia has launched the RS5 with a manufacturer’s list price of $175,300. You’ll still need to pay a few statutory charges, but that’s about $4600 less than the AUSmotive prediction. A small saving, however, you still sense that price point is going to ensure Audi has to fight hard for every sale. Okay, it’s probably a bit tired to continually make this comparison, but you can bet the words BMW M3 will cross the lips of most RS5 buyers at some stage.

The RS5 has received extensive coverage on AUSmotive, so there’s no great need to go over the details again. The basics remain, that is the RS5 is powered by a 331kW 4.2 litre V8 driven by a quattro system featuring trick terms like torque vectoring and crown-gear centre differential. You can find out more on that technology here: quattro 101.

After the break you can read Audi’s press release and check out their latest gallery of images. It’s a great looking car, that’s for sure. Also included for download are the following items, all correct at time of publication:

• Audi RS5 – Australian press kit (196kb PDF)
• Audi RS5 – specifications (568kb PDF)
• Audi RS5 – technical data (24kb PDF)

Classic Elegance And Awesome Power – The Audi RS 5 Coupé Has Landed In Australia

• High-revving 4.2-litre FSI V8 packs 331 kW
• The RS 5 Coupé sprints from 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds
• Consumes just 10.8 litres per 100 km, far less than key competitors
• Superb dynamics thanks to quattro all-wheel drive, new crown-gear centre differential and rear sports differential

A classically elegant coupe with a wickedly powerful engine: the new Audi RS 5 Coupé has landed in Australia. The high-revving 4.2-litre V8 pumps out a hefty 331 kW, yet is very fuel efficient. Like all high-performance models from Audi, the RS 5 Coupé delivers its power to the road via all four wheels.

The RS 5 Coupé also debuts the latest evolution of Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The Audi RS 5 Coupé uses a high-revving, normally-aspirated V8 displacing 4,163 cc. This engine is closely related to the V10 that powers the high-performance R8 sports car. The 4.2 FSI delivers 331 kW at 8,250 rpm, with peak torque of 430 Nm available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. The sonorous V8 catapults the two-door model from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds on its way to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h. Audi can increase this to 280 km/h upon request.

The normally aspirated engine consumes just 10.8 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres on average – far less than its key competitors. This impressive figure is due to the combination of technologies from the Audi modular efficiency platform, which also includes an energy recuperation system.

With its high efficiency and tall top gear, the standard seven-speed S tronic transmission contributes to excellent fuel economy. Drivers can let the lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission shift automatically or change gears themselves using the selector lever or paddles on the steering wheel.

The RS 5 Coupé debuts a new development of the centre differential called the crown-gear centre differential. Very compact and lightweight, this cutting-edge differential can vary the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles in the blink of an eye. Up to 70 percent of torque can flow to the front axle, or as much as 85 percent to the rear. The default 40:60 ratio of the rear-biased configuration ensures outstanding dynamics.

The crown-gear centre differential works together with the new torque-vectoring system – a first for this segment – which acts on all four wheels. If the load on the inside wheel is reduced too much, that wheel is braked slightly before it can begin to slip. The RS 5 Coupé also boasts a sport rear differential as standard, which actively distributes power between the rear wheels.

The chassis of the RS 5 Coupé is tautly tuned, and the sleek two-door body has been lowered by 20 millimetres compared to the Audi A5. The high-performance coupe comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels with 265/35-series tyres; 20-inch wheels with 275/30-series tyres are available as an option. From 2011, Audi will also offer a dynamic new damping technology – the mechanical DRC Dynamic Ride Control system.

The ESP stabilisation system includes a Sport mode and can be completely deactivated.

Even more options: Audi drive select

The Audi drive select driving dynamics system comes as standard on the RS 5 Coupé. This system allows the driver to select between three modes – comfort, auto and dynamic – for the characteristics of the steering, seven-speed S tronic transmission, the accelerator and the exhaust system. The Audi RS 5 Coupé is also equipped with the Audi MMI navigation plus system as standard, meaning there is also a fourth Audi drive select mode which can be configured to the driver’s choice and saved to the on-board hard drive.

The RS 5 Coupé has an athletic road stance; its elegant two-door lines complemented by classy and attractive accents and styling details. Its single-frame grille bears a glossy anthracite-grey rhombus-pattern grid. Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights come as standard. The air flows in through enlarged openings framed by distinctive contours.

The flared rear side elements with the sharp horizontal upper edges are reminiscent of a classic Audi – that all-wheel drive pioneer from 1980, the Audi quattro. The side sills sport chiselled caps; the trim strips and the side mirror housings have a matt aluminium-look finish.

Dynamic elegance: The interior

The vehicle’s dynamically elegant styling extends to the interior. The standard S design sport seats with integrated headrests are electrically adjustable and covered in Silk Nappa leather. Alternatives include RS bucket seats with folding backrests or ventilated and luxuriously upholstered climate-controlled comfort seats.

The driver information system with colour display includes a lap timer and an oil temperature gauge. The RS 5 Coupé offers carbon fibre inlays as standard, but three additional inlay options are available at no cost. The fascia framing the instrument cluster in the instrument panel sports a piano-black finish.

The pedals, the footrest and the buttons of the standard MMI navigation plus system shine in an aluminium-look finish. Aluminium inserts also adorn the door sill trims, which are accentuated with RS 5 badges.

Audi also offers a range of optional features. Among them is a carbon design package available for the engine compartment, and a matt aluminium or matt black exterior styling package.

Deliveries of the Audi RS 5 Coupé commence in October, with a Manufacturer’s List Price of $175,300 (MLP excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges).