Audi RS5 - German muscle car
Powerful engine, permanent all-wheel drive and impeccable workmanship. If you add in extensive equipment, enough space in the cabin and a gurgling exhaust, you get the perfect car. The biggest downside to the Audi RS5 is… an astronomical price tag.
Sports cars evoke emotions, form a brand image, and their production can bring significant profits. The roots of the premium thoroughbred segment date back to the turn of the 60s and 70s. It was then that the beginnings of the legendary BMW M and Mercedes AMG crystallized. Audi was not going to give way to its competitors. In 1990, the Audi S2 was ready, and two years later, the first model with the designation RS (from RennSport) appeared in car dealerships - the Audi RS2 Avant was prepared in collaboration with Porsche.
Over time, the RS family has grown to a decent size. The RS2, RS3, RS4, RS5, RS6 and TT RS models have already made their way through showrooms, with the RS7 coming soon. RS5, although not the fastest and not the most powerful, will not hesitate to compete for the title of the most eminent representative of the RS line.
The style of the car is impeccable. It's hard to believe that the Audi A5, designed by Walter de Silve, is already six years old. Perfect proportions, a low roofline and a muscular rear will impress for decades to come. Finding out the flagship version of the Audi A5 is easy. The 450-horsepower beast is revealed by huge rims, at least 19-inch rims, twin exhaust pipes and a mesh-filled grille. While you can blend in with the crowd of other cars behind the wheel of a base Audi A5, the RS5 doesn't offer a hint of anonymity. This car turns the heads of passers-by, even when driving slowly. After exceeding 120 km / h, a spoiler extends from the trunk lid. Its position can also be controlled manually - the button is located on the center console.
The interior of the RS5 is made in typical Audi style - simple, practical, ergonomic and clear. The quality of finishing materials and manufacturing precision are top notch. The center console is decorated with real carbon fiber. Carbon can also appear on door panels, where it is interchangeable with strips of aluminum, stainless steel, and piano lacquer at no extra charge. There was also a steering wheel that fits perfectly in the hands and comfortable and well-shaped seats that are installed as close to the asphalt as possible. Rear visibility is very limited, so the rear view camera is worth paying extra for.
The highlight of the program is the Audi drive select system, controlled by the multifunction knob on the center console, as well as a separate button. With just a few hand movements, you can completely change the characteristics of the car. You can choose between "Comfort", "Auto", "Dynamic" and "Individual" modes.
The first of these muffles the exhaust system, turns off the active rear differential, increases power steering, reduces throttle response, and tries to keep the engine as quiet as possible. Dynamic mode transforms the Audi RS5 from a luxury coupe into a wild and sprint-ready athlete. Every touch of the gas compresses the seats and the exhaust system regrows even at idle. At medium, it gurgles like a muscle car from years ago, and at high, it loudly signals that the RS5 has a V8 engine under the hood. Each gear change is accompanied by a portion of additional gurgles and shots of a burning mixture. It is a pity that we have so few tunnels in Poland. The Audi RS5 sounds fantastic in them! A certain dissatisfaction can only be experienced by those who have dealt with Mercedes AMG and BMW with the letter M on the tailgate - compared to their exhausts, even the optional RS5 sports "chimneys" sound conservative.
The Audi RS5 was equipped with a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 FSI engine. The engine mutation used in the Audi RS4 and Audi R8 develops 450 hp. at 8250 rpm and 430 Nm in the range of 4000-6000 rpm. In the homologation cycle, the 4.2 V8 FSI engine consumed 10,5 l/100 km. An extremely optimistic value can only be achieved when driving off-road with cruise control programmed at 100-120 km / h. The use of at least part of the potential of the power unit creates a vortex in the tank. Outside the city, fuel consumption fluctuates between 12-15 l / 100 km, while in the city it can exceed the threshold of 20 l / 100 km. The average during normal operation in the combined cycle is 13-16 l / 100 km. The budget of a person who can afford to buy an Audi RS5 will not be affected by fuel costs. We mention combustion for another reason. The fuel tank has a capacity of only 61 liters, so the pleasure of dynamic driving is often interrupted by the need to visit the station.
Wait… Without a turbocharger and a lot of power?! After all, this decision does not fit into modern realities at all. So what if it works great. The motor bursts with power from the lowest revs. Suffice it to say that the car accelerates without fuss even when the fifth gear is engaged at a speed of 50 km / h. Of course, the Audi RS5 was not designed for such tasks. The real ride starts at 4000 rpm and continues up to a sensational 8500 rpm! The S-tronic dual clutch transmission ensures that the next gear is engaged in a fraction of a second. In subsequent gears, the speed continues to increase at an alarming rate, and the impression is intensified by the speed with which the speedometer needle passes the first part of the non-linear scale. A useful feature for fans of atomic sprints is the Launch Control feature.
Under the right conditions, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4,5 seconds. Okay, you can find a brighter car. Not to go far, it is enough to mention the crazy Audi TT RS. However, few cars can match the Audi RS5. Whether you're stepping on the gas pedal or slamming it into the floor, the RS5 accelerates absolutely steadily and without a trace of traction struggle. Trouble-free exit is possible even when under the wheels is asphalt covered with snow slurry.
In a layer of loose fluff, the 1,8-ton athlete reveals his other face. The significant weight and associated inertia of the car are noticeable, but do not interfere with the smooth ride. Full-time all-wheel drive, precise steering and a wheelbase of 2751 mm ensure that the RS5 behaves completely predictably, even in deep drifts. The latter appear only at the explicit request of the driver. It comes standard with three-stage ESP (traction control on, traction control off, ESP off) and quattro drive, which sends up to 70% of torque to the front or 85% to the rear when required. Those who like to play while driving must pay an additional PLN 5260 for a sports differential on the rear axle. It regulates the distribution of driving forces between the left and right wheels and reduces possible understeer.
An experienced driver is able to control the Audi RS5 not only with the steering wheel - on slippery surfaces, the deflection of the rear axle is easily controlled by the throttle. You just have to stop listening to the voice of reason and push harder on the pedal when the front end starts to thump. Slight understeer on corner entry is not only due to transmission design. Under the hood rested a mighty V8. Most of it falls on the front axle, which accounts for 59% of the car's weight. Rear-wheel-drive competitors boast better balance, which, along with lighter weight, makes the driver more involved in the action.
The Audi RS5 costs a fortune. You need to prepare up to PLN 380 for the entry fee. The 423-horsepower Lexus IS-F (5.0 V8) was estimated at 358 thousand. zloty The 457-horsepower Mercedes C Coupe AMG (6.2 V8) will be available for 355 thousand, and the 420-horsepower BMW M3 Coupe (4.0 V8) costs “only” 329 thousand. Is it worth adding up to for the extra horses and all-wheel drive? It is difficult to find a definite answer. Moreover, the numbers mentioned are not completely mandatory. Buying a premium car must go through a configurator with a huge number of options.
In the case of the Audi RS5, the price of add-ons is insane. The sports exhaust costs PLN 5. The standard speed limiter kicks in at around 530 km/h. If this is not enough, just add PLN 250 and the car will start accelerating to 8 km/h. For two-tone rims with 300/280 R275 tires, Audi charges PLN 30, while ceramic front brakes increase the price of the RS20 by … PLN 9! The final amount on the purchase invoice may exceed half a million PLN.
Despite its sporty character, the Audi RS5 impresses with its versatility. On the one hand, this is an insanely fast and perfect coupe to drive. On the other hand, a practical car with a 455-liter boot and four seats with plenty of space around. The machine works even in Polish realities. The suspension, although stiff, provides the necessary minimum of comfort, does not press or destabilize the car on large irregularities. Winter again surprised the road builders? Play with quattro! If it wasn't for this price...
