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Audi RS5 |
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| Audi RS5 |
Overview: The Audi RS5
is what happens when you give the gang at Quattro GmbH, Audi’s in-house
performance division, a long leash and an open checkbook. While it
shares its basic silhouette with the comparatively pedestrian A5/S5 coupe,
the RS5 is an entirely different beast. At its core is a 450-hp
4.2-liter naturally aspirated V-8 that loves to rev to its 8300-rpm
redline. (For those keeping score, that’s more than double the 220
horsepower produced by the turbocharged 2.0-liter four found in the A5 and 117 more than the 333-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 in the S5.) All-wheel drive is standard, and Audi’s seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic is the sole transmission choice.
Although the RS5-specific front fascia, large wheel flares, and slightly
wider rear track hint at its pedigree, Audi plays this one close to the
vest. The retractable rear wing, which deploys at about 75 mph, is one
of the few extroverted elements. Well, that, and the finely tuned growl
from the optional sport exhaust, which added $1000 to the bottom line of
the 2015 Audi RS5 model we recently drove. Likewise, the interior keeps
things on the down low, sharing the same basic layout and
instrumentation as the A5 and S5. The materials imbue a reserved,
high-quality feel, and the fit and assembly is befitting of a vehicle
costing $70K-plus.
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What’s New: By the time the RS5 made it stateside, it had already
spent two years burning up the roads on the Continent. We came away
from a drive of the 2011 model so impressed we booked a return trip to Europe with the sole purpose of pitting the Audi RS5 against the Cadillac CTS-V and the BMW M3. But while those cars have moved on—the M3 coupe is now the M4 and the CTS-V
is all-new for 2016 and now sedan-only—the changes to the RS5 are
minimal. Updates for 2015 include optional goodies such as matte-black
20-inch five-spoke wheels and red brake calipers, as well as the fact
that blind-spot warning joins the $2900 Technology package and the Black
Optic Plus package has been updated to include a carbon-fiber engine
cover.
What We Like: At the top of the list is the engine. While the
rest of the world continues to lean on forced induction to compensate
for shrinking displacement and dwindling cylinder counts, the RS5’s
450-hp 4.2-liter V-8 stands as a textbook example of naturally aspirated
performance. In a car sometimes criticized for a lack of soul—including
by us—an engine capable of making every run to redline a sonically
charged event is an asset. We’re also fond of the exterior’s understated
elegance, the supportive and comfortable seats, and the fact that the
rear seats are actually large enough for genuine humans—for short trips
anyway. The electric power steering setup was one of the best on the
market when the RS5 hit our shores for 2013; while competitors have
caught up, the RS5’s system still provides linear response and
satisfactory weighting without being twitchy. The RS5 offers predictable
handling to counter the awesome thrust of the V-8, with moderate
understeer signaling when the limits of adhesion are near.
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What We Don’t Like: We’d be lying if we said we wouldn’t want to experience the RS5 with manual transmission bolted to its lusty V-8 (as in the 2007 Audi RS4 sedan).
In that same vein, the RS5 can come off as being a bit sterile and,
yes, devoid of soul. At about 4050 pounds, it’s no lightweight, and
despite its performance bona fides, at times it doesn’t seem to take any
particular glee in demonstrating them. (Typical German, right?) And
then there’s the price. With a base MSRP of $71,825, its point of entry
is at least a few grand richer than that of competitors such as the Mercedes-AMG C63, Lexus RC F, and BMW M4.
Verdict: There are sharper tools in the sports-coupe shed, but
the RS5 is arguably the easiest to handle and most forgiving of the
bunch.
From Source: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-audi-rs5-quattro-coupe-review
From Source: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2015-audi-rs5-quattro-coupe-review
