The RS4 might have met its end, but now Audi Sport has launched its replacement with the all-new V6-powered RS5. Sam Jenkins has a first look in Germany. #Audi #AudiRS5
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After over 25 years on our roads, the Audi RS4 is dead, for now at least, but you needn't worry
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too much because this is its replacement. This is the new Audi RS5 Avant. I think we can all agree
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that this car looks great, but what's most important is what lies under this bodywork
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Well, you'll be pleased to hear that this car hasn't been subject to any engine downsizing of
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any kind. It still comes with the same 2.9-litre twin-to-opercharged V6 as in the previous RS4
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but now there is a battery in the boot, powering a plug-in hybrid system to give it a total
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of 630 brake horsepower. The outgoing RS4 is a great car, but it's often considered to be a bit
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subdued in terms of its design when compared to cars like the M3. This car, however, is different
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Audi has increased arch width by 9cm over the standard car, adding elements like those cool
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front arch vents from the RS6 GT and a much more aggressive front grille to highlight its width
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It's especially clear at the rear that this car is much wider than a standard A5. It almost has
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presence like an RS6. Its aggressive swollen rear arches aren't the only thing that's big at the
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rear. Open the boot and you won't see much of anything but under that cover there is a 25.9
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kilo hour battery pack which gives it an electric only range of 50 miles. All of its extra power is
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great but as you can imagine the battery pack mounted at the rear makes this a very heavy car
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The RS5 weighs over 2 tons to make it 620 kilograms heavier than the RS4 that came before it That means that while the power ratio of this car is slightly better than the RS4
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it actually falls behind the much less powerful BMW M3. It might be on the heavy side, but this is not a slow car
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Audi says it will do 0.62mph in 3.6 seconds, which is three-tenths ahead of the previous RS5
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It'll also do 177mph flat out. and thanks to optional carbon ceramic brakes at the front and rear
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its braking performance is improved too. It's not all about the numbers, and Audi does know that
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So for the RS5, it's stiffened its body structure and developed a new electromechanical torque vectoring system for the rear axle
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To put it simply, this system allows for much finer control of when and where
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and how quickly the torque is distributed to each of the rear wheels. Being electromechanical, Audi says that this works both on the throttle and off the throttle
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giving you much more control than without it. In addition to that, there is five-link suspension at the front and the rear
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and Audi's made various changes to the steering and brake-by-wire system to make it a more engaging car to drive
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The RS5 is also available in saloon form, but I think I know which one I prefer
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The RS5 comes with Audi's very latest entertainment system, and as you would expect, it is nice and snappy
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In this display here, you can change the drive mode, including to RS Torque Rear, which is effectively drift mode
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The price you'll pay for all of this is in the region of £90,000. a £20,000 premium over the outgoing RS4
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First cars will hit the road this summer
#Autos & Vehicles
#Motor Vehicles (By Type)
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