The all new Audi RS5 Coupe is lighter and faster than the outgoing version, and just as evil.

New lighter, faster RS coupé to join UK Audi range with exceptional specification including valuable upgrades to dynamics and infotainment

• All-new RS 5 Coupé available to order later this month priced from £62,900 OTR – first deliveries later this summer
• New 2.9 TFSI with 450PS and 600Nm of torque from 1,900 – 5,000rpm
• 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds, 155mph top speed which can be increased to 174mph
• Audi Virtual Cockpit with RS-specific displays and quattro sport rear differential fitted as standard to UK versions
• Combined 32.5mpg and 197g/km of CO2 – a 17 per cent reduction
• quattro all-wheel drive, wheel selective torque control and Audi drive select as standard
• Overall weight reduction of up to 60kg
• Optional carbon fibre roof and fully milled wheels
• RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control, RS exhaust system and dynamic steering also available
• State-of-the-art driver assistance, safety and connectivity systems

Precision shares equal billing with power in the all-new Audi RS 5 Coupé, and this is particularly true of UK-bound examples which benefit from an enhanced specification bringing the pin-sharp clarity of the Audi Virtual Cockpit and the optimal handling adjustability delivered by the Audi sport differential as standard. The new high performance, high technology coupé with its advanced new 450PS V6 biturbo TFSI becomes available in the UK later this month priced from £62,900 OTR, and will touch down here later in the summer.

With 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) of torque, the new 2.9-litre V6 holds a 170Nm advantage over its naturally aspirated predecessor, and delivers it to the tune of a charismatic soundtrack reminiscent of the V6 TFSI powering the original B5 RS 4. The top model in the A5 family sprints from 0 to 62mph in just 3.9 seconds and with the optional dynamic package reaches a top speed of 174mph.

Two turbochargers positioned centrally between the cylinder banks guarantee exceptional response throughout the rev range, and combustion technology employing the B-cycle process with central direct injection ushers in a new level of efficiency for an RS model. Aided by a 60kg overall weight reduction versus the outgoing car, the V6 biturbo is capable of up to 32.5mpg combined, corresponding to 197 grams of CO2 per km – an efficiency gain of 17 percent over the previous model.

quattro with sport differential

The biturbo’s copious power is deftly managed by the eight-speed tiptronic transmission with optimised shift times and by the reworked five-link front and all-new five-link rear RS-specific suspension, which is of course supported by quattro permanent all-wheel drive. 

The centre differential-based system distributes drive forces in a 40:60 front-to-rear ratio favouring dynamic handling with optimal traction, and in UK specification models is augmented by the quattro sport differential, which also apportions torque optimally between the rear wheels to promote even greater handling adjustability.

For the most committed drivers Audi Sport also offers optional RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes and dynamic steering with RS-specific tuning.

Pronounced air intakes, gaping oval exhaust tailpipes, quattro blisters complementing widened wheel arches and an exclusive honeycomb design for the single frame grille are among the features that render the elegantly updated A5 body fit to bear the RS badge. In this latest model, the look can also be further enhanced by new features such as a full carbon roof and by bundled appearance packs that accentuate the sill strips, mirror cappings and diffuser insert. 

The standard LED headlamps with their dynamic scrolling indicators can also be upgraded to Matrix LED units capable of intelligently diverting their high beam around oncoming and leading traffic for maximum illumination, and for maximum visual impact the sizeable 19-inch alloy wheels can also be upgraded to a 20-inch design.

Defining features also abound in the upscale and lavishly appointed interior. Fine Nappa leather-upholstered RS sport seats position the driver perfectly in relation to the flat-bottomed multifunction sport steering wheel and the tiptronic selector lever with its RS insignia. 

When the start button is pressed the exceptionally sharp and richly detailed graphics of the RS-specific, fully digital Audi Virtual Cockpit come to life. This standard feature of UK RS 5 models features a customisable display incorporating special RS screens providing information on tyre pressure, torque and g-forces. 

The list of driver assistants that feature as standard also includes the Audi side assist blindspot monitoring system, Audi hill hold assist and the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system offering fine-tuning of engine response, transmission shift points, steering weighting and the operating characteristics of the quattro system and sport differential.

On the infotainment front, the RS 5 Coupé comes equipped as standard with the Audi Smartphone Interface bringing Apple Carplay and Android Auto on board, and with MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, which now also includes LTE internet connectivity as part of the Audi connect package. Thanks to the embedded Audi connect SIM, the flat rate data package for the connect services including Europe-wide roaming is free of charge for three years.

Further high-end technologies, including a head-up display and as many as 30 driver assistance systems are available from the options list to help the RS 5 remove even more layers of stress from every journey and leave drivers free to immerse themselves as fully as possible in the performance.

Geneva is lucky enough to debut the new Audi RS3 Sportback quattro, Thee Storming car !

Even more powerful and well connected five-door RS regains its place in the range alongside the recently launched RS 3 Saloon

• 400 PS five-cylinder engine delivers a concentrated dose of driving pleasure
• Wider track and pronounced sills are hallmarks of the RS design
• World premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show
• UK ordering possible from the summer, first deliveries later in 2017

The RS 3 Sportback - the original entry point to Audi RS ownership - has taken a back seat recently to allow the new RS 3 Saloon its share of the limelight, but at next month’s Geneva Motor Show the muscle-bound five-door will make its comeback emboldened by the latest 400PS five-cylinder TFSI engine and a raft of design and connectivity upgrades. 

Following its world public debut in Switzerland on Tuesday March 7 the Audi compact segment spearhead will become available to order in the UK in the summer and will touch down here towards the end of the year.

“The Audi RS 3 Sportback offers our customers an attractive introduction to the RS world,” said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH. 

“Since 2011 the sporty compact model has proved itself extremely successful on the market. And with the new five-cylinder engine, the Audi RS 3 Sportback is at the head of its class and continuing that strong track record.”

From 0 to 62mph in 4.1 seconds

Behind the impressive performance of the Audi RS 3 Sportback is the world’s most powerful production five-cylinder engine – the 2.5 TFSI. It delivers 400PS – 33PS more than its predecessor – and is 26 kilograms (57.3 lb) lighter thanks to its aluminium crankcase, among other features. 

Its maximum torque of 480 Nm (354.0 lb-ft) is available from just 1,700 rpm and remains at the driver’s disposal right through to 5,850 rpm.

This wide tract of torque facilitates an exhilarating 4.1-second 0-62mph sprint time, the effect of which is heightened by the five-cylinder unit’s unmistakably full-bodied and characterful sound. 

Top speed is limited to 155mph, but if the optional dynamic package plus is specified a de-restriction to 174mph is among the extra features it brings.

For better mixture preparation, the new 2.5 TFSI engine employs dual injection into the intake manifold and into the combustion chambers. On the exhaust side, the Audi valvelift system controls the duration of valve opening depending on the throttle and engine speed – for moderate fuel consumption at low and partial load as well as optimal throttle response and a high level of tractive power at full load. 

In the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test the RS 3 Sportback returns 34.0mpg – a creditable figure considering its performance capabilities which equates to 189 grams of CO₂ per kilometre.

quattro drive with variable distribution of power

The proven channels for the mighty engine’s output are the S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive based on an electro-hydraulic multi-plate clutch which distributes the drive torque variably between the axles. 

The share it allocates to the rear axle automatically varies depending on speed and cornering forces, but its bias can also be influenced by the driver using the standard Audi drive select system, which can also influence the response of the steering, transmission, engine management, adjustable exhaust flaps and optional RS sport suspension with adaptive damper control. 

It offers three modes - comfort, auto and dynamic. Cornering attitude is also further enhanced by the Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) with wheel-selective torque control and the sport mode specially tuned for the RS.

Wider track and sporty suspension setup

With its standard progressive steering and sophisticated multi-link suspension with wider front track positioning the stocky body 25mm lower than the A3, the RS 3 Sportback is set up to deliver compelling grip and adjustability with extraordinary poise. 19-inch alloy wheels framing 310-millimetre brake discs front and rear are factory fitted, and as an alternative customers will be able to choose carbon-fibre ceramic front discs.

Distinctive RS design

Externally, the flared front arches that evocatively link the RS 3 Sportback with its Eighties quattro coupé forebears continue to lend just the right air of power and purpose to the latest car, while subtle styling revisions based on the recent updates made across the A3 range also lift its look. The Singleframe grille with its gloss black honeycomb mesh and the large air inlets and angular sill trims which flank it are now also complemented by a redesigned blade in the bumper which serves to make the car appear even more broad-shouldered. At its ends it forms narrow, upright funnels. LED headlights with their distinctive lighting signature are standard, and matrix LED headlights are available from the options list. At the rear an elongated RS roof edge spoiler, a diffuser insert and the RS exhaust system’s large oval tailpipes add further emphasis to the high performance hatchback’s foursquare stance.

Lap timer, boost pressure indicator and special RS screen

In the equally focused cabin the two circular instrument dials with their black faces, white scales and red needles sit either side of a driver information system that includes a boost pressure indicator, an oil thermometer and a lap timer. In the latest car this configuration can now be replaced by the fully digital Audi virtual cockpit which is newly available. A special RS screen shifts the tachometer to the centre, displaying on either side the readings for torque, g‑forces and tyre pressure. When the S tronic transmission is operating in manual mode, a scale with a colour background prompts the driver to use the steering wheel paddle or selector lever to upshift when approaching maximum rpm.

Sport seats with RS seatback emblems in black fine Nappa leather are standard, and for even greater support RS sport seats with more contoured profiles and integrated head restraints for the driver and front passenger are available as options. The RS sport leather steering wheel is flat-bottomed and features buttons for operating the infotainment system. The main control element is the rotary/push-button control on the console of the centre tunnel. A touchpad can be integrated in its surface, enabling the driver to scroll, zoom and enter text. Also included is a free text search feature that automatically completes the user’s input after just a few letters have been entered. The voice control can process user questions and commands formulated in everyday language.

Online with Audi connect

When it comes to infotainment, the RS 3 Sportback is even more versatile than before. The Audi Smartphone Interface is now standard, enabling users to access selected apps on their handsets from the car’s onboard monitor via Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and an LTE module brings the Audi connect services on board, including navigation with Google Earth and Google Street View, as well as information on fuel prices, weather, travel and traffic. The Audi MMI connect app lets users transfer their smartphone calendars into the MMI system. Drivers can also send destinations from Google Maps and special destinations to the navigation system, and also stream music from the internet. In addition, the navigation system includes a Wi-Fi hotspot that enables passengers to connect their mobile devices to the internet. 

Other highlights include the Audi phone box for wireless connection to the car’s onboard antenna and inductive charging of handsets equipped to the QI standard, the Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 705 watts of power, and many driver assistance systems. In slow-moving traffic up to 40mph, for example, the traffic jam assist keeps the car at a safe distance from the vehicle in front and can briefly take over the steering. Also new in the Audi RS 3 Sportback are the emergency assist, which automatically stops the car if required, and cross traffic assist rear. The latter system looks out for crossing vehicles when the driver is pulling out of a parking space.

Market launch and prices

Orders for the RS 3 Sportback and the RS 3 Saloon will be accepted in the UK from the summer, and UK pricing for both variants will be confirmed closer to that point.

FRANKFURT - AUDI Unveils the sporty S4 saloon and S4 Avant at its home Show.

Frankfurt Show marks return of performance-focused A4 range flagships with new V6 TFSI engine promising sub-five-second acceleration 

• All-new versions of top flight A4 and A4 Avant debut at IAA Frankfurt ahead of UK order bank opening in spring 2016 and deliveries from next summer
• 354 PS and 500 Nm of torque available from the 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine
• Eight-speed tiptronic transmission, latest generation quattro drive
• 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, governed 155mph top speed, up to 38.2mpg with 170g/km
• Sport differential, sports suspension with adaptive damping, Audi virtual cockpit and numerous assistance systems optionally available

354PS, 0 to 62mph in 4.7 seconds – figures which could just as easily be associated with an RS model are now being delivered by the all-new Audi S4 and S4 Avant. 

The new performance flagships combine the intelligent lightweight design, completely re-engineered platform and unparalleled technological sophistication of the latest A4 with a completely new turbocharged V6 TFSI engine which replaces their predecessors’ supercharged unit. 

They will be available to order in the UK in the spring of 2016 ahead of first deliveries next summer.

“At Audi, we have more than 20 years of expertise in developing our sporty S models,” says Professor Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Audi Board of Management for Technical Development. 

“From day one, our formula for success has been a combination of outstanding quattro performance, restrained design, and state of the art drive train, suspension, and infotainment technology. The new Audi S4 and S4 Avant impressively continue this sporty tradition.”

Lightweight and powerful: the 3.0 TFSI

The heart of the S models is a newly developed V6 engine with petrol direct injection and turbocharging. The 3.0 TFSI has an output of 354PS; its 500 Nm (368.8 lb‑ft) of torque is available across a wide range of speeds from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm. The engine outstrips its predecessor in terms of power and torque, while simultaneously offering significantly lower fuel consumption and weight.

The engine can accelerate the Audi S4 from 0 to 62mph in 4.7 seconds, and the electronic limiter kicks in at 155mph. Despite its considerably improved performance, the V6 is extremely efficient. In the NEDC cycle test, the S4 Saloon proves that it is capable of returning up to 38.2mpg, equating to 170 grams of CO₂ per kilometre.

The new eight-speed tiptronic transmission is highly efficient and provides fast, comfortable and responsive gear changes. Whenever the driving situation allows, it switches to a freewheeling mode to save fuel.

In common with every Audi S model, the power of the 3.0 TFSI is transmitted to the road by quattro permanent all-wheel-drive. During normal driving, the self-locking centre differential funnels 60 per cent of engine torque to the rear axle and 40 per cent to the front. Depending on the operating situation, it can distribute up to 70 per cent to the front axle or up to 85 per cent to the rear. 

The wheel-selective torque control based on an intelligent software function rounds off the quattro drive train. For dynamic cornering, the wheels on the inside of the bend are slightly braked before they can break traction. This makes handling more precise, agile, and stable. A sport differential available as an option improves the handling further by actively distributing the forces between the rear wheels.

Intelligent dynamics: suspension

The new Audi S4 and S4 Avant handle corners of all kinds with aplomb – whether on a racetrack or a mountain pass. For fast motorway driving, both models feature impressive straight-line stability. This performance is down to the newly developed suspension. The five-link suspension on the front and rear axles precisely separates the longitudinal and transverse forces, thus ensuring optimum handling in all driving situations. 

Like the electromechanical power steering, both are designed to be very lightweight. Variable speed-dependent dynamic steering is available as an option.

The standard S sport suspension is 23 millimetres lower than on the basic model. The ride height is the same with the optional suspension with active damper control. 

Along with the engine, steering, tiptronic and optional sport differential, this variable damping system, known as CDC or Continuous Damper Control, can be modulated via the Audi drive select handling system which is fitted as standard. This enables the driver to adjust the suspension characteristics across several modes.

The standard 18 inch wheels in 5‑twin-spoke star design roll on 245/40 size tyres. A 19‑inch alternative is available from quattro GmbH. Powerful, stable brakes are fitted on the large wheels.

Sporty understatement: design

The appearance of the new S4 models is subtly understated. At the front, the Singleframe grille and the accentuated horizontal lines underline the width. The prominence of the bumpers and air inlets is further accentuated. Many of the add-on parts are painted in finely graduated matt grey tones, enhanced by chrome trimming at selected points.

In profile the aluminium-look exterior mirror housings are a visual highlight, and the strongly profiled sill trims also give both models a striking appearance. 

On the tailgate, a separating edge provides targeted aerodynamics. The S‑specific rear bumper integrates a black honeycomb grille, an S‑typical diffuser clip, and the four tailpipes of the dual-branch exhaust system. Intelligent composite construction characterises the body. 

This makes it exceptionally torsionally rigid, safe, and lightweight. It is the basis for the low unladen weight of the car. The S4 Saloon with quattro drive as standard tips the scales at 1,630 kilograms, the Avant at 1,675 kilograms.

Sporty style: interior

The spacious interior can comfortably hold five passengers. The acoustic comfort sets new standards in the class, while the build quality is a particular highlight. The Audi S4 Avant provides 505 to 1,510 litres of luggage space depending on the position of the rear backrests. 

The S4 Saloon has 480 litres of luggage capacity. The homogeneous styling with broad air vent strip on the instrument panel and integrated air conditioning control panel gives the interior a generous width. In darkness, LED light guides outline the profiles of the doors and the centre console.

The S sport seats are covered in a combination of pearl Nappa leather and Alcantara in the colours ebony, rotor grey and magma red. They have adjustable side sections, integrated headrests, and a pneumatic massage function. Typically for an S model, black is the dominant colour in the interior. The standard inlays are made of matt brushed aluminium.

The technical innovations in the interior include the optional Audi virtual cockpit. The fully digital instrument cluster displays all key information on a high‑resolution 12.3 inch screen using detailed graphics. The driver can choose between three views – one of them is an exclusive Sport screen, which moves the rev counter into the centre.

The second major innovation on the S4 models is the MMI operating system. Its operating logic is similar to that of the latest smartphones, including the intelligent free text search function.

Extensive: infotainment and Audi connect

MMI offers the driver three operating methods: voice control, the new multifunction steering wheel, or the terminal on the centre console. On the top infotainment system, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and 8.3 inch monitor, the rotary pushbutton features an integrated touch pad for zooming and scrolling, and for entering characters.

The MMI navigation plus is based on the processing power of the second generation modular infotainment system (MIB). This enables Audi to consistently bring the very latest solutions from consumer electronics into the car.

Alongside the MMI navigation plus, the new S4 and S4 Avant feature the Audi connect hardware module. It provides a high-speed connection to the Internet using the LTE standard. The integrated Wi-Fi hotspot enables passengers to surf and send mail on mobile devices, while the driver can use the online services from the Audi connect portfolio. These include the Audi smartphone interface, which integrates iOS and Android mobile phones.

The Audi phone box links passengers’ smartphones to the on-board aerial. If the phones have the appropriate features, they can be inductively charged at the same time. The Audi tablet is used for flexible rear seat entertainment. Hi‑fi fans can order the Bang & Olufsen Sound System with state-of-the-art 3D sound.

Efficient help: the driver assistance systems

Both S4 models provide a wide range of driver assistance systems. The predictive efficiency assistant supports the driver in saving fuel, for example, with gear change prompts. The Audi active lane assist helps the driver stay in lane. 

The adaptive cruise control Stop&Go including traffic jam assist can take over acceleration, deceleration, and steering at up to 40mph, easing the strain on the driver in heavy flowing traffic. 

Park assist, cross traffic assist rear, exit warning, collision avoidance assist, turn assist, and the Audi pre sense systems provide important safety features. A camera-based traffic sign recognition system rounds off the range.

Attractive: equipment

Even the standard equipment is extensive. In addition to the features already mentioned, for both body versions it includes LED headlights and LED rear lights with dynamic indicators. The Avant features an electrically controlled tailgate and luggage compartment cover, as well as anodised aluminum roof rails.

The optional equipment available underlines the high-tech nature of the new S models - for example, Matrix LED headlights, head-up display and sensor control for the tailgate on the Audi S4 Avant.

Full details of UK pricing and specification for the all-new S4 and S4 Avant will be available closer to the launch next spring.