First Drive: The Audi RS5

Like the North American market, I’ve waited a long time to drive the Audi RS5. Though the car launched in Europe and Asia in late 2010, the big, V8-engined coupe remained missing from my driving CV. So when a set of RS5 keys recently lobbed onto my desk, I was keen to discover if it continued the legacy of the brilliant, last-generation RS4 and whether it shared DNA strands with the sublime R8.

Ostensibly the same 4163cc V8 as that used in Audi’s R8 and RS4, the engine in the RS5 features detail changes to produce more power at higher revs than the R8. With 331kW at 8250rpm, the RS5 is up 22kW over the R8 and peak power is on tap 450rpm higher. Max torque remains as per the R8 at 430Nm but it’s spread over a plateau from 4000-6000rpm (4500-6000rpm in the R8).