insideline: Audi RS5: 444-HP Coupe Will Come to the U.S.
#1
04-21-2010, 03:30 PM
insideline: Audi RS5: 444-HP Coupe Will Come to the U.S.
Audi RS5: 444-HP Coupe Will Come to the U.S.
Published Apr 20, 2010
Just the Facts:
A product marketing contact from Quattro GmbH, the division at the Neckarsulm factory that builds the RS models, tells Inside Line, "We have voted on it and the car is coming over definitely. But," he adds, "it will be more than a year out from the start of deliveries in Western Europe."
As the general feeling among the Quattro specialists is that an S5 coupe V8 with 444 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque tied to an 8,250-rpm redline, no matter how desirable, will not sell in really huge numbers, every RS5 coupe shipped over will be fully optioned. This includes the rear-axle sport differential, Dynamic Ride Control software upgrades, and possibly the chromed thundering Boysen sport exhaust — all optional in other markets.
The RS5 coupe is Audi's first production car to carry the third-generation Quattro all-wheel drive system, which is almost 15 pounds lighter overall, uses a crown-wheel center differential for a wider distribution of torque to either the front (up to 70 percent) or rear axle (up to 85 percent), and incorporates standard torque vectoring between the four wheels in the ESP software to combat notorious understeer.
If we're to go by the German-market 32.4 percent price hike for the Audi RS5 coupe over the S5 coupe, U.S. pricing would start at around $69,500. With the options list tossed in as standard North American kit, however, make it an MSRP of just over $75,000.
The Quattro folks threw a dart at the end of August or early September 2011 for the first North American deliveries.
Inside Line says: The A5-bodied family is so appealing that even the two-door RS5 should find a larger audience than Audi anticipates. This is one that really can take it hard-core to the BMW M3 coupe and future Mercedes C63 coupe. Couldn't they bring it sooner, though? — Matt Davis, Correspondent
insideline
Published Apr 20, 2010
Just the Facts:
- Audi RS5 is coming to North America by September 2011.
- European sales of the left-hand-drive RS5 start in June 2010.
- RS5 base pretax price in Germany is 65,300 euros (U.S. $88,650), 32.4 percent over the S5 price.
A product marketing contact from Quattro GmbH, the division at the Neckarsulm factory that builds the RS models, tells Inside Line, "We have voted on it and the car is coming over definitely. But," he adds, "it will be more than a year out from the start of deliveries in Western Europe."
As the general feeling among the Quattro specialists is that an S5 coupe V8 with 444 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque tied to an 8,250-rpm redline, no matter how desirable, will not sell in really huge numbers, every RS5 coupe shipped over will be fully optioned. This includes the rear-axle sport differential, Dynamic Ride Control software upgrades, and possibly the chromed thundering Boysen sport exhaust — all optional in other markets.
The RS5 coupe is Audi's first production car to carry the third-generation Quattro all-wheel drive system, which is almost 15 pounds lighter overall, uses a crown-wheel center differential for a wider distribution of torque to either the front (up to 70 percent) or rear axle (up to 85 percent), and incorporates standard torque vectoring between the four wheels in the ESP software to combat notorious understeer.
If we're to go by the German-market 32.4 percent price hike for the Audi RS5 coupe over the S5 coupe, U.S. pricing would start at around $69,500. With the options list tossed in as standard North American kit, however, make it an MSRP of just over $75,000.
The Quattro folks threw a dart at the end of August or early September 2011 for the first North American deliveries.
Inside Line says: The A5-bodied family is so appealing that even the two-door RS5 should find a larger audience than Audi anticipates. This is one that really can take it hard-core to the BMW M3 coupe and future Mercedes C63 coupe. Couldn't they bring it sooner, though? — Matt Davis, Correspondent
insideline
#2
04-21-2010, 03:59 PM
I can't wait to see the look of disappointment on your face when we go to the dealer together to check it out... 
#6
04-21-2010, 04:57 PM
Dude, seriously, if you get the invite (or vice versa) we have to link up for the RS5 preview... I just got one from Bentley Manhattan to see the new Arnage. LOL - like I'm going to Manhattan to look at a car I won't buy.
#9
04-22-2010, 10:07 AM
yeah, if I was looking for a two-seat track toy... but I want this as a comfy daily with proper sound and powaaaah ... which also suffices to take the kids to school but could also be taken to a C&C without looking like I brought the family truckster ....