Audi has effectively merged the old RS4 and RS5 into a single model line, and the result is its first high-performance plug-in hybrid from Audi Sport. The model arrives in both sedan and Avant wagon forms, and besides the raw power it is now coming with, people will also spot that the model is heavier than ever.
Exterior
From a visual standpoint, the all-new 2026 Audi RS5 looks tougher and more muscular than the current A5. The front end features a darker look with the new honeycomb grille, which makes the nose more aggressive, while the RS’s strong signature is given by checkered flag graphics incorporated in the lighting signatures.
Moving towards the rear, there is a new diffuser with vertical fins that makes the car even more muscular, while the oversized matte oval exhaust tips announce raw power under the hood. The overall stance suggests intent, although the added width and hardware hint at what is happening underneath.
Talking of brute strength, the latest Audi RS5 offers the same engine as in the case of the RS4/RS5, which is a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, but it has an increased power. This is 503 horsepower and 600 Nm of torque. It also has an electric motor which is capable of adding 174 horsepower and 460 Nm of torque to the car, and it has an eight-speed automatic transmission. This amounts to an amazing 630 horsepower and 825 Nm of torque.
Things don’t stop here, as a 22kWh net battery installed under the boot floor provides the necessary power to make the car reach 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. The mile range also stands at 80 km.
Other Specifications
The car`s Quattro all-wheel-drive system comes with a new center differential, which reduces understeer, while at the rear end, the company`s new Dynamic Torque Control system shuffles torque between the rear wheels in just milliseconds. An RS Torque Rear mode is included, and a boost button provides maximum shove for 10 seconds.
Standard steel brake discs measure 420 mm at the front and 400 mm at the rear, while optional carbon ceramic brakes increase those figures to 440 mm and 410 mm respectively and are said to save 30 kg (66 lbs).
Weight is where the discussion shifts. With the driver in, the sedan tips the scale at 2,355 kg, while the Avant adds another 15 kg, bringing the total to 2,370 kg. That makes the new sedan 190 kg heavier than the V8 RS6.
2026 Audi RS5 Hybrid – Photo Gallery
