Overview
- The first RS-badged Audi with a plug-in setup pairs a 2.9‑liter twin‑turbo V6 with a transmission-mounted motor and a rear e‑motor for a combined 470 kW (639 PS) and 825 Nm, with a quoted 0–100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds.
- The 25.9 kWh battery (22 kWh usable) enables up to an estimated 54 miles of electric driving at speeds up to 87 mph, which reviewers found usable in city driving.
- Dynamic Torque Control uses a small rear motor and a planetary gearset to magnify torque to the outside rear wheel, and a new Torque Rear mode allows effortless sustained drifts on track.
- Test drives highlight a mass increase of more than 1,000 pounds over the previous RS5, contributing to curb weights around 2,355–2,370 kg and a Sportback cargo reduction to about 11.7 cubic feet.
- Audi executives said a four‑cylinder was never considered and a non‑plug hybrid was rejected for insufficient benefits, and U.S. availability is expected in 2027 with pricing still unannounced.