- New Audi RS 5 breaks cover
- Billed as Audi’s ‘first-ever high-performance plug-in hybrid’
- Power of 639 PS
- Quattro all-wheel drive with Dynamic Torque Control
- 50-mile EV range
- 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds
- Formidable BMW M3 rival
- Priced from £90,220
This is the sensational new Audi RS 5 - the German firm’s first-ever high-performance plug-in hybrid and which will take aim at the BMW M3.
With its squat stance, squared-off rear end with gaping tailpipes and lashings of carbon, the RS 5 has just gone straight to the top of our list of the best looking cars of 2026.
That weight-adding PHEV powertrain will dominate headlines, just as it did when BMW put one in the M5.
But you can’t argue with the performance figures; power of 639 PS, 825 Nm of torque, and acceleration from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds (0.1 of a second slower than the BMW M3).
Yet despite all of that get up and go, you’ll still enjoy a 50-mile electric driving range.
The Audi RS 5 will be available as both a Saloon and Avant estate and order books open later this year, with UK spec still to be confirmed.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What engine powers the latest Audi RS 5?
Underpinning the RS 5 is an improved version of Audi’s 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine which develops 510 PS on its own - which is 60 PS more than the previous RS 5.
Two variable-geometry turbochargers provide boost while water-to-air intercoolers are used for the first time in the RS 5, lowering intake temperatures.
The result? Maximum power is always available at the tap of the driver’s right foot.
Allied to that engine is a 25.9 kWh battery and 177 PS electric motor that creates a total system output of up to 470 639 PS and 825 Nm of torque.
The RS 5 still uses a quattro all-wheel-drive system, and power can be sent to both front and rear wheels via the gearbox and centre differential - there isn’t a separate electric drive unit on the rear axle or a standalone motor just for one axle.
Power is delivered via an 8-speed tiptronic transmission paired with a limited-slip centre differential that distributes torque between the two axles (between 70/30 and 15/85 percent).
The RS 5 supports charging at up to 11 kW, enabling a full charge in 2.5 hours.
What is the new torque vectoring system for the Audi RS 5?
Audi says the RS 5’s new rear transaxle with electro-mechanical torque vectoring is a world first in a production model.
Audi tells us: “An actuator, overdrive gears, and a differential combine to intelligently transfer torque between the rear wheels. They do so almost fully variably and depending on the driving situation. A control unit recalculates optimal torque distribution between the rear wheel every five milliseconds – a frequency of 200 Hz. The torque vectoring system then immediately and precisely implements it. Put simply, electro-mechanical torque vectoring is the invisible maestro conducting an orchestra of performance and making sure customers experience driving fun and safety like never before.”
You also get the Audi RS sport suspension with twin-valve shock absorbers, RS-tuned steering, and large 20-inch or 21-inch alloys.
Does the Audi RS 5 have a boost function?
It does, yes. Push the boost button and you get maximum acceleration for 10 seconds, which Audi says is ideal for quick overtakes.
A countdown in the driver information display shows how much of the 10 seconds of boost remains.
Afterwards, the system returns to the previously selected driving mode. You can also hit the boost function in any drive mode, including all-electric.
There are various drive modes to savour, offering everything from relaxing everyday driving to the ‘RS torque rear mode’, which shifts the power to the rear and allows for ‘controlled drifts on closed circuits’, says Audi, not in your local supermarket car park.
What’s unique about the design of the new Audi RS 5?
As Audi points out, the RS 5 is not for the faint hearted and is described as a ‘puristic powerhouse’. It certainly looks a hell of a lot different to the regular Audi A5 upon which it’s based.
A long wheelbase, large wheels, low-slung silhouette and wide, aggressive body kit means the RS 5 is ‘always ready to pounce’, according to its German manufacturer.
The Saloon is styled more like a coupe, with a shallow rear window and ducktail rear.
For both the Saloon and the Avent, there’s a honeycomb grille at the front, sculpted wheel arches that pay homage to the classic Audi Quattro, and an in-your-face rear diffuser with vertical fins.
The exhaust system was developed from scratch and features huge, oval-shaped twin tail pipes.
Tick the ‘carbon design package’ and the gloss black elements, like the rear diffuser, take on an altogether sportier appearance.
What’s the interior of the new Audi RS 5 like?
The centre of the cabin is dominated by a slim, free-standing panoramic display comprising an 11.9-inch driver cockpit and 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen.
A separate 10.9-inch display comes as standard.
The driver’s display provides access to all-important performance info like G forces, temperatures and pressures, and lap times. The RS 5 even has pre-loaded data on the world-famous racetracks to easier analyse your skills.
You also get a configurable head-up display that can show acceleration and a launch control guide.
Elsewhere in the interior you’ll find upholstery with honeycomb quilting, massaging seats, and soft Dinamica across the instrument panel, armrests and door trim.
How much does the new Audi RS 5 cost in the UK?
When order books open in the middle of 2026, the Audi RS 5 Saloon will cost from £90,220 while the RS 5 Avant estate is priced from £92,120.
That puts the RS 5 on equal footing with the BMW M3, with the M3 starting at £91,315 for the Saloon and £93,585 for the M3 Touring Estate.
The plug-in hybrid BMW M5 is pricier still, coming with a price tag of at least £114,095.
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