Audi Rs5 Avant: audi rs5 avant arrives as 639hp plug-in hybrid

The audi rs5 avant is presented as Audi Sport’s first high-performance plug-in hybrid, replacing the previous RS4 and introducing a V6-plus-electric layout that pushes combined output into the high hundreds. The launch matters because the model pairs a twin-turbo V6 with an electrified gearbox and a new quattro drivetrain that brings electro-mechanical torque vectoring to a production RS for the first time.

Audi Rs5 Avant: powertrain figures differ

Available materials describe two related but different specification sets for the new RS5. One set lists a 2. 9-liter twin-turbo V6 rated at 375 kW (510 PS) coupled with an electric motor rated at 130 kW. A separate set of coverage cites an electric motor output of 177 hp, a usable battery capacity of 22 kW, and a combined output of 639 hp with 624 lb ft of torque. That latter outline also states a 0–62 mph time of 3. 6 seconds. These numbers are presented as-is from the available material and are not unified into a single confirmed specification at this time.

audi rs5 avant: weight, range and packaging

The RS5’s packaging reflects its hybridization. Published figures list curb weights of roughly 2. 35 tonnes for the saloon and about 2. 37 tonnes for the Avant, making the electrified RS considerably heavier than its predecessor. Battery placement is described beneath the boot floor. One set of materials claims up to 54 miles of electric-only range on a full battery and notes that the plug-in configuration can reduce fuel use by up to 20 percent under high loads when the electric motor and combustion engine are working together.

Drivetrain, chassis and torque vectoring

Central to the RS5’s technology package is a new quattro drivetrain with Dynamic Torque Control. The rear transaxle includes electro-mechanical torque vectoring described as a world-first in a production RS model. A center differential with preload is used to keep some lock between axles, while a rear differential can shift torque between wheels in milliseconds. A control unit is said to recalculate optimal torque distribution at a frequency of 200 Hz (every 5 milliseconds). The car also features bespoke RS sport suspension with twin-valve shock absorbers and aerodynamic details such as wider track and flared fenders; published material notes the RS is around nine centimeters wider than the base A5 at both ends.

Key takeaways

• Hybrid architecture: first high-performance plug-in hybrid from Audi Sport, pairing a twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor and hybridized eight-speed gearbox.
• Performance and mass: one set of material lists 639 hp combined and 0–62 mph in 3. 6 seconds; curb weights are listed near 2. 35–2. 37 tonnes for saloon and Avant.
• New drivetrain tech: electro-mechanical torque vectoring at the rear and a control unit recalculating torque distribution every 5 milliseconds are central to the handling strategy.

Forward look: the RS5’s combination of high combined output and heavyweight packaging suggests its character will hinge on how the new torque-vectoring rear transaxle and RS-tuned suspension manage mass. If the vehicle’s curb weight remains above roughly 2. 3 tonnes, handling and efficiency will be shaped strongly by chassis tuning and regenerative strategy; if the quoted electric range and usable battery capacity are realized in customer cars, day-to-day usability for short commutes will be improved by all-electric driving. Final unified specifications and regional equipment details remain unclear at this time.