The new Audi RS5 is making its debut at the New York motor show.
With its long bonnet and short rump its a gorgeous looking bit of kit and it goes too.
Try 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 280km/h.
The RS 5 Sportback weighs 1840kg.
Motivation comes from a twin turbo, 2.9-litre V6 that develops 331kW of power and 600Nm of torque, the latter in a wide band between 1900 and 5000 revs.
The two turbochargers generate up to 1.5 bar of charge pressure and are mounted at a 90-degree angle, which means the exhaust side of the cylinder heads is inside, and the intake side is outside.
This layout permits a compact design and short fuel paths, with minimal flow loss, and almost instant throttle response.
Power is fed to all four wheels through the Quattro permanent all-wheel drive with centre differential via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission with optimised shift times for sporty driving.
The split is biased 40:60 front to back to give the car a dynamic feel. When slippage occurs on an axle, most of the power immediately flows to the other axle – up to 85 percent to the front, and up to 70 percent to the rear.
This locking effect enables a clearly-defined torque distribution and precise co-operation with the control systems.
With the optional sport differential, torque is shifted between the rear wheels.
The RS 5 Sportback sits seven millimetres lower than the Audi S5 Sportback.
You could also add RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes and RS-specific dynamic steering.
With this setup drivers can create their own personal driving experience.
No word on price yet but the car is expected to arrive towards the end of the year.
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