2011 Audi RS5: A V8 with 450 HP
The ongoing duel between German auto manufacturers has a plus side: it means we get to drive some of the most exciting performance vehicles on the planet. And that’s certainly the case with the new RS5, whose 450-hp V8 totally checkmates the BMW M3, which delivers a mere 414 hp. Plus, the RS5 is obviously an über-sleeper, with its pumped-up A5 looks, beefed-up fenders (featuring flared edges like the classic pioneer, the1980 Audi quattro), the 19-inch alloy rims (20-inches on option), the ground clearance lowered by 20 mm, and an integrated fin that deploys at 120 km/hr.
Available in Europe in just a few weeks, the RS5 won’t hit Canadian soil for another 18 months. And though Audi Canada has yet to announce its price, you can bet it will fall near $90,000, given the fact that the new sport coupe’s performance is better than that of the S5 coupe, priced at $72,500. Under the hood, we find a remodelled version of the 4.2-litre V8 that equips the R8 4.2. The quattro GmbH engineers managed to coax another 30 HP from the high-revving V8, which has a max of 8250 rpm and is paired with an S Tronic dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox and quattro AWD.
Its maximum speed is set to 250 km/hr, but it can be pushed to 280 km/hr at the owner’s request. The sprint from 0-100 km/hr takes a mere 4.6 seconds, and yet the vehicle’s average fuel consumption, according to Audi, is 10.8 L/100 km, thanks in part to a tall seventh gear designed to reduce fuel consumption.
A few laps on Spain’s fantastic Ascari de Ronda circuit, part of which was slick from rain, were enough to confirm the RS5’s performance potential and the efficiency of its drivetrain. As soon as we were out of the pits, the expressive sound of the V8 impressed me, particularly when the exhaust system’s valves opened as the engine was pushed to full force. The power delivery was very linear, maximum torque is attained between 4,000-6,000 rpm, and shifting is lightning-fast thanks to the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. As a result, we were catapulted into the next turn at a very high speed – posing no problem whatsoever for the braking system and the ceramic composite discs on our test vehicle. As we entered the curve, the response at the steering wheel was precise and immediate, thanks in part to the high-performance Pirelli tires, but also to the dynamic steering.
By the middle of the curve, the central and rear differentials kick in, along with the Audi Drive Select system, which comes standard on the RS5, to optimize the distribution of torque and deliver a maximum level of power as you come out of the turn. Thanks to this, driving the RS5 is absolutely incredible. The car was totally in its element on this circuit, especially when the road was wet and slippery. In fact, I got the impression that I would not have been able to go nearly as fast on this circuit on this day had I been driving an M3, which comes with RWD only. One of the aces up the RS5’s sleeve is the new inter-axle differential which uses two pinions with front teeth as well as a multiple-disc clutch that increases modulation time when transferring engine torque to the front and rear wheels. Normally, 60% goes to the back and 40% to the front, but the new inter-axle differential can deliver up to 85% of the torque to the rear wheels, or up to 70% to the front. This allows the vehicle to better deal with changing road conditions.
With sport seats available on option, you could practically call the inside of the RS5 a cockpit. It features carbon-fibre appliqués, aluminium pedals and steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. The quality of the materials and trim is top-notch, as we’ve come to expect from Audi over recent years. We have quite a long wait before the RS5 comes to Canada, but it will most certainly be worth the wait.
