Audi RS5
Fastest A5 yet breaks cover boasting twin-turbo V8 power
Say hello to the hottest A5 ever! Spied during high-speed testing at Germany’s Nürburgring circuit, this is the mighty Audi RS5. Setto go head-to-head with BMW’s M6, the newcomer will pack a twin-turbo4.2-litre V8. That should mean 450bhp, a five-second 0-60mph time plusa 155mph top speed.
That’s why this prototype has a deep frontspoiler with larger air intakes – they’re there to keep the enginecool. The rest of this mule’s bodywork is very similar to that of theS5, but the finished car will get bulging wheelarches, side skirts and huge twin oval exhaust pipes with a fixed rear wing, just like the new TT RS.
Under the skin,the engine will be bolted to quattro four-wheel drive with a 40:60rearward power bias, while the transmission will be a six-speed manual 'box. There’ll be magnetic dampers andvast vented disc brakes, too. The RS5 goes on sale in 2010 and willcost around £50,000.