2018 Audi RS5 Coupe Review
Car Tested: 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe; Road Test No. 999
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 1.37 Crores
The RS5 Coupe is the final member of Audi’s BratPack, is also the quickest, fastest as well as the wildest
The most powerful member of Audi’s Bratpack has finally been launched in India. Based on the A5, the second-generation RS5 Coupe looks very very attractive but looking at its brochure for the specifications, one might be disappointed. The 2018 RS5 Coupe gets a smaller engine with two cylinders less. MotorBeam is here to find out if the new Audi RS5 Coupe is as mad as it used to be?
Motor Quest: The first generation Audi RS5 mighty impressed us with its 4.2-litre direct injection V8 petrol engine and five years down the lane, the German automaker has launched the second-generation RS5 Coupe in India. It definitely gets full marks for the way it looks but wait, there’s more than what meets the eye.
The 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe looks mind-boggling, especially in Misano Red
Exteriors – In terms of styling and design, the 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe looks radical from its predecessor. The design is based on the A5 sedan and hence there are the gorgeous and curvy lines across the car which make it look very attractive. The front fascia is more aggressive and muscular looking thanks to the revised bumper with large air intakes, more prominent single frame gloss black grille and the smoked Matrix LED headlights. The side profile is the most dramatic angle and the huge 20-inch alloy wheels which our test car was equipped with adds a touch of sportiness. At the rear, the split LED tail-lights which are again, smoked, look classy while the twin exhaust tips and the black lip spoiler give it an aggressive stance.
Fit and finish levels in the cabin of the RS5 Coupe are just impeccable
Interiors – Step inside the Audi RS5 Coupe and things start getting more familiar here. The dashboard is similar to the S5 sedan and you get a flat-bottom 3-spoke multi-function steering wheel, Audi Virtual Cockpit and an updated MMI infotainment system. However, what’s new are the front seats (with the RS logo embossed) which are thicker and better bolstered than the ones on the S5. These seats offer every possible adjustment with a massage function as well. In terms of features, you get Alcantara leather upholstery, Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D sound, climate control, cruise control and a rearview camera. Both the seats at the front and rear offer great support and comfort but space for rear seat passengers is limited or cramped to be precise. There is ample shoulder room and headroom for two passengers but knee room is cramped.
Performance – Powering the 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe is a 3.0-litre V6 Bi-turbo petrol motor that produces 450 PS of power and a massive 600 Nm of torque. While the engine is downsized, the power and torque figures aren’t. In fact, the torque is up by a massive 170 Nm. The motor gets superior hardware bits but in terms of engine speed, the V6 mill does not go beyond the 6800 RPM mark. That said, the RS5 Coupe is faster to 100 km/hr than its predecessor by 0.6 seconds and the acceleration is so intense, you sometimes might feel that the front wheels are in the air, especially when in Dynamic mode. Top speed is limited to 250 km/hr but if you choose to opt for the RS Dynamic Package, the car is then capable of hitting 280 km/hr! Fuel-efficiency is around 3-4 km/l if driven flat-out.
The relatively smaller 3.0-litre TFSI engine still manages to dish out an identical 450 PS of power
Acceleration is brutal, mad, intense, crazy, wait, we’re short of words!
Mated to the 3.0-litre powerplant is an 8-speed gearbox which is extremely fast and quick with shifts. You can manually take control of things as well via the paddle shifts. Overall, the performance on offer from the RS5 Coupe is breathtaking and the motor sounds particularly superb in Dynamic mode as it opens the butterfly valve to ensure that there is more rumble coming out from the twin exhausts.
The second generation Audi RS5 is approximately 60 kgs lighter than its predecessor
Driving Dynamics – Coming to the driving dynamics, the 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe gets four driving modes – Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual. Sadly there are no adaptive/dynamic dampers which means that the characteristics of the engine, steering, gearbox, and exhaust only can be adjusted but not the suspension. Ride quality is lumpy and this is attributed to the fact that our test car was equipped with 20-inch wheels (offered as optional, as standard fitment you get 19-inch alloys). However, things do get better in the Comfort mode but if you really intend to have some fun, it is the Dynamic mode you should be in. Steering is precise but like most Audis, it feels vague and doesn’t inspire confidence, especially in the corners. Braking performance is stupendous and the tyres stay glued to the roads offering immense grip. Ground clearance is quite low but we never scraped the bottom even once.
The 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe gets quite a number of safety features
Safety and After Sales Service – In terms of safety, the 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe packs in 6-airbags, Hill Hold Assist, Park Assist and Quattro with self-locking centre differential. The Ingolstadt-based carmaker has a good reach of sales and service network across India encompassing major cities.
There are a lot of things going for the RS5 Coupe and some going against
Verdict – The second generation Audi RS5 Coupe costs approximately Rs. 23 lakhs lesser than its immediate rival, the BMW M4 Coupe. The RS5 Coupe makes a lot of sense for those looking for a car that has breathtaking looks, offers scintillating performance and comes loaded with a host of features. This car is also practical enough for daily usage and there’s not much to dislike about it.
With downsizing becoming the norm, the RS5 was expected to go the turbo route too
What’s Cool
* Exteriors look savage!
* Brutal acceleration
* Audi Virtual Cockpit
What’s Not So Cool
* Rear seat space
* Feedback from the steering
* Lack of adaptive suspension
Alternatives: BMW M4 Coupe
These 20-inch dual-tone alloy wheels look sexy but they upset the ride quality
2018 Audi RS5 Coupe Specifications
* Engine: 2894cc, V6, Bi-turbo Petrol
* Power: 450 PS @ 5700-6700 RPM
* Torque: 600 Nm @ 1900-5000 RPM
* Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic
* 0-100 km/hr: 3.90 seconds (Claimed)
* Top Speed: 280 km/hr
* Fuel Consumption: 4-5 km/l (Real World), 10.28 km/l (Claimed)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Suspension: Independent-wheel suspension (Front and Rear)
* Tyre Size: 265/35/19
* Brakes: Discs (Front), Discs (Rear), ABS
* Safety: 6-Airbags, Hill Hold Assist
2018 Audi RS5 Coupe Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4723 mm X 1861 mm X 1360 mm
* Boot Space: 465-litres
* Wheelbase: 2766 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 58-litres
The Audi RS5 does come in a good package, offering unending power delivery
Testers’ Note:
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