RS5- it's comin' soon

[MI6]

Here's some new pics of the new RS5- judging by the lack of Camo I'd say it's only about a year or so away........

Note: this is the RS5- not S5. Look at the Lower front air dam vents where the fogs are- they are RS style mesh, not the same as the horizontal mesh on the S5.......

[nonick]

i think this is gonna be one mean car

[The CSL]

I think it's going to be one fat, bland car, that needs all that power over the new M3 to get anywhere near it on the 'Ring.

[aerisolphaln]

Originally Posted by The CSL

I think it's going to be one fat, bland car, that needs all that power over the new M3 to get anywhere near it on the 'Ring.

Really?

The comparisons of the RS4 and new M3 so far have to 2 neck and neck, with a few points deciding the winner either way. And nevermind that this RS4 is 2.5 years old and the M3 hasn't been released yet. If that's anything to go by, it looks like the RS5 will handly beat down the new M3.

The only hope is that the RS5 is in the 80 to 85K range instead of the M3's 70 to 73K range (out the dealer door US prices, of course)

[lucid]

Does the RS5 have the same V8 in the RS4? And, what is the A5-line chassis based on?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by lucid

Does the RS5 have the same V8 in the RS4? And, what is the A5-line chassis based on?

Similar V8 bumped to ~450 hp. The chassis new (or partly so) with the engine shifted back relative to the front axle, so should not be quite as nose-heavy as the RS4. The next A4/S4/RS4 will use a version of this.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Similar V8 bumped to ~450 hp. The chassis new (or partly so) with the engine shifted back relative to the front axle, so should not be quite as nose-heavy as the RS4. The next A4/S4/RS4 will use a version of this.

Thanks.

One can then speculate that the RS5/M3 comparisons will most likely yield similar outcomes to the RS4/M3 comparisons (the slightly larger power/torque output of the Audi RS5 engine will be offset by its slightly higher weight). It seems to boil down to if one prefers Audi's AWD approach and handling to BMW's RWD approach and handling, which magazine's have reported as resulting in "more driver involvement". I doubt that the objective performance figures will be significantly different.

[The CSL]

In today's Autocar test of the S5, their reports on the chassis say despite the new layout and rear-biased 4WD, results in the driver only being able to manage understeer, the rear unwilling to do anything to aid the line.

I just don't think what an Rs5 will end up as will be better than the M3, ragradless of how this one may or may not be.


EDIT: Sorry, I made a faux pas, it's the 3.0 TDi A5, not the S5. Crikey, it looks so similar to the S version from the front.

[RI_RS4]

Originally Posted by lucid

Thanks.

One can then speculate that the RS5/M3 comparisons will most likely yield similar outcomes to the RS4/M3 comparisons (the slightly larger power/torque output of the Audi RS5 engine will be offset by its slightly higher weight). It seems to boil down to if one prefers Audi's AWD approach and handling to BMW's RWD approach and handling, which magazine's have reported as resulting in "more driver involvement". I doubt that the objective performance figures will be significantly different.

You have one of your facts wrong. The A5/S5/RS5 comes in lighter than the A4/S4/RS4. The chassis was designed to be lighter, have better front/rear weight distribution and a lower center of gravity. The RS5 will be faster and a much better track car than the RS4. There is no doubt about that at all.

[consolidated]

Originally Posted by RI_RS4

You have one of your facts wrong. The A5/S5/RS5 comes in lighter than the A4/S4/RS4. The chassis was designed to be lighter, have better front/rear weight distribution and a lower center of gravity. The RS5 will be faster and a much better track car than the RS4. There is no doubt about that at all.

what are the weights of both lines?

[lucid]

Originally Posted by RI_RS4

You have one of your facts wrong. The A5/S5/RS5 comes in lighter than the A4/S4/RS4. The chassis was designed to be lighter, have better front/rear weight distribution and a lower center of gravity. The RS5 will be faster and a much better track car than the RS4. There is no doubt about that at all.

How much lighter? I guess the more relevant question is if it will be lighter than the M3? If it equals the M3 in weight, then I can see "some" of the objective performance figures being slightly in its favor, but I think the fundamental AWD vs RWD issue remains despite the claimed improved weight distribution of the RS5 (the weight distribution improvement is probably for real, but I suspect Audi is overplaying it at this point).

[RI_RS4]

S4 curb weight = 3896 lbs
S5 curb weight estimated at 3590 lbs

I suspect in the US it will come in another 100 lbs higher. That would still make it 200 lbs lighter than the S4.

Originally Posted by aerisolphaln

Really?

The comparisons of the RS4 and new M3 so far have to 2 neck and neck, with a few points deciding the winner either way. And nevermind that this RS4 is 2.5 years old and the M3 hasn't been released yet. If that's anything to go by, it looks like the RS5 will handly beat down the new M3.

The only hope is that the RS5 is in the 80 to 85K range instead of the M3's 70 to 73K range (out the dealer door US prices, of course)

How many efforts,(for the Audi's engineers) will be necessary to beat the new M3 and the RS4?if the M3 has all these partially bad reports,(because the gap is narrow )what will be the future for the new RS5? they will loose their nights looking how to do it better....And for sure untill they will use 450 hp , the performance will be so similar..but I don't think better for the RS5...But what will be the final price?in the Porsche range?

[southlight]

Originally Posted by RI_RS4

S4 curb weight = 3896 lbs
S5 curb weight estimated at 3590 lbs

I suspect in the US it will come in another 100 lbs higher. That would still make it 200 lbs lighter than the S4.

According to german Audi site:
S5: 3593 lbs (1630 kg)
S4: 3659 lbs (1660 kg)

Don't know how the S5 could be 200lbs lighter than the S4!

Best regards, south

[TheDreamer]

Oh I don't know..I could see the Audi Fanboys complaining about how their RS4 is better than the RS5..or how the steering feels lighters..or how the breaks suck. Couldn't you?

[Robert]

Originally Posted by TheDreamer

Oh I don't know..I could see the Audi Fanboys complaining about how their RS4 is better than the RS5..or how the steering feels lighters..or how the breaks suck. Couldn't you?

Not surprising consider there are bunch of 335i owners think their cars are better than the e92 M3s. You have to recognize it's the same shitty human nature everywhere.

[bulletproof]

RS5 will be direct competition with the CSL and not the M3. I don't see how the M3 will be able to hang with it, because it will probably have a lot of Lambo parts, be faster and at least start at 70k base. This is a small nitch car where as the M3 is going to appeal to a larger audience because of the smaller price tag.

[TuvaD]

Originally Posted by The CSL

I think it's going to be one fat, bland car, that needs all that power over the new M3 to get anywhere near it on the 'Ring.

Interesting comment.

Couple of thoughts...

Firstly, the new M3 is no lightweight! Quite the opposite in fact!

Secondly, how much of your time do YOU spend at the 'Ring or any other race track? If it is less than 25% of your time...why do you care if the RS5 can/cannot beat the M3 at the 'Ring? Test drivers literally HAMMER those cars to get the lap times that you seem to be in awe of. Such times are simply not as relevant as many think. If you and I tried to get anywhere near times like those we'd be in SERIOUS trouble at Bergwerk!

Maybe it is best to see what development at the 'Ring brings to the final product when you're driving it in your own neck of the woods? Surely, you've gotta go with whatever car delivers the goods best suited to your environment you're in. And I doubt, for most people, that anything remotely resembling the 'Ring!

Lastly, IMHO, I highly doubt that the e92 m3 will keep pace with the 2.5 yr old RS4 on a wet, bumpy, twisty road in (very!) rainy Britain. Can we assume the upcoming RS5 will only widen the gap..?

[jworms]

Originally Posted by bulletproof

RS5 will be direct competition with the CSL and not the M3. I don't see how the M3 will be able to hang with it, because it will probably have a lot of Lambo parts, be faster and at least start at 70k base. This is a small nitch car where as the M3 is going to appeal to a larger audience because of the smaller price tag.

i'd have to disagree with this unless audi is going to compete with 997 turbo porsches with their rs5. the previous generation M3 CSL (e46) ran a 7:50 around the 'ring. i think we can safely assume that bmw will at least make the e92 M3 CSL faster than the e46 and with that the e92 M3 CSL will be directly competing with 997 porsche turbos, 997 GT3, nissan GT-R, etc.

also i'd be very surprised if the RS5 performs better than the new and upcoming $110k+ audi R8 which is looking to be on par with e92 M3 performance.

[The CSL]

Originally Posted by TuvaD

Interesting comment.

Couple of thoughts...

I didn't say the new M3 was a lightweight, but the A5 is a relatively massive car and knowing Audi don't use the same weight standard as BMW, the S5 seems to be on a par with the M3.

Also, I drive the cars I've had access to as hard as possible until I find the chassis' limits out on Dartmoor, which is probably not all that different to the Nordschleife in terms of camber and corners.

[bulletproof]

Originally Posted by jworms

i'd have to disagree with this unless audi is going to compete with 997 turbo porsches with their rs5. the previous generation M3 CSL (e46) ran a 7:50 around the 'ring. i think we can safely assume that bmw will at least make the e92 M3 CSL faster than the e46 and with that the e92 M3 CSL will be directly competing with 997 porsche turbos, 997 GT3, nissan GT-R, etc.

also i'd be very surprised if the RS5 performs better than the new and upcoming $110k+ audi R8 which is looking to be on par with e92 M3 performance.

I don't think so. R8 is not on par with the M3. M3 is on par with the RS4. R8 is on par with the 911 and Vantage. Right now the M3 is neck and neck with a two year old RS4, so this new RS5 with improved chassis, handling and power should take the M3 easily. All Audi has to do is make it better than their RS4 and with the new chassis and engine layout of the RS5, that shouldn't be a problem. Plus, there's alot more than a 4.2 V8 going into this RS5.

Eitherway I'm buying the M3 so I dont really care who wins because I doubt I'll ever race an RS5 or see one on the streets for that matter.

[RI_RS4]

Originally Posted by TheDreamer

Oh I don't know..I could see the Audi Fanboys complaining about how their RS4 is better than the RS5..or how the steering feels lighters..or how the breaks suck. Couldn't you?

Actually, we RS4 fanboys are looking forward to the RS5. It's essentially our replacement car in about 2 years.