NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Audi lands RS 5 Sportback

Audi Sport’s latest RS 5 Coupe is a cracking follow-up to its original mid-size V8 coupe, and now the same firepower has come to the A5 Sportback for the first time.

That’s right, Audi has announced the debut of its inaugural RS 5 Sportback at this week’s New York motor show, and it is fitted with the same Porsche-developed 331kW/600Nm 2.9-litre twin-turbo TFSI V6.

Belting out its peak torque number over the same wide 1900-5000rpm rev-range, the 90-degree V6 propels the five-door RS 5 hatchback to 100km/h in the same 3.9 seconds as the RS 5 Coupe.

It’s fitted with the same eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission and the same centre diff-equipped quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, which distributes power asymmetrically 40:60 between the axles – up to 85 per cent to the front and up to 70 per cent to the rear.

Like the RS 5 Coupe, the 1840kg RS 5 Sportback rides on RS-tuned five-link suspension at both ends, which is 7mm lower than the S5 Sportback.

Likewise, the five-door RS 5 differentiates itself from lesser models via a power-domed bonnet, 15mm-wider wheel housings, single-frame honeycomb grille, gloss-black headlight elements, a front spoiler with matte aluminum quattro lettering, RS-specific rear diffuser insert, RS exhaust with oval tailpipes, a fixed lip spoiler and 19-inch wheels.

As with the two-door RS 5 (the cabriolet is yet to come), options include 20-inch alloys, RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes, RS-specific dynamic steering and Gloss Black, Carbon, and Matte Aluminum optic packages and exclusive Sonoma Green Metallic paint.

Inside, the black five-seat cabin is familiar to anyone who’s seen the RS 5 Coupe cockpit; there are RS sport seats with optional honeycomb Nappa leather, flat-bottomed RS multifunction sports leather steering wheel, Alcantara knee pads, Audi virtual cockpit instruments, red seat belts and floor mats, and RS emblems and red contrast stitching everywhere.

Otherwise, Audi Sport’s newest RS 5 is as per the A5/S5 Sportback; there’s a sizeable 480 litres of luggage space under the large liftback (expanding to 1300 with the rear seatback folded).

Departing with tradition, the only catch is that — for now at least — the all-new RS 5 Sportback is destined only for North America and Canada, from the second half of this year.

Audi’s press release says “the model is currently not yet available for purchase in Germany or the EU”, indicating it will be. As such, we expect the RS 5 Sportback to join the $156,600 RS 5 Coupe and the circa-$155K RS 4 Avant, which arrives here in April, in Australia by the end of this year.

“The Audi RS 5 Sportback is more than just an international trade fair novelty,” said Audi Sport managing director Michael-Julius Renz.

“It offers something new to our customers. Our innovative interpretation of a five-door high-performance coupé has neither predecessor models, nor a direct competitor.