- Audi never considered reducing the size of the RS5’s engine.
- The automaker considered a non-plug-in hybrid version early in the RS5’s development but decided against it.
- The non-plug-in hybrid version is still quite weighty.
The new Audi RS5 debuted a few weeks ago, and from the start, we were confident it would retain its V6 engine—and it did. While some automakers are downsizing engines in their performance models, such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi never even considered a four-cylinder engine for the RS5.
Rolf Michl, managing director of Audi Sport, notified Edmunds that the company isn’t thinking about downsizing the RS5’s engine “for even a second.” The automaker did consider a non-plug-in hybrid RS5 early in development but decided against it after using a plug-in prototype.
Photo by: Audi
According to Steffen Bamberger, Audi’s head of research and development, the weight savings are not great enough to justify the limitations of the hybrid-electric version. Bamberger told the publication that “a range of six miles is not a realistic proposition for customers,” considering HEV systems can weigh up to 330 pounds.
Audi also has no plans to offer a non-hybrid version in the United States. Developing a new powertrain for a single market is a “huge challenge,” Michl said.
The RS5 is equipped with a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with an electric motor. The total system produces 630 horsepower and 608 pound-feet of torque with a curb weight of 5,225 pounds, 1,378 more than its predecessor. Audi claims the car can run from zero to 62 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds.
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Source: Audi
Motorcycle Pickup1: It’s nice that Audi didn’t follow Mercedes-Benz’s lead and downsize the RS5’s engine. This is not what enthusiasts want, but they also reject electrification and the impacts it brings. The RS5 is heavy and powerful, just like its competitors.
