new rs5

[vonbeck]

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=21547

[s2_bo]

I wonder how much drivetrain loss you get with all the fancy torque adjusters and such gizmos.

[varia]

automatic...

[bikerjim]

Im sure she still goes pretty well tho

[20vQC]

From the begining, I dislike the A5 model... I'd go better for a TT-RS, with our traditional 5pot turbo sound even if it has the crappy haldex on it.

[S2central.net]

Must admit I rather like it... I find the A5 shape looks so much better in the flesh than in photos. The steering wheel is pure gash though - straight off a bus or something - absolutely hideous and I won't be ordering one because of this. That and 70 thousand other reasons :-)

[Rusty]

Sounds silly but a 444bhp V8 just isn't enough when Merc are producing gawd knows what with the C63 and the M3's engine is regarded as the best V8 in that level of car. No USP in the engine department I can see, why is it not based on the new 3.0 supercharged engine? Beat AMG with one of their old tricks

Audi have dropped the baton here, its doubtful that it will measure up to the competition in terms of dynamics and desireability and it's old engine tech rather than new. That said, it'll be the fastest car thise side of a GT-R in the real world, point to point and is a style that I'm getting more excited by with age, not an instant hit like the latest TT or R8 though.

It's a shame Audi can't inject the same level of 'sell a kidney and yer Nan' desireability that the R8 has, into its 'lesser' models It's as though they're living in the post orgy lethargy of the quattro and have shot any load they have mustered since on the TT then R8 and forgotten about those who want bigger cars, as it says in the (automotive) bible:-

"LED running lights a design classic do not make."

[caterpillar]

rs5

i love this chassi.....
i cant wait for the test and try

[S2central.net]

TOtally agree with Rusty on this... as much as I like the looks of it - tis essentially yet another big expensive bland car from Germany kitted out with more technology than the space shuttle... it doesn't grab me by the go**** wanting to be just grabbed by the scruff of the neck and driven for sheer fun... Audi haven't built such a car for a very long time - well no thats not quite correct - they haven't built such a car that is affordable for anyone outside of the premiership football league, the stockmarket or other high rolling circles.

In truth Audi will never build a light, simple, fun and minimal sports car for lets say 25k... Its annoying as the formula is simple enough - 300bhp coupled with old school quattro, biased more to the rear as they have successfully done recently... all packaged into a low slung, sporty chassis that loves corners. Include some nice instruments and great seats in an otherwise stripped out interior and thats all is required. The nearest thing Audi have to this is the TTRS I suppose but its too heavy and carries too many gadgets for my liking. Lovely engine though - even if it is the wrong way round.

Even if they could build such a thing for 25k I still couldnt afford it, but if we desired it ohhh so badly like when the UR hit the scene all those years ago then it would have hit the mark with a car that has instant appeal as a proper drivers car - instead of yet another bloated, boring, bling machine from Germany with no soul. There I've said it - changed my mind - don't like it now I have thought all that through.

[Jamo]

Audi baffle me with engine choices I mean why not directly stick the RS6 bi-turbo V10 into it?

317 ft/lb...................... hmm must do better Audi!

[S2central.net]

It would still be boring Jamo... but it reminds me one spec for that 300bhp engine I forgot - give us 550Nm of torque - thats where the fun is... oh and good brakes are always nice. I'll raise the ante to 30k as well to give them some headroom ;-)

[Rusty]

@ us.

Better not forget that the B7 RS4 was the first Audi to beat the M3 in a head to head and the RS6 (recent model) was utterly, utterly bonkers

This one needed to showcase new technology, I bet Audi got in a panic about the competition having 8 cylinders and thought, 've must do ze same, ja!'

In terms of looks though, the A5 shape is a great rival to the 3 series coupe, if any of the electronics are still working in 15 years' time then it's a possibility

[Rusty]

It would still be boring Jamo... but it reminds me one spec for that 300bhp engine I forgot - give us 550Nm of torque - thats where the fun is... oh and good brakes are always nice. I'll raise the ante to 30k as well to give them some headroom ;-)

An engine that revs can be more exciting based on the fact that it requires some input from the driver (gear choice and big kahunas) but agreed that torque is generally required for a fast point-to-point car.

[S2central.net]

Yeah but how many RS4 or RS6 do you see actually on the roads - being driven by mere mortals with kids and a mortgage - and how often do they grab your bits with that 'oh yes I want one' feeling ?
Maybe its just old age

[dest]

The newest Audi that I WANT is the B5 RS4, nothing they have sold since has given me anything to get excited about.
Yes, that includes the R8 too!