Audi RS5
Is Audi's mighty new super coupe at last a successor to the original Quattro? We took a test drive to find out
The Audi Ur-Quattro has been reborn more times than Doctor Who – although unlike the Time Lord, the original has never been bettered! But that didn’t stop us getting our hopes up when Audi released specs for the all-new RS5 ahead of our drive in Issue 1,111. It features a 4.2-litre V8 that delivers 444bhp through a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox, plus rear-biased four-wheel drive with torque vectoring and an optional rear sport differential. A whole range of settings also allows you to tune everything from the steering and throttle response to the smoothness of the gearbox.
The conditions for our drive on the Ronda road near Malaga, Spain, were perfect – rain, mist and diesel on the surface made the going treacherous, while there were steep drops off the side of the tarmac to the valley below.
The RS5 powered through the greasy turns, its V8 providing searing pace and a gorgeous sound, while the complex 4WD let us put all the power to good use. And while we were disappointed that none of the settings added much involvement to the experience, we were impressed at how easy it was to go so quickly.
The conclusion? A very fast and very safe way of travelling. A Quattro reborn? Not quite – but then Audi already had that car up its sleeve.
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