In a world where emissions standards are stricter than a top athlete's diet, Audi has taken the electrification route. The new Audi RS5 Avant is a technological marvel that runs on electricity, but in its trunk hides a shameful secret that would anger even the most sedate owner of a Cotswold mansion.
If Jeremy Clarkson were standing in front of the new Audi RS5 Avant today, he would probably say: “It’s like ordering the world’s biggest steak and then realizing you don’t have a fork to eat it.” The new RS5 Avant is a paradox on four wheels. It’s wider, longer and more aggressive than the legendary RS4 it replaces, but it also suffers from a problem familiar to anyone who’s ever tried to cram too many ski pants into a small suitcase.
Heart of the Beast – Audi RS5 Avant: Six Cylinders and an Electric Backpack
Fortunately, the 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is still revving under the hood, which is a real treat in a world where Mercedes-AMG is putting its models on a four-cylinder diet. But this time it's helped by electricity. It's a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that puts out a whopping 600 hp (441 kW) and enough torque to probably move a small hill.
Performance is, as befits an Audi Sport, astronomical. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) takes just 3.5 seconds, and top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), with the option of increasing to 290 km/h (180 mph) if you pay extra for a package that gives you a quicker way to the stop.
“The new Audi RS5 Avant is like a top sprinter who has to carry a 20-kilogram weight on his back. It’s faster than ever, but we wonder when it will get tired.”
Trunk problem: Where to put the shopping bags?
And here comes the irony. The Audi RS5 Avant is 4,896 mm long (115 mm more than the RS4) and 1,952 mm wide. It's massive. But the huge 25.9 kWh battery (22 kWh usable) mounted in the rear makes the luggage compartment... well, small.
The new model offers only 361 liters of volume. For comparison: the old RS4 had 495 liters. Even the small Audi A3 has more luggage space! If you fold the rear seats, you get 1,302 liters of space, which is still significantly less than the 1,495 liters offered by its predecessor. So if you're planning a family trip to the Alps, the kids will probably have to carry the spare tire on their laps.
Technology and the Brutal Mass
The car weighs a whopping 2,370 kg (5,225 pounds). That's more than some smaller planets. And while Audi claims the weight is imperceptible thanks to the clever quattro all-wheel drive and advanced chassis, physics is no joke. But there's a bright side: you can drive up to 87 kilometers (54 miles) on pure electric power. That means you can drive to work as quietly as a ninja, then charge home like a wounded bull.
Technical data in the palm of your hand: Audi RS5 Avant
- Engine: 2.9 V6 Twin-Turbo + E-motor
- Power: 600 hp (441 kW)
- Torque: More than 800 Nm (590 lb-ft)
- Battery: 25.9 kWh (gross)
- EV range: up to 87 km (54 miles)
- Weight: 2,370 kg
Interior: Digital Cathedral
Inside, you're greeted by a sea of screens. Audi has done away with most physical buttons, which is a bit sad for those of us who like the feel of real machinery. Everything is digital, from the dashboard to the passenger's screen, which can now watch Netflix while you're speeding down the highway. The design is sterile but impeccably crafted - like an operating room you'd dare to eat lunch in.
Conclusion: Is this still the king of fast wagons?
New Audi The RS5 Avant is a beautiful machine. Its exterior with wide flanks and aggressive air intakes (similar to those on the RS6 GT) It's downright "crazy." It's proof that Audi doesn't want to kill the gasoline engine just yet, but is just giving it an electric boost.
It's true that the boot is smaller and the car is heavier than the average mansion, but once you step on the gas pedal and feel the brutal power of the hybrid system, you won't care about the liter numbers in the boot. The price will probably start somewhere around 110,000 EUR, which is a lot of money for a car with less boot space than the Golf, but for that money you get a ticket to a world where you are the king of the left lane. Audi has created a monster that may have gone to the gym a little too much, but there's still that good old spark of madness in its eyes.
