In its latest version, the 2022 Audi RS 5 Sportback combines stunning power, immense traction and daily-use practicality with a stylish five-door fastback coupe body featuring new elements and sharper details. Plus, it has a host of intuitive infotainment technologies that set the benchmark in its segment. Here are some fast facts about Audi’s latest Sportback:
1. It soars well above the common ‘hot hatch’
No less than UK’s The Sunday Times named the Audi RS 5 Sportback as Hot Hatch of the Year in its Motor Awards. The prestigious publication said a hot hatch “needs to be eminently usable for the weekly shop and school run but also able to set your pants on fire, if so desired… [the] Audi RS 5 Sportback does all that in spades.”
Chief factors that allow the Audi RS 5 Sportback such capabilities are a 2.9-liter, twin-turbo V6 TFSI engine producing 450 hp and 600 Nm; an eight-speed tiptronic transmission tuned for sportiness; Audi’s legendary quattro permanent all-wheel drive system; and the RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control.
2. It captures the spirit of the original Quattro
As conveyed by the iconic image of the original Quattro rally car in mid-flight, Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive technology soared in the World Rally Championship in the early 1980s. In the Audi RS 5 Sportback, the latest quattro soars to new heights as well by being able to vary power delivery between the front and rear axles. In normal driving, it distributes 40% of the power to the front and the rest to the rear. But its center differential can redirect up to 70% of the power toward the front, or up to 85% toward the rear, resulting in even more dynamic handling while constantly ensuring traction.
3. It looks sharper, more spectacular than ever
The Audi RS 5 Sportback is both sporty and elegant, thanks to its wave-like shoulder line and perfect proportions. Its flatter and wider Singleframe grille are flanked by Matrix LED headlights and pentagonal side air inlets, and is crowned by implied air vents. New sill trims and flared wheel arches are found on its sides, while the redesigned RS-specific bumper, lip spoiler, LED combination lamps and a diffuser mark the car’s rear end. Further sharpening up the aesthetics are the Black Optic trim package, and 20-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels that are available in matt bronze Peak Style, anthracite Flag Style, and five-segment-spoke Evo.
4. It offers new bespoke RS driving modes
The Audi RS 5 Sportback already provides three suspension and performance settings — comfort, auto and dynamic — which can be activated using Audi drive select. But on top of these are the new RS1 and RS2 driving modes. With these, the driver can configure — then save as personal performance preferences — engine and transmission management, steering boost, the quattro differential, and the sound emitted by the RS sport exhaust system via the Audi drive settings.
5. Its ‘RS monitor’ displays driving performance in real time
Serving as the centerpiece in the Audi RS 5 Sportback’s cabin is the new 10.1-inch MMI touch display that features acoustic feedback, a smartphone-like menu, and voice control. Besides audio and navigation functions, it also offers the “RS monitor” view that displays engine and transmission temperature, g-forces generated, and tire pressure and temperature. This is complemented by the 12.3-inch, high-resolution Audi virtual cockpit monitor that shows the RS mode information, as well as lap times and acceleration readouts, allowing the driver to track performance in real time, all the time.