Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini
Enter the Rumormill: Audi RS5 may get detuned Gallardo V10
The Audi A5 was unveiled at Geneva to much fanfare, and within 30 seconds of pictures hitting the net the elegant coupe was been surrounded by rumors. We knew the S5 was part of the package, but since the newest Audi had two doors, cabrio conjecture wasn't far behind. Perhaps the most anticipated A5 talked about is an RS version, which could include either the high-revving 420-hp 4.2L V8 found in the RS4, or the Lamborghini-sourced 5.2L V10 found in the S6 and S8.
The scribes over at World Car Fans point out that the RS version typically one-ups AMG and BMW M cars, and with a 480-hp CLK out there, the Gallardo V10 would make a nice trump card. We're inclined to agree with that hypothesis, since Audi already has the powerplant in the corporate parts bin, and there isn't much tuning necessary to get it back up to 500 HP. Audi has also shown just how serious it is about keeping a power edge against RWD competitors after it had the lug nuts to slap twin-turbochargers on the V10 destined for the RS6 Avant. Either way, Audi is no longer interested in being an also-ran in the luxury market, and big-horsepower coupes will only make the brand that much more appealing to enthusiasts.
[Source: World Car Fans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
pedantic 5:12PM (11/12/2007)
They should use the 580 hp V10 TFSI from the RS6 Avant.
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Yaroukh 5:12PM (11/12/2007)
Well, I feel like VAG is quite raping the Lamborghini.
Yes, I know Audi have almost build the new Lambos, but anyways, they're playing with Lambo-parts like it was LEGO.
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pedantic 5:19PM (11/12/2007)
VAG is very good at dipping into the parts bin. The Gallardo's V10 is one of the few high horsepower engines that VAG has. That makes it the engine of choice for all these new high horsepower Audi's. The other choices would be the V12 in the Murciélago, or the W12 based on the VAG VR6.
Maybe we will see another a new VAG developed engine in the future for the Gallardo's replacement.
theSAWzall 5:45PM (11/12/2007)
Actually I have new respect for the Lambo engines. If Audi is comfortable to use them and even turbocharge them, then they must be quite reliable. Germans typically have a higher demand for reliability than Italian do.
500 10:28PM (11/12/2007)
"...they're playing with Lambo-parts like it was LEGO."
Haha this is the image that comes to mind:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/tractorri-lamborghini-mustang/484506/
nagmashot 1:36AM (11/13/2007)
@padentic
there are not many car producer that can play around with such a wide range of high power engines as VAG
4.2l V8 420hp n/a
4.2l V8 450hp TT
(based on the high rev 4.2l V8 for the new RS4 and most likely the RS5 powerpack)
4.2l V8 450-480hp TT from the old RS6
5.0l V10 500-530hp n/a
5.2l V10 TFSI 450-510hp n/a
5.2l V10 TFSI 580hp TT
6.75l V8 510hp
6.0l W12 420-600hp n/a and TT
6.2l V12 580hp n/a
6.4l V12 640hp n/a
8.0l W16 1001hp quad turbo
4.2l V8 TDI 326hp
5.0l V10 TDI 340hp
6.0l V12 TDI 500hp
The Lamborghini V10 was developt under the lead of Audi, rumors claim that it is based on Audi´s 4.2l V8.. both engines shares exactly the same bore and stroke
Grant Kain 5:14PM (11/12/2007)
"after it had the lug nuts to slap twin turbochargers..."
Now that's good Autoblog writing!
Helped to muffle my case of the Mundays...
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testa di cazzo 5:16PM (11/12/2007)
500 hp in a midsize coupe? isn't this getting a bit out of hand? I mean 85% of people out there wouldnt even be able to control 500 hp in a midsize coupe... the RS4's 420hp is plenty! add a twin-turbo to that and get your 450hp and 500 ftlb and be happy with it!
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Toy Yoda 5:27PM (11/12/2007)
I can't wait til we get to 10,000 HP.
Yaroukh 5:22PM (11/12/2007)
???
I wasn't saying the engine is bad.
Yaroukh 5:23PM (11/12/2007)
???
I wasn't saying the engine is bad.
Random Task 5:20PM (11/12/2007)
MONNNNNNNNNNNNUUUUUUUUUUMENTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Yaroukh 5:24PM (11/12/2007)
pedantic: ???
I wasn't saying the engine is bad.
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Yaroukh 5:55PM (11/12/2007)
theSAWzall: er, the problem must be in my poor English :)
what I'm trying to say is that VAG/Audi treats Lambo like "slightly better premium" brand, which is way below what lambo IMO should be
when Audi participated on development of the new Lambos I had no problem with that (like I was wealthy enough to complain :)), but now it seems like the parts Lambo has from Audi (or Audi developed for Lambo) were only borrowed to Lamborghini
in my eyes Lambo was always above Ferrari, but it is slowly changing
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Random Task 6:01PM (11/12/2007)
Why would anyone ever think Lambo was above Ferrari? What heritage does Lamorghini have? Tractors? They never raced a day in their life, and their most iconic car (OK, the Muira is fantastic), the Countach became a parody of 80s excess. I would take a Ferrari any day over a Lambo, and I assumed most enthusiasts were simialr?
Yaroukh 6:20PM (11/12/2007)
Random Task: for me the Lamborghini was always more exotic and exclusive automaker (regardless of the lack of sport or heritage)
Peter 2:33PM (11/13/2007)
@Yaroukh
''for me the Lamborghini was always more exotic and exclusive automaker (regardless of the lack of sport or heritage)''
More exclusive!!!!? Their technology is being used by vw/audi (chases, engine, aerodynamics, etc.). On the other hand nobody uses Ferrari technology. One of a kind. It's called exclusivity.
SphinX 6:23PM (11/12/2007)
I'm really looking forward to Lambo's future models. The Reventon is wicked and Embolado looks crazy too. Italian madness and German engineering, the best breed of cars.
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MikeW 7:23PM (11/12/2007)
Transmissions first.
Isn't the A5/S5 still waiting for the 7 speed double clutch?
The engine the in the S5 makes more power than the old RS4 engine did from 0-4500 rpm
http://gallery.audiworld.com/gallery/album302/S5070018_medium?full=1
http://gallery.audiworld.com/gallery/album119/RS4050023?full=1
and isn't the V6 in the A4/5 now up to a real 3.2 liters 85.5mm bore x 92.8mm stroke? Scale that to 10 cylinders, 5.3 liters, with the Audi Valvelift System, 500hp@7500, 400ft-lbs@2500-5000.
Plug that into a beefed up 7 speed DSG, call it a day.
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zamafir 7:31PM (11/12/2007)
Oh how i wish we could get past the pedantic of arguing about the V10. It's not a direct swap from Lamborghini, they share very few parts, and they aren't even the same degree of offset between the banks, well they aren't even in regards to design – in short every major factor one might identify to distinguish two engines show no parity between the two.
Now. Having recently had some dedicated track time with the RS4, S4 and S5, I can easily answer an emphatic “yes please” to the rhetorical of 500hp being nestled in the S5’s front end. It’d be a hoot. I doubt they’d sell too many, but who cares.
I don’t care either way, I’d rather have the V6 TDI.
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