Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Audi
Spy Shots: Audi RS5 spied undisguised in Death Valley
With the high-strung Audi RS5 looming large on the horizon, an entirely undisguised test mule has been spotted undergoing hot-weather testing in the infamous Death Valley in the southeastern United States. Picking up where the S5 left off, the test mule is wearing a new, more aggressive front end, which is expected to be matched around back by the time the model is unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next March.
While these spy shots give us a more accurate picture of what to expect from the M3-rivalling Audi super-coupe visually, there remains much debate and speculation over what will be providing the motivation. The same 4.2-liter V8 from the RS4 remains one solid possibility, with the potential for a power increase to 450 hp. Other reports suggest that, like Audi differentiated the RS6 from the S6, the RS5's V8 could gain a set of turbochargers. Meanwhile, a third possibility involves shoehorning in the V10 from the RS6, with or without the turbos. Which option makes most sense depends on how Audi views the positioning of the RS5: a two-door RS4, or two-door RS6, or a beefed up S5. They all make sense to us and we'll have to wait and see what turns up. Either way, we have a feeling we won't be disappointed.
[Source: TCC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SPG 1:39PM (8/21/2008)
Awesome looking car.
Now I finally like this model.
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2004m3driver 1:39PM (8/21/2008)
Wow, it actually doesn't look better than the normal S5. That new bumper is too busy looking for the rest of the clean looking car.
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Patrick 1:41PM (8/21/2008)
^I agree. The flared lower grilles are not very elegant. Plus, the rest of the body is an S5. Maybe they didn't put on the rest of the RS5 body panels, but an RS should have nice big flared wheel arches.
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R Muller 1:41PM (8/21/2008)
When did they move Death Valley to the southeast? I'll bet that was SOME job! LOL
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jjpg2000 1:46PM (8/21/2008)
Death Valley is in the South West, Nevada to be specific.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_valley
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MikeofLA 2:25PM (8/21/2008)
Really? In Nevada? Are you SURE about that? only about 5% of Death Valley National park is in Nevada.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=death+valley&ie=UTF8&ll=36.44338,-117.680054&spn=3.296326,7.03125&z=8
devil666 1:47PM (8/21/2008)
Wow love the front bumper! so menacing! to be honest, i dont think the braking hardware is up to scratch for the TTv10, maybe a NA version, but im gonna call a V8 thats naturally aspirated... but HP bump to match or beat Benz CLK63.... After all, its V8 wars! Im a little surprised the front bumper is so high off the ground! It almost looks like a Q5 in one of the pics....
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ken_aisin 1:52PM (8/21/2008)
This grill looks much better than the current version which has a black piece of plastic in the center.
A nice looking coupe overall.
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Matt 1:55PM (8/21/2008)
Agree with the comments about the front clip. Too busy. Wheels are awful too; hopefully this is just an engineering mule. It's also missing the trademark RS-oval exhaust outlets that the RS4 and RS6 have.
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koloth44 2:09PM (8/21/2008)
WANT WANT WANT!
For sale:
One kidney, lightly used.
One 2000 Pontiac, not so lightly used
One year indentured servitude by me (warning, I'll only have one kidney and no car)
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zamafir 9:28PM (8/21/2008)
I'm with you, the a5's pretty fun and the s5's a hoot, I can't wait to drive the rs5!
gear_shift 2:28PM (8/21/2008)
You can spot some side mounted intercoolers on those pictures.
I looks like it's going to have some kind of forced induction...
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gear_shift 2:29PM (8/21/2008)
*It looks
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In2uition 2:48PM (8/21/2008)
Nice Audi TT RS in the background of one of the pics.
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MONTE 3:00PM (8/21/2008)
I feel that all the S and RS cars should be turbo, and whether it's a V6, V8, or V10 is determined by the car it is in. Make this a twin turbo V8 and APR will having you knocking down stock RS6s no problem. I like the looks of this better than the RS6, but if I were buying one I wouldn't want a NA V8.
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Peter 3:06PM (8/21/2008)
if thats what the RS5 is going to look like, ill be very disappointed by the outcome.
the aggressive bumper does not match anything else on the car. the rs4 and rs6 both got fender flares, but how come the rs5 gets none of that? i hope the bumper and badges are not the only distinction between the S5 and RS5...but then again this is just a testmule, so nothings official or set on stone.
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Val 3:10PM (8/21/2008)
this si coming up nicely. Once they put on zhe proper body and wheels, it will look much better
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JGuan 3:20PM (8/21/2008)
Ugly rims. The rear end looks just like a BMW 1 Series, which is ugly as well.
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bedros 3:51PM (8/21/2008)
check out the pictures on the original source, and you'll find little intercooler behind the grill under the head light.
Turbo engine baby, yeah!!
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dwightB 3:59PM (8/21/2008)
I hate how damn tall the front end looks without the black break in the main grille... :(
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