Rumormill: Audi RS5 to get 4.2-liter V8 from RS4
The crew at Audi's quattro GmbH division remains hard at work. Now that the TT-RS is out in the open, the next assignment is the RS5. Given that the recently-introduced S4 features Audi's new, supercharged 3.0-liter V6, it might have been expected that the RS5 would get a higher output version of that engine. Another option might have been the 5.2-liter V10 that does service in the S6 and S8. Instead, it appears that a revised version of the 4.2-liter V8 from the last-generation RS4 will find its way into the coupe. In RS5 trim, the V8 is expected to crank out 450 hp with a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed S-Tronic gearboxes. In true Audi form, all the wheels will get driven all the time.
If the RS5 does indeed come to the party with a 450 hp V8 it may truly be a sign that the German horsepower wars are winding down. With CO2 limits coming to the EU, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
[Source: Automobile]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mazda FTW! 11:33AM (4/11/2009)
I dunno why but I find the prospect of vehicles like Focus RSs and Mazdaspeed2s more exciting than big, powerful coupes these days.
I guess those two latter cars are so much fun/should be fun (or so I'm told!) and yet so frugal, it makes it all that more enticing perhaps.
Either way the RS5 should be incredible.
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PJ 4:41AM (4/12/2009)
Probably has something to do with (in this case, anyway) the massive weight and tire-grinding understeer of current S4 and S5, which is hardly made better by shoehorning a V8 under the hood.
The horsepower wars are overrated--bring back the turbo V6 S4 of the early '00s and give us a car that handles.
Beastage 11:36AM (4/11/2009)
Hmm, I expected something newer, I'm not sure a revvy engine like the 4.2L v8 fits the RS5.
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zamafir 1:20PM (4/11/2009)
why not? it's audi's serious M3 coupe competitor, and last i checked, the M3 followed Audi's lead and dropped a high revving 420hp v8 in their car. Why not take the easy way out and reply with a more powerful high revving v8 as well?
MikeW 4:16PM (4/11/2009)
The high revving, multi-throttle engine concept makes sense for the BMW M family because they are rear drive.
With an experienced driver, you can tip in the throttle ever so precisely that you don't upset the chassis & exceed the traction limit for accelerating. (and the new double clutch transmission helps in that regard)
http://www.kenrockwell.com/bmw/images/m3-2007/m3-v8-hp.gif
If you have a four wheel drive car, like Audi [torsen3] Quattro, the power output can be more abrupt (less linear, not just in 2-d [full load] but 3-d [partial load] or 4-d [time response, accelerating/decelerating engine]).
With four wheel drive, you want lunge out of a corner (where the rear drive car is at a traction disadvantage), not top end. Enough to block the rear drive car from getting a run.
Personally I'd like so see Audi use the 3.0s from the A6 in the A5 (300hp coupe for $45k)
Add Audi Valvelift to the 4.2 V8, punch out the bore by using the 85.5mm pistons of the real 3.2 V6, for a 400hp S5 (60 grand $$)
then have a 500hp 5.3 liter V10 in the RS5 (lots of grand $$$)
But if Audi has a twin turbo V8 {4.0 V8, 455hp, 442ft-lbs} to rival BMW's twin turbo V8, then let the German engine wars continue. [preferably in flat-plane crank form]
HotRodzNKustoms 11:52AM (4/11/2009)
450hp is still a lot of horses.
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artandcolour 12:00PM (4/11/2009)
at first i thought the A5/S5 body was too curvy to be a true Audi-the voluptuous beltline character line especially. but now that i've seen a few around town, i'm sold. it's a gorgeous car. i'm sure these mods will only help sell that point even more.
it's odd though-these days 450hp just doesn't sound like too much, even though i'm of the opinion that a 200hp Hybrid is what we should all be driving...
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zamafir 1:21PM (4/11/2009)
indeed, the more i see them the more i agree with Da Silva's take on his car.
garagesalestick 1:18AM (4/12/2009)
ya, it looks so different than in photographs
ropeburn 12:21PM (4/11/2009)
this car doesn't need any more power, it's a beast.
a sexy beast!
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Smegley 12:27PM (4/11/2009)
Modern Audis have become as boring looking as 1980s Oldmobiles and Buicks. There is a mild attractiveness factor to the A5 but it still doesn't stand out as anything special given its cost. Yes, Audis make for a decent drive, but almost anyone can make a decent drive these days. I agree with MazdaFTW above that somehow the prospect of a small butt-kicking little whip like a Focus RS is way more appealing than the bloated fat overpriced oversized cram-a-big-engine-in-it luxmobiles anymore.
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smythe 12:08AM (4/12/2009)
"Modern Audis have become as boring looking as 1980s Oldmobiles" yeah the R8 really is boring looking.... give me a break.
Abe 12:44PM (4/11/2009)
One of the most attractive cars on the market today. Base A5 or high end RS5, all are amazing pieces of machinery and are equally beautiful.
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Randy915 7:52PM (4/11/2009)
Yeah it's too bad white doesn't show off the graceful lines of this beast.
wer 1:13PM (4/11/2009)
According to uk Car magazine, this is actually a twin-turbo charged V8. Sounds good to me either way
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coolremo 1:13PM (4/11/2009)
In the pictures the A5/S5 look good but not particularly special. But in person they look incredible. If you live in NYC, check out the Audi showroom on 45th and Park. Gorgeous.
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Igor 1:14PM (4/11/2009)
Give me the twin turbo v10 from the RS6 please :).
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Aloysius Vampa 1:33PM (4/11/2009)
Now /that/ is a motor!
Kaveh 2:24PM (4/11/2009)
the RS4 engine would sound nice in the coupe, it's just asking for more power.
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Trent 2:23PM (4/11/2009)
What do you think would be faster the new Audi V8 with the 4.2 or the BMW M3?
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