No Shortage of Power
Many words describe the new Audi RS 5, but slow is definitely not one of them. Revealed earlier this year, it packs a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 paired with an electric motor, giving it a total system output of 630 hp and 608 lb-ft of torque. It’s quick enough to hit 60 mph in around 3.5 seconds, so it’s no slouch.
That said, it’s quite a heavy car, and despite having over 100 horses more than the outgoing BMW M3, the RS 5 couldn’t quite keep up with its rival from Munich. Again, we wouldn’t call it tepid, but it does show the weight drawback of going for a plug-in hybrid arrangement. ABT Sportsline has a solution.
Audi
ABT Gets its Hands On One
ABT Sportsline is no stranger to making fast Audis even faster. It’s been in that business for decades, and it’s built some of the most desirable versions of S and RS Audi models ever made. From sticking 1,000 horsepower in an RS Q8 to giving the RS 7 the send-off it deserves, ABT can most definitely deliver.
Now, it’s gotten its hands on the RS 5 and RS 5 Avant. Perhaps it was inevitable, but we’re not complaining, especially after knowing what ABT did to it. Its latest creation is dubbed the RS 5-R, and let’s just say the changes are far more than cosmetic.
ABT Sportsline
Packing Heat
With the ABT Power S performance upgrade, it gives the RS 5-R a combined output of 709 hp and 668 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 79 hp and 60 lb-ft, which should be enough to, at the very least, finally match the outgoing M3. That’s largely thanks in part to the combustion engine getting more horses, from 503 hp to 583 hp.
Power is nothing without control, so ABT also fettled with the RS 5’s suspension. In-house springs are fitted to the car, along with a more aggressive set of anti-roll bars. It then rides on 22-inch forged alloy wheels, again, an in-house design. The car then gets a host of extra carbon fiber aero parts on the outside, and unique styling details on the inside. To remind everyone that this is no ‘ordinary’ RS 5, each one has a ‘1 of 130’ badge on the dash and door sills.
ABT Sportsline
How Much?
So, how much for all the upgrades, you ask? This special package is offered in both sedan and Avant (wagon) body styles. For the sedan, it goes for €62,000 or a little over $69,400, while the package for the Avant costs €65,000, approximately $72,800. If you’re wondering why it’s more expensive for the wagon, that’s because it gets extra carbon bits, among other things.
It certainly isn’t a cheap upgrade, but it goes beyond simply adding power to the car. At the same time, exclusivity has its price, and it’s the type of car that’ll get Audi fans and those in the know approving glances.
ABT Sportsline
ABT Sportsline
ABT Sportsline
ABT Sportsline
ABT Sportsline
About the author
Anton Andres
News Editor