Audi RS5 : First Drive

Slick, suave and sophisticated, the all new Audi RS 5 is a beast in gentleman's clothing. Vikram Gour took it for a spin only to get addicted to the wheel!

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Germany lies a company that most of us haven’t heard about, namely, quattro GmbH (yes, they spell quattro in lower case). The name has a familiar ring to it as ‘quattro’ is a throwback to the all-wheel drive technology pioneered by Audi AG. That just so happens to be the relationship between the two companies, in fact quattro GmbH is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Audi AG and they have a special focus which is solely dedicated to the design, testing and production of specialist high performance Audi automobiles. Amongst these special vehicles lies the bloodline of the RS models.

 

Taken from the German word RennSport, which translates to ‘racing sport’, the RS models are basically highly customized Audi cars that now boast of some serious power. In essence, the RS models are based on conventional sedans therefore they are capable of offering you the delight of everyday driving, yet when you feel the need, it is just a matter of stomping on the gas pedal to be reminded of the enormous potential packed under the hood. The nature of these cars places them on a different pedestal amongst enthusiasts for they also possess the latest and most advanced of Audi technologies. After all with great power comes great responsibility and if you are in the business of making an RS model, then you want to ensure that everything is just perfect. The latest torchbearer to the RS line is the RS 5 Coupe which is built on a tradition dating back to over 15 year and its lineage goes right down to the RS 2 Avant. Now available in India, the RS 5 is a four wheeled testimony to this purebred bloodline and truly lives up to being a beast in gentleman’s clothing. 

 

It’s love at first sight, for the RS 5 boasts of an amazing stance that screams pure thoroughbred muscle. The swooping roofline customary to coupes, the clear cut stretched metal lines, accentuated surfaces, the flared wheel arches, its single frame grille done up in a glossy gray rhombus pattern, the large air intakes in the lower bumper and of course the quintessential Audi headlights and LED daytime running lights all come together to offer you a visual treat that not only is strikingly good looking but also is a throwback to  classic Audi lines that first appeared in the 1980s on the legendary Audi quattro.

Look at the RS 5 from the rear and here too you will find clues that this is no ordinary coupe. The two oval exhaust pipes which are integrated into the rear bumper dominate the visual appeal. Enhancing this is the large diffuser that sticks out rather prominently upwards, and of course there is the spoiler that automatically extends once the car reaches 120km/h.