RE: Audi RS5 facelifted for 2020

RE: Audi RS5 facelifted for 2020

Tuesday 10th December 2019

Audi RS5 facelifted for 2020

Coupe and Sportback go under the knife to better align with new RS6



With the new RS6 making waves on both sides of the Atlantic, Audi has rounded out its update process with a mild facelift of both the RS5 Coupe and Sportback. The 450hp, 442lb ft twin-turbo V6 remains, meaning performance is unchanged at 3.9 seconds to 62 and a top speed of 174 - should you cough up to have the limiter removed.

The exterior design and cabin though have both been overhauled for 2020. You'll still recognise them as RS5s, of course, but several aspects of the formula have been revised and refined. The Singleframe grille, for one, is wider and flatter, aping the appearance of the RS6 and RS7. The "implied air vents" - possibly the worst term for fake inlets yet - above are also carried over from other models in Audi's line-up, such as the new R8, and are said to be reminiscent of the iconic Sport quattro.

A new pentagonal design for the front bumper vents and optional matrix LED headlights complete the changes at the front. At the back, a new diffuser insert encloses redesigned tailpipes and we're told that the Audi and RS logos can both be blackened upon request. Exclusive to the coupe is a carbon roof with a carbon reinforced plastic structure which lowers the vehicle's weight by just under 4kg, while presumably lowering its centre of gravity as well.


Inside you get RS sport seats clothed in leather and Alcantara as standard, with fine Nappa leather items optional and an RS design package featuring red or grey accents available upon request. Elements such as the steering wheel - behind which you'll find new, larger aluminium shift paddles - and gear lever are also fitted with Alcantara covers sporting the same red or grey contrasting stitching.

The centrepiece of the new layout, though, is Audi's 10.1-inch MMI touch display. The free-standing screen certainly won't be to all tastes, but its superb resolution, excellent responsiveness and quality acoustic feedback make it one of the best setups available. When optioned up to MMI navigation plus, the RS monitor feature also provides information including drive temperature, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, and tyre temperature. The 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus and head-up displays remain optional.

Both revised RS5 models come on 19-inch wheels, with three variants of 20-inch rim - including gloss black and matt bronze options - available. Brakes are steel discs but, as usual, a carbon ceramic alternative can be fitted at extra cost. Sales of the newly updated cars are expected to begin shortly, with European pricing quoted as starting at €83,500 (around £70,000).


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Author
Discussion

GTEYE

Original Poster:

2,092 posts

209 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
So basically it’s a new sat nav screen. Yawn. Next...

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Wasn't there some sort of RS5 article a few weeks ago?

Chestrockwell

2,624 posts

156 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
I must say I find that absolutely stunning, I love the new rear lights and the more subtle new RS6 style bumper!

This will look very menacing in black

hxc_

382 posts

183 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Front looks worse. And that nav screen - tell me it goes down?

flatso

1,240 posts

128 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Why has Audi abandoned those retractable screens, it made their interiors so much classier. These stuck on tablets are absolutely horrendous looking and awful at night.

Shiv_P

2,724 posts

104 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Looks fantastic.

Demonix

479 posts

211 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Fast, capable but yet another inevitably bland Audi RS, all tech no soul, would rather have more steering and brake feedback than the host of digital displays these come with...

Baldchap

7,507 posts

91 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
I drove the current RS5 Sportback for about 3500 miles to Spain and back in August, 4-up with light luggage.

As a place to cover ground briskly and without drama, it's excellent. Comfy, massage seats as standard, Google-linked sat nav that actually works, great engine and a well matched gearbox. Even managed decent fuel economy.

Lovely place to be and a great car for fast distance work.

AussieFozzy

136 posts

127 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Someone please take the designers protractor away.

Gary29

4,131 posts

98 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
I like that, a lot. Both versions.

Sharon-coizu

89 posts

57 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Flat track bully. I had a brief close up of the front of one of these in my rear view mirror yesterday on the only long straight on the A386 followed by a long study of its rear end through the twisty bits. I only lost touch with it when its owner decided 50mph was an appropriate speed past a primary school at 3:30...

nunpuncher

3,364 posts

124 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Never even realised there was an RS5.

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
article said:
Exclusive to the coupe is a carbon roof with a carbon reinforced plastic structure which lowers the vehicle's weight by just under 4kg, while presumably lowering its centre of gravity as well.
A whole 4kg ?

Impressive but folding the rear seats probably lowers the CoG more... getmecoat

Baldchap

7,507 posts

91 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Sharon-coizu said:
Flat track bully. I had a brief close up of the front of one of these in my rear view mirror yesterday on the only long straight on the A386 followed by a long study of its rear end through the twisty bits. I only lost touch with it when its owner decided 50mph was an appropriate speed past a primary school at 3:30...
A crap driver doesn't mean a car is crap.

Sharon-coizu

89 posts

57 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
A crap driver doesn't mean a car is crap.
This is true but I can't help noticing that the car too close up my chuff used to have a blue propeller but these days tends to have 4 rings.

Baldchap

7,507 posts

91 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Sharon-coizu said:
Baldchap said:
A crap driver doesn't mean a car is crap.
This is true but I can't help noticing that the car too close up my chuff used to have a blue propeller but these days tends to have 4 rings.
I find it's any repmobile diesel or, moreso of late, suspiciously clean pickup trucks.

Carl_Manchester

12,103 posts

261 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
Baldchap said:
Sharon-coizu said:
Flat track bully. I had a brief close up of the front of one of these in my rear view mirror yesterday on the only long straight on the A386 followed by a long study of its rear end through the twisty bits. I only lost touch with it when its owner decided 50mph was an appropriate speed past a primary school at 3:30...
A crap driver doesn't mean a car is crap.
In the UK, this car is an absolute tool mobile. Outside of UK, no problem.

AussieFozzy

136 posts

127 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
catso said:
article said:
Exclusive to the coupe is a carbon roof with a carbon reinforced plastic structure which lowers the vehicle's weight by just under 4kg, while presumably lowering its centre of gravity as well.
A whole 4kg ?

Impressive but folding the rear seats probably lowers the CoG more... getmecoat
Fold the seats down and have a poo for the exact same results.

A1VDY

3,575 posts

126 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
Another angry and depressing looking fast version of the classic rep mobile.
Just what is it with this strangled hideous frontal look which seems to have taken over.
As for that screen.. ffs just mount a 40'' flat screen in there and be done with it.. 🤣

Baldchap

7,507 posts

91 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
AussieFozzy said:
catso said:
article said:
Exclusive to the coupe is a carbon roof with a carbon reinforced plastic structure which lowers the vehicle's weight by just under 4kg, while presumably lowering its centre of gravity as well.
A whole 4kg ?

Impressive but folding the rear seats probably lowers the CoG more... getmecoat
Fold the seats down and have a poo for the exact same results.
Motorbikes, so apologies, but this reminds me of a bloke I used to work with who bought a (for arguments sake) 2006 ZX6R brand new. The year after he replaced it with a 2007. When I asked why he'd bought what was essentially an identical bike, he told me it was because it was 2kg lighter. rolleyes

The guy couldn't see his fking feet, let alone his knob! eek