Audi is preparing to reintroduce the RS 5 Sportback, a high-performance sedan that has been absent from its lineup for nearly 20 years. Serving as the sleek, aggressive sedan version of the beloved RS 4, the RS 5 Sportback is set to top Audi’s all-new A5 family.The wait is almost over, with spy shots capturing the prototype undergoing rigorous testing in Europe. The test mule, cloaked in eye-catching vinyl camouflage, provides only a glimpse of the sharp, muscular body that will soon be revealed. However, one thing is already clear: the new RS 5 Sportback will deliver the kind of aggressive styling that Audi Sport fans expect from the brand’s high-performance line. Performance gets a makeover with a fresh design The all-new Audi RS 5 Sportback is built on Volkswagen Group's latest Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, tailored for both gasoline and hybrid powertrains. Unlike its predecessor, which offered coupe and convertible variants, the new RS 5 Sportback is available exclusively in liftback and wagon (Avant) body styles, a response to shifting market demand. Key visual and performance cues set the RS 5 apart from the standard A5 and S5 models. The wide fenders, oversized air intakes, cross-drilled brake rotors, and cutouts for the iconic RS oval exhaust tips leave no doubt this is a high-performance machine. While the current prototype may feature temporary exhaust fittings, the final version will carry Audi Sport’s signature design elements, including an aggressive black Singleframe grille, beefy wheel arches, and distinct side skirts. Chassis enhancements ensure the RS 5 sits lower than its A5 siblings, and the car’s aerodynamic design features include a discreet rear lip spoiler and exclusive bumpers. Combined with muscular shoulders and five-spoke alloys, the exterior styling clearly signals that this RS 5 Sportback means business. Audi's designers have crafted a model that could give the Mercedes-AMG C 63 and BMW M3 serious competition in the high-performance luxury segment. Hybrid engine set to deliver a major power upgrade Reports suggest that the upcoming Audi RS 5 Sportback and RS 5 Avant will have an electrified future with an updated version of the familiar 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. This new iteration is expected to be more powerful, efficient, and environmentally friendly, thanks to the integration of plug-in hybrid technology. While Audi has remained tight-lipped on the official specs, the hybrid powertrain is expected to deliver a significant increase over the current model's 444 horsepower. The addition of one or more electric motors could push the RS 5’s output closer to its competitor, the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance, which produces a staggering 671 horsepower. Some believe the RS 5 might even aim for the coveted 700-horsepower mark, positioning it as a serious contender in the high-performance hybrid market. Sportback set for US debut, but will the Avant join?With Audi Sport likely to unveil the all-new RS 5 Sportback and Avant models next year, there's still plenty of time to uncover additional details. For now, fans will have to wait, with more prototype sightings expected in the coming months. The Audi RS 5 Sportback is almost certain to hit the US market, though uncertainty surrounds whether its wagon sibling, the RS 5 Avant, will make the same journey across the Atlantic. Currently, Audi offers the larger RS 6 Avant in the US, but with the 2025 model year expected to be its final run, there may be room for the RS 5 Avant—if Audi decides to bring it stateside. Audi is set to fill the gap left by the RS 6 with an electric RS 6 Avant E-Tron and a plug-in hybrid RS 7 Avant.
