Audi fans will be in for a special treat come the 2009 Detroit Motor Show when the RS5 goes live to the public for the first time, many months after spy photos and renderings have long been doing the rounds. Although the RS5 will bare it all for the media world to see on January 11, 2009, US lovers of everything RS will have to make do with only this version for a while. That’s because Audi says the RS6 won't be heading for American dealerships, thanks to exceptionally stringent emissions laws Stateside.
“We had thought perhaps that it would be possible,” said RS6 project manager Jens Koch, “given America's preference for the four-door version instead of the Avant, but the work required on the V10 powertrain to meet the emissions goals hurt the business case.”
Not to worry though, the RS4 will join the RS5 on US dealer floors in the not too distant future. Also the probability of the TT RS playing a supporting role is high, given the pocket rocket roadster’s relatively lower proposed CO2 emissions. Hopefully by the time RS7 also rolls around, the V10’s emissions goals will be attained.
Audi RS5 Headed for 2009 Detroit Motor Show
RS4 follows shortly thereafter
Automedia / Audi RS5 spied
Comments
racsozelev
September 17, 2008 10:26 AM
if this is such a beautiful car, how come they made such a boring thing with the A4?. too bad american fans cannot get the RS6.
swifthead
September 17, 2008 10:27 AM
huh RS5 with V10 TT engine from the RS6 would be a stunning idea. Imagine RS5 with 500hp and 4x4....reminds on a Nissan GT-R car! Hopefuly thinking that this would be alternative to Japanese Godzilla!
The_woo_factor
September 17, 2008 11:28 AM
I am salivating with all the RS monsters coming out soon! I cannot wait!!!!!
pousa13
September 17, 2008 4:28 PM
how boring...every RS model looks exactly the same. when i look at the tt-rs pics it shows the same front fascia. The same on the RS6. in my oppinion - boring!
danat86
September 17, 2008 4:38 PM
every M that is coming out looks the same as well. I prefer RS over M any time
wisp
September 17, 2008 6:58 PM
Guys be frank and fair with youyrselves on the Rs's This RS5 is ugly. The S5 looks alot better than this duck face...and it's true that the bumper on the TT Rs is exactly the same as this (same suasage differnt lenth theory). Walter design has started to get thin. This design has been abused and as such the Audi Design bar the R8 and the S4/A5 (forget the RS5)are starting to age very quickly i.e. the A4 looks aged already.
Viva S5 and R8, away withthe rest.
RS5
September 18, 2008 12:14 AM
I must agree that the S5 is much more coherent looking and handsome than this RS5. This car is overdone.
out4ride
September 18, 2008 1:28 AM
U guys miss the point. All S will look alike and all RS will too. Whats wrong with it? Audi has a lot models coming out they have to keep common sense. If the design is so bad then why many companies follow it in some way (mitsubishi,nissan,chrysler,ford,suzuki)?
wisp
September 18, 2008 9:25 AM
U can not honestly for one second believe that Nissan, Ford, Mitsubishi and others are following Audi's design. I know you meant the grill. Nissan,Ford and Mitsubishi are maybe using the same design on the grill but theirs is a very different grill to Audi's. Remember that these grills are not new but look very simillar to those used on cars i.e. the first ford car. You can't finger Audi and say that they are the pioneers of this grill design and that they thenselves do not copy design cues from other car makers of which they do i.e. compare the A4's side prifile to the 3 series. Compare the last A4's lower bumper design to one of the Hyundais - same fog lights same vent designs and even Merc copies from it's german rivals as does BMW (Flame design)from the Alfa's (side profile).
The point raised on the RS5 is why have they made it look ugly compared to the very neat very good looking S5? I honestly have never seen an AMG or 'M' BMW beaten on looks by their lower versions. People pay a premium not only on performance gains but the looks as well. I sure hope this RS5 will look better than that test mule.
IpsesNipse
September 18, 2008 10:06 AM
Were they not gonna put a twinturbo V6 instead of a bulky V10? Or do i remember wrong. And why does it srill have the exhausts from the S5? And its not gonna have twin turbos if it has the V10. I think the V10 is way too big for this car, not too powerful, there is no such thing as too powerful. But i think the twinturbo V6 would have been more suitable for this car.
illest813
September 18, 2008 5:44 PM
Aside from all the aesthetic arguments, does anyone know if this will hit US shores earlier now? The original estimate was around 2011 since every RS goes in production for 2 years, the rs6 taking up the time spot till then. But now that it seems they are pushing things up, will we be seeing this car any time sooner?
ghent2008
September 19, 2008 4:28 PM
Audi is still living in the past! A V10? You must be kidding me. With Global Warming a dead serious issue, the solution should be Turbo Direct Injection, not more cylinders. Unless you want us all to live under water, when the ice melts away.
metatron
September 19, 2008 6:58 PM
This car is a engineering marvel and surpasses BMW in nearly every respect especially total build quality. BMW is years behind in the quality of interior materials and cant offer anything as perfect for the same money or even close. This is a car for someone who is beyond brand loyalty and goes for perfection not two steps back.
peterjames7
September 22, 2008 9:52 AM
love it, i do believe that it could have had a bit more of a styling change to the outside but i love these cars, so nice to drive as well. only problem is that most drivers of the a5 that ive seen in europe and australia are generally really old. may be that explains some of the restraint on the rs5 due to the customer demographic. who knows.
wisp
September 22, 2008 10:54 AM
The A5 or S5 is a beautiful car i agree (on looks alone). On the claim that it is light years AHEAD of BMW in the engineering dept is far fetched. The A/S5 was lauded by the world for looks alone. On performance, the 335i 'licks' the Audi by miles. BMW's 335i mind you punches way above it's weight and to prove it and not make empty claims, it's engine has won the internatioal engine of the year twice in a row.
Please let's not spoil the A/S5's achievements by stating that it is a better engineered car than BMW's 335i. You'll start to sound like Ron Dennis Quantum leap that never materialises.
Audinator
October 3, 2008 8:29 AM
Yeah, you heard what gunther said. You are an asshole BMW owner. FACK OFF!!!
gunther
September 23, 2008 11:18 AM
Why.....Why are you talking about something thats not even available....all the pics are not the real thing. I do not understand why BMW fans even talk here, this is for Audi Fans......please hold your horses untill it arrives next year.
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