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I have had money down on an RS5 for 3 years. But the car hasn't brought a lot of change, nor pushed any of my hot buttons. Take the highlights from the press release:

• 450hp and 430Nm is hardly something to get excited for these days. RS4 unveiled five years ago had 420hp and (roll of drums...) 430Nm. Another 10 years and we might see, say, 480hp and 430Nm. That type of output is still less than Merc C63 pushed out 3 years ago.
  
  New trick diff and DSG are fine. I'm certain they will help the RS5 make the numbers on the 'Ring (some claim sub 8:00) but it will put one more layer of gremlins between driver and car. Gone are the heroic heel 'n toe downshifts, the bowel-contracting mid-range torque of old, and the highly predictable ESP-off moments in the rain and snow.
  
  It claims low consumption figures, but frankly I don't give a toss. If I wanted to flatter my green conscience (well, if I had one in the first place) I'd drive a Polo 1.1, not an RS that will potter along in 7th gear at 20mph.
  
  All of Audi's hype around new-found sportiness and lightweight... 1725kg, for god's sake! And Audi has often been on the optimistic side with its weight claims. No amount of high revving can compensate for high weight and modest torque. This is old-style M3, not RS recipe.
  
  As for the looks, it lacks the presence of, say, the RS6. All very subtle and neat, too much so in my view. Lack of signature RS wheels is annoying. This being said, I know they need to be seen in the flesh for a proper impression.
  
  77k Euros (£68k at today's rates) is steep. A lot steeper than the RS4 was, and a lot more than M3, C63, GT-R etc. What for?

Finally, rumours have it that the next M3 will be turbocharged (like M5, X5M, X6M). What an irony.

I've been a big fan of Audi over the years, with one S3, 2 S4s, 3 RS4s (two B5s and now a B7); this is no brand bashing. I feel let down, victim of a bunch of nerds in the marketing department who hold the good Quattro engineers in a dark German dungeon.

End of rant. Had to get this out of my system.

feelou wrote:
End of rant. Had to get this out of my system.

Good rant, and I can see where you are coming from.
The UK price is £57.5k, but of course we have to see the detailed price list to see what the average car will cost - I suspect £62k, against the average of £55k (correct me if I am wrong!) for an RS4.

Good points and to some what I agree with you, TBH I was expecting any thing ground breaking regarding the new RS5 however the transmission does sounds good.

Did you loose much on the deposit then? Im taking it your not going ahead then with the buy? (I would rather by the new RS6).

Totally agree, what a let down. It's as if Brussells had a firm hand in this car. What a mistake me thinks. Have Audi lost their way?

must admit i really thought there was going to be a couple of blowers bolted to this engine at least so i do see where you are coming from.

looks like an A5!!

Then after they are going to sell a lot of RS5, they will come with a 5.2 bi-turbo, same as they did with the R8.

In my opinion the earlier RS6 was better than the new one (even if the new one has a stunning look!), because of the turbos on an engine that already produced 300, 335, 340, 344, 360hp on previous non turbo models.
So I'm wondering if they are doing things correctly... because it's like Porsche with those liquid cooled engines, in 1998 on the 911 966 they had 3.4L 300hp, then 3.6L 320hp, and today, 3.6L 325hp or 3.8L (for the S models) 360hp... They should all develop more than 400hp!

Let me tell you that a Porsche 3.6L with 430hp (non turbo) would have approx 120hp per liter like the Honda s2000, and they are 100hp under this!
So with an 4.2 V8 this would equal to 500hp!

But hey, maybe they think the customers aren't that picky and that fancy wheels, a GPS that speaks, and massage seat is what they are all looking for, so why would they make more powerful cars.

karl wrote:Totally agree, what a let down. It's as if Brussells had a firm hand in this car. What a mistake me thinks. Have Audi lost their way?

cashing in on the RS brand i would say.

its an S5 with some trick bits, and a a big price.

one word summary?

fugazi.

jonathonturner wrote:

karl wrote:Totally agree, what a let down. It's as if Brussells had a firm hand in this car. What a mistake me thinks. Have Audi lost their way?

cashing in on the RS brand i would say.

its an S5 with some trick bits, and a a big price.

one word summary?

fugazi.

You hit the nail on the head there.

Totally agree, the RS5 is just a marketing exercise and anyway thought they only did even numbers in odd generations, maybe someone can't count.

Not a fan of the A5 and really don't think it deserves an RS variant. The photos really don't make me think wow, more aren't Audi desperate to cash in..

I have a deposit down too but it is 100% refundable. I was hoping for a similar 4.2 biturbo lump similar to my RS6 which I love and also have easy tuning potential!

I will await seeing it in the flesh but the price is making me rethink.

Steve

SteveCuz wrote: Easy tuning potential!

The only real downside to NA engines. however I am interested in seeing the twin intakes and hearing it at full chat!

C-24 wrote:Then after they are going to sell a lot of RS5, they will come with a 5.2 bi-turbo, same as they did with the R8.

The engine bay of the A5/RS5 is smaller than the engine bay of an R8, and the V10 won't fit.

Fingers crossed I'll be in Geneva at the show in the next couple of weeks so I'll be sure to take lots of pics of the RS5 for you lot to work at.

I shan't be trading up my RS4 for it anyway.