Quattro - Audi's Neckarsulm-{based|based mostly|primarily based} {performance|efficiency} division - {recently|just lately|lately|not too long ago} expanded its RS portfolio in South Africa with the addition of the RS5 Sportback and the RS4 Avant. We {got|acquired|bought|obtained|received} behind the wheel of the latter {to find|to search out|to seek out} out {whether|whether or not} {you should|it is best to|it's best to|you must|you need to} consider it over its coupe and station wagon siblings. Does it {offer|provide|supply} the {best of|better of} {both|each} variants? We {don't like|do not like|don't love}: Doesn't {quite|fairly} land that knockout blow, dynamic steering {is not|is just not|isn't|just isn't|shouldn't be|will not be} {the most|essentially the most|probably the most} direct. {Check out|Take a look at|Try} full specification {details|particulars} and finance estimates {here|right here}. Some Audi {dealers|sellers} {regularly|commonly|frequently|often|recurrently|repeatedly|usually} {offer|provide|supply} specials: Have look {here|right here}. Where does it {fit in|slot in}? Is there a {more|extra} {appropriate|acceptable|applicable} {colour|color} for an Audi RS {model|mannequin} than Misano Red? Until {recently|just lately|lately|not too long ago}, the RS5 coupe was {the only|the one} RS {version|model} of the B9 {generation|era|technology}-A4 sedan and station wagon ({as well as|in addition to} their A5 coupe, cabriolet and Sportback derivatives, for that matter) {in the|within the} South African market. The RS5 coupe {isn't|is not} {a bad|a foul|a nasty} {offering|providing} {whatsoever|by any means|in any respect|in any way|in anyway}, {but|however} {given that|on condition that|provided that} Audi's rivals BMW and Mercedes-AMG {offer|provide|supply} sedan, coupe and convertible {versions|variations} of their {executive|government|govt}-class {performance|efficiency} {cars|automobiles|vehicles}, it was {well|effectively|nicely|properly} and {truly|actually|really} outnumbered.
Audi South Africa has now {introduced|launched} the RS4 Avant and RS5 Sportback, which share a powertrain and {various|numerous|varied} {other|different} {components|elements|parts} with the coupe. National new {vehicle|automobile|car} {sales|gross sales} figures {suggest|counsel|recommend} the station wagon has {limited|restricted} {appeal|attraction|enchantment} ({despite|regardless of} its iconic moniker, {but|however} Audi holds {firm|agency} that it {won't|will not} {build|construct} a sedan {version|model}), so {perhaps|maybe} the RS5 Sportback {is a good|is an effective|is an efficient} compromise. {Like the|Just like the} coupe, it packs a meaty biturbo 2.9-litre V6 engine and quattro all-wheel drive, {but|however} all of {that is|that's} paired with a {stylish|fashionable|trendy} {body|physique} (replete with {an extra|an additional} pair of {doors|doorways} and a {practical|sensible} hatchback). So, what's it {like to|prefer to|wish to} drive? Please {tell|inform} us about your {experience|expertise} {here|right here}. Fans of the Audi RS {brand|model} will fondly remember the peach of a naturally-aspirated (4.2-litre) V8 engine {in the|within the} {previous|earlier} RS4 and RS5 ({although|though}, {interestingly|apparently|curiously}, {this is|that is} {the 1st|the first} RS5 Sportback). Not {only|solely} did it sound glorious, {but it|but it surely|however it|nevertheless it} delivered sledgehammer {performance|efficiency}.
When {news|information} broke that the V8 "had {lost|misplaced} 2 cylinders and gained a pair of turbos", purists {were|had been|have been} upset, {but|however} Audi did it {in the|within the} quest for improved driveability/{flexible|versatile} {performance|efficiency} and {better|higher} {efficiency|effectivity}. The 2.9-litre turbocharged V6 matches the outgoing mill {in terms of|by way of|when it comes to} peak {power|energy} output (331 kW), {but|however} comfortably trounces the V8 {in terms of|by way of|when it comes to} {maximum|most} torque (600 Nm at 1 900 rpm, {compared|in contrast} with 430 Nm at {4|four} 000 rpm). Does 170 Nm make {all the|all of the} {difference|distinction}? What {happens|occurs} {when you|if you|once you|whenever you|while you} shift the 8-{speed|pace|velocity} transmission into Drive and {floor|flooring|ground} the RS5's accelerator? Instantaneous shove, {that's what|that is what}. By {virtue|advantage} of the bi-turbo setup, there's {very little|little or no} lag and the '{box|field} is mapped to {deliver|ship} {dual|twin}-clutch-like gearshifts. The {car|automobile|automotive} is responsive and {urgent|pressing}, {especially|particularly} in its most aggressive driving mode (Dynamic). Because the RS5 Sportback is required to transmit 600 Nm to the {road|highway|street}, the {dual|twin}-clutch S Tronic transmission, which Audi tends to favour for {many of|a lot of|lots of} its {performance|efficiency} variants, {is not|is just not|isn't|just isn't|shouldn't be|will not be} suited to handle all that torque.
Therefore, Audi has fitted {a conventional|a standard|a traditional} 8-{speed|pace|velocity} {automatic|automated|computerized}, {but|however} {it's|it is} sufficiently responsive; {the feel|the texture} {through|by|by means of|by way of|via} the shift paddles is {pleasant|nice}. The Audi RS5 Sportback's digital dashboard, replete with a centrally positioned rev counter. {One of the|One of many} {things|issues} we {appreciate|admire|recognize|respect} most {about the|concerning the|in regards to the} RS5 is {that you can|that you could|that you may|that you would be able to|which you can|which you could|you can|you could} "tone down its lunacy". {It's not|It is not|It isn't} {always|all the time|at all times} {appropriate|acceptable|applicable} (or {possible|attainable|doable|potential}) to make the {rapid|fast|speedy} Audi hurl itself down a stretch of asphalt as if {it's a|it is a} strafing fighter {plane|aircraft|airplane}, {and perhaps|and maybe} this {author|creator|writer} is mellowing with age, {but|however} such full-bore driving antics are tiresome. Comfort mode {completely|fully|utterly} dials {back|again} the Sportback's throttle response, {power|energy} {delivery|supply}, relaxes the steering {feel|really feel} and even closes its exhaust valves. It's {remarkable|exceptional|outstanding} to cane a credible AMG/M rival one minute {and then|after which}, {at the|on the} {touch|contact} of a button, you {could be|could possibly be|may very well be|might be} fooled into {thinking|considering|pondering} {you're|you are} piloting ({but|however}) a 2.{0|Zero} TFSI. {Of course|After all|In fact}, {you can|you may|you possibly can|you'll be able to} tailor the settings of the {car|automobile|automotive}'s Drive Select interface {exactly|precisely} to your {preference|choice|desire}.
