The Audi Sport division has confirmed that it wants to double the number of available RS models from seven to 14. Division boss, and former Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann told Autocar that “There is more to come,” and that “We have one company, one name and we have a brand. But we will remain exclusive.” As of right now, Audi's RS lineup is limited to the RS3, RSQ3, TT RS Coupe and Convertible, RS6, RS7 and R8. Within the next 18 months, Audi wants to expand this lineup to include more models.
The brand didn't say which models will get the RS treatment. We would assume that an RS4 and RS5 will come along to challenge the BMW M3 and M4, and a RSQ5 could compete against the rumored X3M. Audi is being mum with its plans, saying that it doesn't want to be like AMG. Winkelmann said “We are not going to do what they do. We have a lot of plans but are not revealing them yet. It is better to under-promise and over-deliver.” AMG has been hard at work giving almost every Mercedes model a hardcore variant and coming out with standalone models like the AMG GT. Audi currently builds the R8, but is noncommittal about adding more standalone models.
We don't think that Audi needs to match AMG, but it does need more RS models. In the US especially, Audi's RS models can't compete with M and AMG models. BMW currently offers the M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, X5M and X6M. Mercedes currently offers AMG versions of the C-Class, CLA-Class, E-Class, CLS-Class, S-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, and G-Class. In the US, Audi only currently offers the RS7, and the upcoming RS3 and TT RS, so there's plenty of room for expansion.
