We all love a fast wagon and Audi is hard at work developing a new one to replace the outgoing RS4 Avant. The new model will be dubbed the RS5 Avant and it could look like something like this illustration from digital artist Kelsonik from Kolesa.
Before we talk details, it’s worth reiterating that Audi is changing its nomenclature, reserving even numbers for its EV models, which is why the RS4 will switch to the RS5 nameplate. Our spy photographers snapped a prototype wearing skintight black and white camouflage in January and it’s clear that like the model it will replace, this new Audi Sport model will have all the same attitude we have come to expect from the brand.
Read: Wide-Arch Audi RS5 Avant Calls Out The Skinny BMW M3 And Mercedes C63 AMG
These renderings from Kelsonik (via Kolesa) that are based on the prototype testers indicate the RS5 Avant will have a slightly lower and wider profile than the model it replaces. The front includes a larger front grille, complemented by big air intakes and a set of slimmer headlights. Alterations have also been made to the sides of the estate with the traditional door handles ditched in favor of flush ones.
The shape of the doors is largely the same as the RS4 Avant. Some significant alterations have been made to the car’s rear end, including new LED taillights with a light bar, a rear bumper with a diffuser, and dual oval-shaped tailpipes that have been pushed a little closer together.
The new RS5 Avant is expected to retain the current RS4’s 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6, but paired with an electric motor and a battery pack, turning it into a plug-in hybrid. While the last RS4 is rated at 444 hp, the RS5 Avant should at least match the 671 hp of the also plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63.
Audi is expected to unveil the new model either later this year or in early 2025 before it hits the global market as a 2026 model.
Note: This story includes speculative renderings that are not related to nor endorsed by Audi