- Spy photographers have snapped Audi’s upcoming ICE-powered RS5 sedan.
- The RS4 successor has swollen arches and is expected to get V6 hybrid power.
- Rival AMG downsized its C63 to four cylinders, putting some potential buyers off.
Audi Sport is gearing up for the launch of the 2026 RS5. The debut, expected to take place this year, is eagerly awaited by four-ring fans, but must be worrying Mercedes dealers.
Reports suggest Mercedes’ decision to downsize its C63 from a V8 to an inline four also downsized the model’s fan base and sales. The engine in the C63 S E Performance, a plug-in hybrid, is hugely powerful, pumping out 671 hp (680 PS), versus 503 hp (510 PS) for the old V8 S. But reviews have criticized the current car for being too heavy and lacking character.
Related: Here’s Everything We Know About Audi’s PHEV RS5 Sedan
Audi’s upcoming RS5, on the other hand, while not promising a V8, is expected to come with a V6, so should deliver the kind of smooth, expensive sound and feel that buyers expect from an $85k sports sedan. And that might placate buyers if the RS’s total power figures don’t quite match the AMG’s. The outgoing RS4/RS5 made just 444 hp (450 PS).
Like the C63, the new RS5, which effectively replaces the old RS4 and RS5 (the RS4 badge will return on an EV), also adopts plug-in hybrid power. But we’d be surprised if Audi didn’t use that PHEV tech to deliver some meaningful EV range, rather than just performance. AMG prioritized the latter, allowing it to get away with a tiny 4.8 kWh battery but the downside is a meager 8-mile (13 km) range.
While we can’t make any definitive comparisons until we learn the full specs later this year, we can already say that it looks like the RS is going to easily win the visual attitude war. Just check out those huge flared fenders and the giant wheels tucked under them. The C63 is a good looking car, and yes, some buyers like their cars stealthy. But in our opinion the C63 looks too much like its C43 little brother.
Watch: ICE, Hybrid Or EV? BMW M3 CS vs. AMG C63 S vs. Tesla Model 3 Performance
Even though we’ve referred to this RS5 as a sedan, it’s technically a liftback, like the old RS5 Sportback. However, Audi will drop the Sportback name, as it did for the A5 launched in 2024. But an Avant wagon is also in development, and out spy photographers have already captured that a couple of times.
What do you think the RS5 needs to offer in terms of power, cylinder-count and EV range to make life miserable for AMG dealers trying to shift unloved C63s? And does BMW‘s ageing, non-hybrid M3 still stand a chance against its newer and more powerful rivals? Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.
