With fresh rivals in the form of the BMW M4 and Lexus RC F, the Audi RS 5 is in the midst of tougher competition than ever.
To keep its hot rod coupe in the spotlight, Audi is launching a new special-edition model. The RS 5 Coupe Sport edition (there’s no convertible, so far) gets some unique styling bits and a limited production run to entice buyers.
Exterior changes include 20-inch 5-V-spoke alloy wheels, red brake calipers, and available Daytona Gray pearl and Nardo gray paint. If you want something a little less, err, gray, other colors are available.
The interior features sport seats trimmed in black and Crimson Red, with Crimson Red contrast stitching. They’re matched by Crimson Red Nappa leather door inserts, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and leather shift boot with contrast stitching.
Audi didn’t attempt to make the Sport edition any sportier mechanically than a normal RS 5, so it still gets a 4.2-liter V8 that produces 450 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.
Coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive, the V8 provides enough power to launch the RS 5 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 174 mph.
The all-wheel drive system also features electronic torque vectoring, and all RS 5 models ride on a sport suspension that puts them 0.8 inch closer to the ground compared to the base A5.
Only 75 RS 5 Coupe Sport editions will be made, with prices starting at $87,575. That’s just over $16,000 more than the starting price of a regular RS 5, but exclusivity doesn’t come cheap.
