The 2027 Audi RS5 Has a Plug-In Powertrain That Makes 630 HP

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Just look at the 2027 RS5. The third generation of the sporty four-door is the first to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The addition of an electric motor boosts power to a shocking 630 hp, which, it should come as little surprise, is quite a bit more than its predecessor.

Even if we hadn’t spent time with its agile sibling, the S5, last year, the big story here would still be the powertrain. Audi’s latest isn’t just the first RS5 to feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain, it’s the marque first performance model to feature one period. The setup includes a reworked version of the 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 that was in the previous RS5 and a 130-kW electric motor.

The traditional gas engine, alone, makes 503 hp, but add in the electric motor and you get a combined output of 630 hp and 604 ft lbs of torque. The second-gen RS5 made 444 hp and 443 ft lbs of torque so that’s a difference of 186 hp and 161 ft lbs of torque, respectively. Thanks to this massive increase, Audi says the new European-spec version of the vehicle can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds, which, outlets like Car and Driver have pointed out, is probably on the conservative side. Top speed, meanwhile, comes in at a respectable 177 mph.

The e-motor gets its juice from a 22-kWh battery that will be able to provide around 22 miles of electric-only driving. The pack can be charged in 2.5 hours via its 11-kW onboard charger. The four-door will also see the debut of the latest version of Audi’s trademark Quattro all-wheel drive system, which features, for the first time, Dynamic Torque Control in the rear, giving drivers even more control. Other mechanical features of note include a stiffer chassis than the base A5, a five-link suspension in the front and rear, and a regenerative brake-by-wire system.

The new RS5 has also been treated to a makeover. It doesn’t look radically different from last year’s redesigned S5, but it does feature a wider body with more aggressive lines. The vehicle, which will be available as both a sedan-style hatchback or a wagon, features a wider body with more aggressive lines, RS sport exhaust pipes, and available 21-inch wheels. The cabin looks even more similar to that of the S5’s and features a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, “bold” details, and, of course, plenty of RS badges.

Intrigued? The RS5 will launch first in Europe later this year, at a starting price of around $125,000. A U.S. on-sale date and cost have yet to be announced. One thing we’re pretty certain of, though, is that the Avant wagon variant is unlikely to make it to our shores, but at least we still have the RS6 Avant.

Click here for more photos of the 2027 Audi RS5.

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