The Audi RS Q5 is finally on the way, and the first prototype has been spotted testing at the Nürburgring with expectations that it will deliver more than 600 horsepower. Audi is also planning both the upright SUV and an RS Q5 Sportback.
Audi RS Q5 Spotted Testing
The absence of an RS model in the Audi Q5 lineup has left the BMW X3M and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 to compete for high-performance crossover buyers. That is set to change with the arrival of the RS Q5.
The Q5 is a popular Audi model, while the small crossover segment it competes in is a major part of the market. BMW’s X3 and X4 were nearly the company’s top sellers last year, while the GLC is Mercedes-Benz’s best-selling model.
The RS Q5 SUV has been spotted before, but this is the first time the Sportback has been photographed testing. Both versions also look significantly different from the SUV seen earlier this year.
RS Styling Sets the Q5 Apart
The other two German automakers already offer versions of their crossovers producing more than 500 horsepower, with the Mercedes-Benz delivering 671 hp. Audi, by comparison, has offered the 362-hp SQ5.
The latest spy photos indicate that Audi is taking a much more aggressive approach with the RS Q5. The clearest sign is at the rear, where two large oval tailpipes identify it as an Audi RS model.
Lower-tier S models use four exhaust pipes, giving them an appearance higher in the lineup than they actually occupy.
From the side, a large set of Pirelli prototype tires and big RS6 wheels point to the Q5’s high-performance focus. Brake rotors that fill the 20-inch wheels should provide substantial stopping power and fade resistance.
Small add-on wheel arches also hint at the additional space Audi will need to accommodate the RS Q5’s hardware.
Aggressive Front-End Design
The front of the RS Q5 features new vertical air inlets and much larger grilles, giving the crossover a significantly more aggressive appearance.
The side inlets are not only taller than those on the SQ5 but are also completely open to allow air to pass through. The SQ5’s side inlets are mostly sealed.
The main openings remain divided by a bumper line, but their design is considerably more aggressive than before.
RS Q5 Expected to Use a 630-HP Plug-In Hybrid
All that additional airflow is needed for more than a conventional engine. The RS Q5 is expected to use a plug-in hybrid system.
Warning triangles on the prototype indicate that it is a PHEV, while the spy reports say the system is the same one used in the RS5 sedan.
The setup combines a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 503 hp and 443 pound-feet of torque on its own with an electric motor producing another 161 hp and 339 lb-ft.
In the RS5, the combination produces 630 hp and 608 lb-ft of torque. That allows the sedan to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds.
The Q5 versions will likely be somewhat heavier and are slightly taller, which could make them a few fractions of a second slower in this application.
How the RS Q5 Compares With BMW and Mercedes
The expected RS Q5 output is 41 hp below the current GLC 63. However, the Mercedes uses a four-cylinder engine, while the X3M produces a peak 510 hp from its 3.0-liter inline-six without hybrid assistance.
The RS Q5’s combination of a twin-turbo V6 and electric motor therefore gives Audi a high-output powertrain as it enters the performance crossover fight.
