- The 2027 Audi RS5 is a plug-in hybrid with a 2.9L twin-turbo V6 and electric motor, making ~470 kW and 825 Nm.
- 0–100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, top speed 285 km/h, and EV range of 80–84 km.
- The RS5 Avant remains one of the few high-powered wagons, combining performance with real-world practicality.
This week, the news coming out of Ingolstadt should have exclusively been reserved for the new-look Audi Formula 1 team set to take to the track for the first time, with Niko Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto lining up in Melbourne for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
But, alas, the internet – and one trigger-happy onlooker named cochespias1 – had other ideas, leaking now-deleted images of the latest iteration to the 2027 Audi RS5, one of the German marque’s most iconic models. And it’s a real looker.
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The Audi RS4 and RS6 Avants have long been favourites among enthusiasts who want supercar-level performance without sacrificing cargo space.
In many ways, they’re the perfect car. Quick enough for hot laps around the Autobahn, but big enough, powerful enough, for a long multi-day road trip from Sydney to Melbourne and beyond.
At first glance, the images show that Audi won’t stray too far from the familiar RS formula, but every detail has been dialled up a touch in 2027’s release.
Aggressively flared wheel arches and sculpted side sills; blacked-out Singleframe grille with large front air intakes; and the rear diffuser with massive oval exhaust outlets and integrated F1-style third brake light give the RS5 a wild exterior frame.
The 2027 release ushers in a new generation of cult classics in Audi’s mid‑size performance range, now built around the increasingly popular plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) technology that we continue to see across the entire auto industry. Because, well, they have to.
But just because Audi has shifted away from the pure petrol set-up with its first-ever flagship plug‑in hybrid RS sedan/wagon, that doesn’t mean it’s willing to sacrifice any of the flair and fun that we’ve all come to expect from the series.
So let’s take a look at the numbers. Suggestions are that we’ll see a revised 2.9‑litre twin‑turbo V6 petrol engine working with an electric motor. Together, the RS5 will manage a combined output of around 470 kW (~630 hp) and close to 825 Nm of torque.
The RS5 Avant is expected to sprint from 0–100 km/h in about 3.6 seconds, reach a top speed of around 285 km/h with the RS Sport Package, and offer an EV-only range of 80–84 km for city driving.
These numbers put it in direct contention with the BMW M3 Competition and Mercedes-AMG C63 S E‑Performance, which achieve similar 0–100 times.
Inside, digital cockpit displays and a large central touchscreen that we’ve seen in previous RS4 and RS6 models keep their place in the all-new RS5 Avant. The latest model will have a larger display, RS‑specific menus, and more integration to take advantage of the 2027’s hybrid system controls.
I’d say that the aim is to make the latest release more tailored to the driver, putting the cockpit and the controls firmly in the hands of whoever’s behind the wheel.
Which may sound like a moot point. But every element of the 2027 RS5, from the flat-bottom steering wheel with the RS boost button to the larger digital displays, has been designed to give instant access to performance and data. All without ever taking your focus off the road.
Even the displays will be more intuitive in the new model: larger displays, better user experience. It gives the impression that whether you’re pushing the car on a track or navigating city streets, Audi’s determined to make the RS5 respond more instinctively.
With a release slated for February 2026, it’s a timely refresh; one that will no doubt be met with an expected excitement from the wagon purists, positioning one of the marque’s most popular models at the forefront of today’s luxury auto market.
