Audi RS 5 gets sharper for 2020 – CoCoupénd Sportback go deeper
Audi has lifted the covers off the revised RS 5 Coupé and RS 5 Sportback, bringing its most ferocious compact performance saloon up to date with fresh styling cues, new tech, and the same intoxicating 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 found in the bigger brothers RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback. When these updated models arrive at dealerships across Europe later this spring, they sharpen an already compelling formula rather than reinvent it.
The B9-generation RS 5 was always one of those rare performance cars that could wear a discreet suit during the week and shed it entirely at the weekend. Since its debut in 2017, the four-cylinder rival had been steadily gaining ground, and this facelift brings it into even closer conversation with BMW’s M3 and Mercedes-AMG’s C 63. What’s changed isn’t just face value—it’s refinement. Audi has tightened the body lines, deepened the cabin’s digital ambition, and given drivers a control system that finally matches the hardware underfoot.
Exterior design: the family resemblance deepens
At first glance, spotting the differences between the pre-facelift RS 5 and the revised model requires knowing where to look. Audi has widened the Singleframe grille considerably—now flatter, lower, and stuffed with a three-dimensional honeycomb pattern that echoes the RS 6 and RS 7 headlining the range. The air vents positioned just above the grille are deliberate callbacks to the legendary Sport Quattro of 1984, those short-overhang, long-hood rally monsters that codified Quattro genetics into a single visual language.
Matrix LED headlights become Matrix LED headlights with laser light as an option—a distinction that matters when you’re lighting dark European country roads well past midnight. The side air intakes receive a new pentagonal geometry, cleaner and more aggressive than before. Flared wheel arches sit 15 mm wider at each corner, giving the RS 5 a grounded stance that matches its rear-biased torque delivery. Sill trims carry a pronounced light-shadow interplay that makes the car read flatter than it actually is, while the wheel arches themselves reference the Quattro nameplate’s rally-bred DNA.
The inside story: tech meets RS intent
Horizontal lines and the black RS design package with rock grey contrasting seams dominate the cabin. Strongly contoured RS sport seats can be adjusted electrically through multiple axes, their armrests embossed with the RS logo. Alcantara and leather with a honeycomb pattern serve as standard upholstery; fine Nappa leather is available on request. New for the revision: carbon matt inlays add another layer of tactile sophistication to an already driver-focused cockpit.
Technology centres on a new 10.1-inch central MMI touchscreen based on third-generation modular infotainment platform (MIB 3). The display stands freely in the dash, slightly tilted toward the driver, with acoustic feedback for every touch. Natural-language voice control understands everyday formulations, and if equipped with the top-tier MMI Navigation plus system, the RS Monitor view sits front and centre in daily use.
That monitor tells you engine and transmission temperatures, maximum longitudinal and lateral acceleration values, tire pressure and temperature—all visible on the central screen. Behind the steering wheel, the 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit offers dedicated RS displays covering tire pressure, torque, output, engine oil temperature, boost pressure, and g-forces. Lap times and zero-to-100 km/h runs can be triggered directly via a button on the steering wheel.
Powertrain: the heart remains the same, but the brain is sharper
Immensely potent and surprisingly efficient: the 2.9 TFSI V6 twin-turbo delivers 331 kW (450 PS) without changing its numbers from the previous iteration. The engine produces peak torque between 1,900 and 5,000 rpm—each turbocharger feeding one cylinder bank—with 600 Nm sent to the crankshaft. Both RS models sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Audi Sport GmbH can raise the electronically limited top speed from 250 km/h to 280 km/h on request.
An eight-speed Tiptronic tuned for sportiness transmits power, controlled via enlarged aluminum shift paddles. The Quattro permanent all-wheel drive gives the RS 5 a special place in this segment. In normal operation, power distribution between front and rear axle runs 40:60—an asymmetrical, rear-biased split that encourages playful dynamics. If conditions demand, the centre differential redirects up to 70 percent of force forward or 85 percent backward.
Suspension, efficiency, and the bottom line
The taut, tuned RS sport suspension pairs perfectly with the strong drivetrain. Optional RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) delivers purely hydraulic, fully instantaneous roll and pitch stabilization. Damper settings switch among three stages via Audi Drive Select’s dynamic handling system. Alongside familiar comfort, auto, and dynamic modes, two new ‘RS1’ and ‘RS2’ configurations can be individually saved and selected instantly through the RS Mode button on the steering wheel. Audi Drive Select influences the engine, Tiptronic, steering, optional damping, dynamic steering, sport differential, and exhaust flaps.
The RS 5 Coupé achieves WLTP figures of 9.1 litres per 100 km; the Sportback consumes 9.2 litres per 100 km. CO₂ emissions stand at 208 g/km and 209 g/km respectively—respectable numbers for a 450-horsepower twin-turbo V6 in a nearly 1,800 kg package.
Both coupé and sportback ride on 19-inch wheels as standard. Twenty-inch wheels in three new designs— including a milled-and-painted matt bronze version—are available as costly extras. Pricing information for European markets places both versions around €73,000 at launch, putting them within striking distance of the BMW M3 Competition and Mercedes-AMG C 63, though the RS 5 carries the added versatility of five doors in Sportback guise.
The 2020 Audi RS 5 Coupé and Sportback represent exactly what a mid-cycle refresh should achieve: no fundamental identity shift, just sharper execution across styling, technology, and driving feel. For buyers who want a daily-drivable grandtourer that can genuinely embarrass a Porsche Cayman GT4 at stoplights, the revised RS 5 widens its lead over rivals it was already competitive with.
Vehicle data
| Make | Audi |
| Model | RS 5 Coupé / RS 5 Sportback |
| Generation / chassis code | B9 facelift (revised) |
| Model year(s) covered | 2020 |
| Body style | 2-door Coupé, 5-door Sportback |
| Powertrain / engine | 2.9 L twin-turbocharged V6 TFSI |
| Power / torque | 331 kW (450 PS) / 600 Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed Tiptronic |
| Drivetrain | Quattro permanent all-wheel drive |
| Key performance figures | 0–100 km/h: 3.9 s; top speed 250 km/h (280 km/h with opt.) |
| Price (as stated) | Around €73,000 (European launch estimate) |
| On-sale / announcement period | April 2020 |
| Market | Europe |