Watch out, M3 Touring: the 630bhp, *2.3-tonne* Audi RS5 is here, and it’s now a V6 hybrid

Audi’s RS cars have always looked angry about something or other, so it’s hard to tell whether this new RS5 is upset that it's suddenly put on so much weight, that it has to entertain flailing mortal hands, or that it’s partly powered by electricity.

Because, yes folks, it’s happened: Audi Sport has fitted its first ever plug-in hybrid system inside an RS car, and the result is a supremely vexed 630bhp performance wagon. Watch out, BMW M3 Touring, the original fast estate has returned for an almighty scrap.

Oh, sure, you can spec the new RS5 as a saloon, too, and no, the name still doesn’t make sense to the rest of us raised on fast, small (ish) Audi saloons and estates being called RS4s, but whatever. Six hundred and thirty horsepower is what Marty McFly would call ‘heavy’.

Of course, as we mentioned up top, it is actually really very heavy, Audi quoting 2,355kg for the saloon, and 2,370kg for the wagon. A significant increase over the previous gen (1,790kg), and significantly porkier than that pesky M3 (1,865kg). Needs a healthy engine to power that much bulk along, and luckily there is one.

An ‘improved’ version of its 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, no less, now able to output 503bhp on its own. In any rational, sane universe, that’d be enough. But we don’t live there, we live here. So in comes a boatload of hybrid tech to make up the rest of that bonkers total and bonkers weight figure.

There’s a 130kW electric motor paired not only with the V6, but a 25.9kWh battery mounted underneath the boot floor, a 400V system, an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox said to be faster than before (thanks to reduced ‘resistance of heavy rotating components’), a limited-slip centre diff, and of course, quattro AWD.

Audi claims 0-62mph in 3.6s, a top speed of 177mph (if you’ve optioned the Sport pack) and an electric-only range of up to 52 miles (or 54 in the city). Indeed, when in EV-only mode – in an RS! – Audi reckons the motor “ensures the RS5 feels like an RS-model”.

When you’re in one of two RS-specific modes – ‘RS sport’ or ‘RS torque rear’ – the battery is kept at a 90 per cent SOC and actively cooled to 20 degrees C for full hoonery.

Before we talk more about the RS5’s modes, we need to talk more about its tech, because there’s lots of it, all designed to keep you pointing in whichever direction you feel like (on a circuit or closed road, of course).

Because another first – after the whole hybrid RS thing – is electro-mechanical torque vectoring on the back axle, which “rapidly and precisely distributes torque between the rear wheels” in just 15 milliseconds. There’s a lot of TechSpeak to explain exactly how it does it, but long story short: mostly ‘witchcraft’ and ‘dark magic’.

Bottom line, it’s there to ensure max acceleration, better stability in and out of corners, and over trickier terrain. Also helping this is a next-gen centre diff apportioning the RS5’s plentiful torque between the front and rear axles that Audi says is always preloaded, “meaning that it is always at least partially locked”.

It’s said to reduce understeer, increase the car’s precision, and transmits power to the wheels faster between on and off throttle. Sensing a theme here?

Other tweaks include redesigning the five-link front suspension with new joints, links and bushings, and giving the rear a ‘clean sheet’ design. The shocks are twin-valve items, the steering’s been tweaked for better feedback, there are huge brakes – 420mm up front and 400mm at the back – and even a ‘boost’ mode that gives you max power for ten seconds.

Phew. There’s more. There are many selectable modes (yer usual suspects) but of interest are the ‘RS torque rear’ setting – which gives you max rear-bias for “controlled drifts” - and ‘RS sport’ which is built for speed and agility.

You’ll have your own opinions on how this thing looks, but to TopGear.com’s eyes, it’s… fairly brutal. A full four centimetres wider on each side, front and back, versus the regular A5, you can insert your own ‘been hitting the gym/eating all the pies’ analogy here. Audi’s singleframe grille and side vents look wider and angrier than ever, there are yet more vents, the obligatory flared arches, diffusers, fins, a special exhaust… like we said up top, it Angry.

No surprises inside: it’s as per the refreshed A5, only more RS-ier. So, many OLED screens, a specially configured virtual cockpit, the option of a HUD, sports seats, fancy material choices and something called ‘driving experience’ which allows analysis of your driving inputs and lap times. Use this at your peril.

“The sophisticated technical interplay between combustion engine and electric power brings performance and efficiency together in a new way at Audi,” said big boss Gernot Döllner. “Customers can experience both peak sportiness and every-day comfort.”

Customers who have a fair bit of cash to hand. UK prices haven’t yet been announced, but it’ll go on sale in Germany at a cost of €106,200 for the saloon, and €107,850 for the Avant.