You won't want to spill the new Audi RS5's pint

Meet the new Audi RS5. It’s had an update in line with the RS4 – not to mention the regular A4 and A5 ranges – which has brought more tech and even angrier styling. Just look at that gaping mouth. Those seething nostrils. It wants to know why you’ve spilled its pint. And why it’s taking you so long to buy a new one.

Those three vents above the grille hark back to the old Audi Sport Quattro, nostalgia fans, though Audi references them as ‘implied vents’. Yep, they’re blanked off and serve no function. Boo.

The grille is wider and flatter to sit more comfortably alongside the new RS6 and RS7, while inside it’s gained the same ‘RS1’ and ‘RS2’ mode buttons that – rather like the magical M buttons in quick BMWs – collect together your favourite mixtures of steering, engine and suspension settings and shove them into a quick button press.

We’re hoping it’s borrowed a bit of the handling verve from its numerically superior siblings, too, for the outgoing RS5 has always felt a bit flat compared to its bombastic rivals from BMW, Mercedes, Alfa and Lexus. Power remains the same, mind, its 444bhp delivered by a 2.9-litre V6 turbo and pushed through all four wheels for a startling 3.9sec 0-62mph time. Performance is not what it lacks, but involvement typically has been. Fingers crossed it’s a bit more fun this time around, and more of a sense of humour than its vexed face suggests.

It’s certainly a lot techier inside, with an updated Audi Virtual Cockpit – digital dials, which now incorporate a natty ‘hockey stick’ rev counter – and an upgraded touchscreen and media system between driver and passenger, though physically angled towards the former.

“In addition to its primary infotainment functions,” says Audi, “it provides the driver with information on engine temperature, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, the quattro sport differential operating status, tyre pressures and tyre temperatures.” The RS5 has gone full geek-face emoji.

As the pictures attest, carbon and Alcantara – the official materials of fastness – can be specified in abundance, and you can even have a set of gold wheels. Fans of mid Nineties Clios and Imprezas rejoice.

Prices start at £69,500 – up almost five grand on before – with both two-door Coupe and five-door Sportback versions available. Like it?