2027 Audi RS5 first drive: Big thrills with a big battery

Source: Engadget

The 2027 Audi RS5 – A Plug‑In Hybrid That’s Anything But a Novelty

There’s more waffling about the future of electric vehicles in America right now than you might expect at a Belgian breakfast buffet. Some brands like Hyundai are staying committed, some like Honda are dialing back, and everyone else is simply doing their damndest to provide as many propulsion options as possible.

Audi belongs in that last category. On the EV side it recently launched the new Q6 e‑tron and refreshed the ballistic e‑tron GT. On the internal‑combustion side it has a new A6, and a full‑size, three‑row SUV is coming in the form of the Q9. The company’s latest car, however, sits in the middle: meet the new RS5, Audi’s latest and greatest plug‑in hybrid.

RS stands for RennSport (“Racing Sport” in German), the badge applied to Audi’s highest‑performing cars. RS models are intended to be a bit more edgy and exclusive than BMW’s M cars or Mercedes‑Benz’s AMG line‑up. The 2027 RS5 marks the first time an RS has come with both a big battery and a big engine, but the RS5 is much more than a novelty plug.

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Powertrain Overview

Image: 2027 Audi RS5
Tim Stevens for Engadget

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The “Tricky Diff” – Dynamic Torque Control

The RS5 retains Audi’s traditional Quattro system with a mechanical center differential that can send up to 85 % of engine power to the rear wheels. The rear‑axle motor (11 hp) does not drive the rear wheels directly; instead, it powers a planetary‑gear‑based differential that Audi calls Dynamic Torque Control. This system can selectively magnify torque to either the left or right rear wheel, giving the car a unique ability to influence yaw moments.

Image: 2027 Audi RS5 – “Drift time”
Tim Stevens for Engadget

Torque Rear Mode

• Torque Rear sends maximum twist to the outside rear wheel.
• Combined with the center differential’s rear‑bias, the RS5 becomes a remarkably willing drift partner.

“After less than 30 seconds behind the wheel on a closed track in Marrakesh, I was confidently sliding my way through a set of cones in a slalom, then pirouetting around a cone at the end in a tight circle, clouds of tire smoke hanging in the air. Normally, drifting a 5,200‑lb, 630‑hp machine on sticky tires is a real nightmare. It’s delightfully easy in the RS5.”

The car records drift time, length, and angle, and lets you replay the data on the touchscreen, complete with G‑force graphs.

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Audi Driving Experience (Infotainment Extension)

• Lap‑time tracking for race‑track runs.
• Power‑distribution screens showing torque split, system temperatures, and tire pressures per corner.

The core infotainment layout remains familiar:

• 14.5‑inch central touchscreen
• 11.9‑inch digital gauge cluster
• Optional 10.9‑inch passenger display

“That’s a lot of displays, with the left two encased within an oversized, sweeping panel that stands tall and proud out of the dashboard. Too tall, actually. If big bezels ruin your day, look away, because there’s a lot of wasted space here.”

If you dislike steering‑wheel capacitive touch controls, you’ll be relieved to find the RS5 has returned to scroll wheels under the thumbs, though the rest of the wheel surface is a flat touch panel.

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Driving Impressions

City Driving – EV Mode

• Mode: EV‑only (primary front motor)
• Battery: 25.9 kWh (22 kWh usable)
• Range: Up to 54 mi (claimed)
• Feel: Silent, pleasantly quick, comfortable in Comfort suspension setting.

Mountain Driving – RS Sport

• Mode: RS Sport (most performance‑oriented)
• Suspension: Stiffest setting, throttle at its sharpest
• Transmission: Aggressive shift points, eager to keep the engine singing
• Performance: The electric motor instantly fills the turbo lag, delivering seamless power delivery.

Image: 2027 Audi RS5 – “Putting the power down”
Tim Stevens for Engadget

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Bottom Line

The 2027 Audi RS5 proves that a plug‑in hybrid can be far more than a “green” badge on a performance car. With a potent V‑6, a clever dual‑motor system, and a sophisticated torque‑vectoring differential, it offers both exhilarating straight‑line power and a uniquely engaging drift experience—all while providing a usable electric‑only range for daily driving.

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All images credit: Tim Stevens for Engadget

Rear‑Differential Feel

You can feel that rear differential here, too, adding an extra bit of pivot to the rear when you’re powering out of corners. But, on the way in, you really can feel the substantial weight of this car—the front end scrubbing and pushing forward when you ask too much of it.

Again, this model gained more than 1,000 lb over the old RS5, and though the improved suspension, drivetrain, tires, and even giant ceramic brakes all help to reduce its feel, there’s no hiding that much mass.

Wrap‑up

Yes, the RS5 has gained a lot of weight, and that hurts its nimbleness on track, but remember that this is a large, luxury sedan. It was never meant to be a lithe track toy. Despite that, the new RS5 actually feels far more fun and aggressive than its predecessor, a characteristic at least partially due to that trick new rear differential and the instant response of the new hybrid system. 54 miles of emissions‑free range doesn’t hurt, either.

The big question is cost, and sadly, Audi’s not ready to answer that one yet. You do, at least, have a little time to save. The new RS5 doesn’t hit American shores until sometime in 2027.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/2027-audi-rs5-first-drive-big-thrills-with-a-big-battery-152057907.html?src=rss