Audi RS 5 Confirmed for India Launch as a CBU Import
The RS 5 is Audi's first hybridised RS model globally, producing a combined 639hp and 825Nm from a twin-turbo V6 and PHEV setup.
Audi will import only the Saloon body style to India as a CBU, with an expected price of around Rs 1.5 crore.
India's performance car market is about to receive a very welcome visitor. Audi has confirmed that the all-new RS 5 will be launched in the country, arriving as a completely built unit (CBU) import.
Only the Saloon body style will make the trip, leaving the Avant station wagon variant out of the equation for now. A precise launch timeline has not been announced yet, though the car could realistically arrive before the year is out.
Notably, Audi India has already delisted the previous-generation S5 Sportback from its website, signalling a clear changing of the guard.
The RS 5 marks a genuine milestone for Audi Sport, as it is the manufacturer's first ever hybridised RS model.
Under the bonnet sits a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine producing 510hp and 600Nm, working in tandem with a plug-in hybrid system that adds a further 177hp and 460Nm.
The combined figures stand at an impressive 639hp and 825Nm. Power is sent through an 8-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox, paired with a limited-slip centre differential that can channel up to 70 per cent of torque to the front axle or up to 85 per cent rearward, depending on what the road demands.
The electric motor draws from a 25.9kWh battery that Audi claims can deliver over 80km of pure electric running.
An 11kW onboard charger brings the battery back to full charge in 2.5 hours. When both powertrains are working flat out, the RS 5 reaches 100kph from rest in just 3.6 seconds.
The RS 5 does not hide its intentions. Up front, a large honeycomb grille dominates the bumper, flanked by smaller air intakes on either side.
The Matrix LED headlights are finished in a smoked treatment and carry Audi's signature chequered-flag daytime running light pattern.
True to RS tradition, the body has been widened by 4cm on each side compared with the standard A5, complete with flared wheel arches that give the car a properly planted stance. 20-inch alloy wheels and RS steel brakes with 420mm front and 400mm rear discs come as standard.
At the rear, connected OLED tail-lights span the width of the car, and a gloss-black diffuser houses two large oval tailpipes on each side, part of an all-new RS exhaust system designed to produce a distinct note for each driving mode.
Step inside and the RS 5 continues to impress. The dashboard features a trio of screens as standard, comprising an 11.9-inch digital driver's display, a 14.5-inch OLED central infotainment unit, and a 10.9-inch screen for the front passenger.
Climate control is managed through the infotainment system, though Audi has retained physical buttons and scroll wheels on the three-spoke steering wheel.
Dedicated controls for RS drive modes and a boost function are also present, the latter unleashing maximum acceleration for a period of 10 seconds at a time.
The cabin is finished predominantly in black, with red trims, red seat piping, and ambient lighting adding to the sporting atmosphere.
Dinamica suede covers the dashboard, door pads, and armrests, while the steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather. The international-spec model features heated, powered bucket seats with a massage function as standard, with seat ventilation and a sunroof available as options.
The RS 5 is expected to be priced at around Rs 1.5 crore ex-showroom, which would place it significantly above the S5 Sportback it effectively replaces in the lineup.
That car was last listed at Rs 73.57 lakh before being removed from Audi India's website. Given its CBU status, the RS 5 could land in showrooms before the end of 2026, joining what promises to be a busy period for Audi India, which also has the third-generation Q3, Q5, the Q6 e-tron, and the A6 e-tron in the pipeline.
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