Audi is building a RS model that’s never been offered before

Volkswagen Group wants to halve its huge portfolio in a bid to drastically cut costs, but obviously that won’t happen overnight. Before it starts attacking vehicles that don’t make enough money, the Audi branch of the automotive giant is planning to introduce two models that it has never offered before. While the three-row Q9 is no longer a secret, some might be surprised to learn that the RS Q5 is also on the way.

Audi has been selling the Q5 for almost 20 years, yet it has never given the SUV the RS treatment. A new spy video shot in sunny Europe shows a fleet of camouflaged prototypes, including the RS Q5. It’s not just the double oval exhaust finishers that mark the vehicle’s identity. We can also clearly see the raised wheel arches that are hiding the beefy tires and possibly the wide front and rear tracks.

As if that wasn’t enough, the high-voltage yellow sticker indicates that we’re looking at a plug-in hybrid. Given that the Q5 is closely related to the A5, higher-performance versions should follow the same formula. The RS Q5 is likely to borrow the plug-in hybrid V6 from the RS5, producing 630 horsepower and 608 pound-feet (825 Newton-meters) of torque.

Audi Sport’s first plug-in hybrid comes with a larger 25.9-kWh battery, which is a major reason why the RS5 Avant weighs 5,225 pounds (2,370 kg). We wouldn’t be surprised if the RS Q5 got even heavier, given that SUVs typically weigh more than equivalent sedans or wagons. For reference, the SQ5 is 165 pounds (75 kg) heavier than the S5 Avant.

The RS Q5 is important not only for Audi but also for Porsche. Zuffenhausen is retiring the first-generation Macan at the end of this month and will launch a direct successor in 2028. Once again, it will be closely related to the Q5, so it’s fair to expect similarities between Porsche’s range-topping version and the upcoming RS-badged Q5.

Volkswagen Group’s two brands are teaming up to spread development costs and accelerate new projects, including Porsche’s 718 Boxster/Cayman EV and Audi’s Concept C. Additionally, we mentioned earlier that the upcoming Q9 may share some of its underpinnings with Porsche’s three-row SUV.

The spy video is not just about the RS Q5. The convoy of camouflaged Audi prototypes also includes the quad-pipe SQ9 and the next-generation RS6 Avant. The latter will also be offered as a sedan, replacing the RS7 Sportback and reviving the RS6 sedan after more than 15 years. It’s unclear whether we’ll see all of these performance models later this year, but the SQ9 is coming soon.

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Source: Audi

Motor1’s Opinion: Audi’s lineup is undergoing significant changes as new products are introduced while other products are leaving the market. Models like the RS Q5, Q9 and SQ9 are joining the range along with the return of the A2 as an entry-level electric hatchback. The electric sports car coming in 2027 will be the most interesting offering yet. We haven’t forgotten about the Nuvolari, but it doesn’t really matter, as production is limited to 499 units, possibly with a convertible on the way.

The A1 and Q2 were retired earlier this year. Additionally, the A8 flagship sedan is joining them in the automotive graveyard, where the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback have been resting since last year. Other models, such as the A5 coupe, A5 convertible, TT, and R8, have all been discontinued as well.

It remains to be seen whether the reshuffle pays off. Either way, Audi has even bigger plans going forward, including a dramatic change in its design language. It also promises to improve interior quality by using better materials, adding more physical controls, and shrinking the screen.

However, models like the RS Q5, Q9/SQ9 and A2 were designed and engineered years ago, so they will largely represent normal business before the next wave of products reshapes Audi’s lineup. This change is scheduled to begin with the A4 e-tron electric sedan in 2028.