The latest member of Audi Sport is now available in Singapore. Combining stirring design with everyday usability and superior performance, the five-door high-performance model broadens the appeal of the Audi Sport brand.

The exterior of the new Audi RS5 Sportback combines stirring curves with taut, athletic surfaces, along with the characteristic wavy shape of the powerful shoulder line that stands as a visual highlight for the high-performance coupe.

At the front, the Audi RS5 Sportback features a wide, flat single-frame grille, solid air intakes with a honeycomb structure typical of an RS, and a front spoiler with matte aluminium quattro lettering. An RS-specific diffuser insert, RS exhaust system with oval tailpipes and fixed spoiler lip also give the rear end the necessary visual sportiness. The RS5 Sportback comes with 20-inch wheels as standard for Singapore.

The 2.9-litre TFSI V6 twin turbo engine offers both power and efficiency and can achieve 444bhp, while a maximum torque of 600Nm is deployed throughout a wide speed range from 1,900rpm to 5,000 rpm. The Audi RS5 Sportback accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 280km/h.

The power from the 2.9-litre TFSI is transferred to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive with a centre differential via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission.

With shift times tuned for sporty driving, it distributes power asymmetrically 40:60 between the axles, guaranteeing dynamic handling with optimal traction alongside the greatest possible safety. When slippage occurs on an axle, most of the power immediately flows to the other axle - up to a maximum of 70% to the front, and up to 85% to the rear.

Five-link suspension on the front and rear axles allows for substantially enhanced comfort, even in the sportiest of driving modes. With the standard RS sports suspension, the RS5 Sportback sits 7mm lower than the Audi S5 Sportback.

Audi Sport also offers RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes and RS-specific dynamic steering. Drivers can also create their own personal driving experience to make it more customised, more dynamic or more comfortable, using the Audi drive select dynamic handling system, which is fitted as standard.

The high-quality, sporty interior of the new Audi RS5 Sportback is finished in black and provides space for five people. Its square-shaped profile and loading width measuring exactly one meter enables optimum use of the 480 litre trunk capacity. Folding down the rear seats increases the capacity to 1,300 litres. The rear seat backrest is divided in a 40:20:40 ratio as standard. The RS5 Sportback weighs 1,840kg.

Interior details also emphasise the sporty nature of the performance coupe such as the RS sport seats upholstered in fine Nappa leather in a honeycomb pattern, and the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sports leather steering wheel. RS emblems can be found on the seats, the steering wheel, the sill panel strips and on the selector lever.

Special RS information displays in the Audi virtual cockpit provide information on tire pressure, torque and G forces. In manual mode, the shift light display prompts the driver to shift up once the engine speed threshold is reached.

Other visual highlights of the RS design package include the contrasting red stitching on the steering wheel and selector lever, the Alcantara knee pads, and the red-trimmed seat belts and floor mats featuring the RS logo. For the Audi RS5, Audi Sport offers Sonoma Green Metallic as an exclusive paint option.

The Audi RS5 Sportback is now available at the Audi Centre Singapore.

Price as of press time (including COE)

Audi RS5 Sportback 2.9 TFSI qu tiptronic (A) - $387,000