The 2.9L V6 RS5 (and probably RS4)

Thundercliffe81

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Right, this is more of an engine and smiles per mile topic. Especially with the up and coming RS4. But, off the bat, when I went to Geneva car show this year, I sat in the new RS5 and it felt very special. Just knew it would be very capable indeed with immense performance. BUT...the 2.9 was always going to be a compromise (torque).

The first test drives are coming out and I'll add to this as they do (the larger YouTube channels etc) but, I'm truly struggling to find anything to get excited about with this new engine/exhaust. And bare in mind, these videos below are tested with the optional sports exhaust. Well, at least one of them is.

According to Audi, the new RS5 is a Gran Tourer? And they say it's not in direct competition with the C63/M4. It's supposed to be a GT with extra power if you need it. Well, it begs the ****** question..."Why would you bother"? The S5 can do that all day long and very well too. These are 'RS' cars! They excite you and make you giddy. After seeing this, I do worry about the upcoming RS4. In short, they appear to have lost their balls Where's the drama gone? The C63 has somehow managed to compromise with turbo AND still have a cracking V8. Nothing like the 6.2 granted, but still great. Opportunity wasted on first impressions but let's see the reviews as they come out over the following weeks.

What do you guys think? To me, it just sounds like my S4.





Rant over


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Total waste of time at the price. They sold out because they have no money.

Things will get worse when neumann takes over

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I have watched a couple of the reviews and I agree it is ****** expensive, especially with the spec they seem to have as press cars. I bet they are getting towards £90k!
It doesn't seem special at all!
I think I will stick with my old technology V8.


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I priced one up at 89k the same as my B8. No new gadgets or carbon

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For around £90k you could get a new RS6 ;)
Just saying ... :whistle2:
 
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For around £90k you could get a new RS6 ;)
Just saying ... :whistle2:
I wouldn't want one but I'd certainly throw 10k more in and get a 12 month old r8 v10 plus. More fun and way better residuals

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For around £90k you could get a new RS6 ;)
Just saying ... :whistle2:

Exactly!! End of discussion haha. I'm glad you all agree. I know there'll be old school turbo whistlers out there but they could have AT LEAST put a high grade sports exhaust on this. The price is actually obscene. Isn't it? I specced one to £95k but even putting the must haves on you're looking at £70k.

What on Earth were they thinking? Kind of glad in a way as it makes my decision to go B8 RS4 so much easier. Then I'll look at a used RS6 down the line. Are we a dying breed? A bunch of dinosaurs or something? Or have Audi genuinely put their balls in their wife's purse with this? Even the new FL RS3 seems quieter ya know. I'm sure it is.

@DeanoC what do you mean they've sold out? New Audi Sport CEO is ex Lambo! It's perplexing haha.


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Doesn't look good for the RS4, but then we always say that about a new model and they always seem to sell!

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Exactly!! End of discussion haha. I'm glad you all agree. I know there'll be old school turbo whistlers out there but they could have AT LEAST put a high grade sports exhaust on this. The price is actually obscene. Isn't it? I specced one to £95k but even putting the must haves on you're looking at £70k.

What on Earth were they thinking? Kind of glad in a way as it makes my decision to go B8 RS4 so much easier. Then I'll look at a used RS6 down the line. Are we a dying breed? A bunch of dinosaurs or something? Or have Audi genuinely put their balls in their wife's purse with this? Even the new FL RS3 seems quieter ya know. I'm sure it is.

@DeanoC what do you mean they've sold out? New Audi Sport CEO is ex Lambo! It's perplexing haha.


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All about volume and margin mate

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I wouldn't want one but I'd certainly throw 10k more in and get a 12 month old r8 v10 plus. More fun and way better residuals

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Did we just compare a used R8 V10 plus to a new RS5? This highlights the point even more


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Doesn't look good for the RS4, but then we always say that about a new model and they always seem to sell!

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Oh it's gonna sell. The new iPhone crowd want what's new. Always. But you tip up to any car show with the B8 and B9...the B8 is gonna get the bigger crowd.


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Exactly!! End of discussion haha. I'm glad you all agree. I know there'll be old school turbo whistlers out there but they could have AT LEAST put a high grade sports exhaust on this. The price is actually obscene. Isn't it? I specced one to £95k but even putting the must haves on you're looking at £70k.

What on Earth were they thinking? Kind of glad in a way as it makes my decision to go B8 RS4 so much easier. Then I'll look at a used RS6 down the line. Are we a dying breed? A bunch of dinosaurs or something? Or have Audi genuinely put their balls in their wife's purse with this? Even the new FL RS3 seems quieter ya know. I'm sure it is.

@DeanoC what do you mean they've sold out? New Audi Sport CEO is ex Lambo! It's perplexing haha.


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Try the RS6. It's way less fun the the RS4. Much nicer machine to be in, loads better built and the space inside is better but it's bobbins on those sunny sunday am twisties!

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Try the RS6. It's way less fun the the RS4. Much nicer machine to be in, loads better built and the space inside is better but it's bobbins on those sunny sunday am twisties!

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I've heard otherwise? That was Chris Harris though. I've had the pleasure of being embarrassed by an RS6 in my S4. Before my gears had even kicked down, it was gone and there was zero body roll round the roundabout. It's supposed to handle its weight like nothing else. But purchasing one is years off for me yet haha. NA heaven for me next


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I've heard otherwise? That was Chris Harris though. I've had the pleasure of being embarrassed by an RS6 in my S4. Before my gears had even kicked down, it was gone and there was zero body roll round the roundabout. It's supposed to handle its weight like nothing else. But purchasing one is years off for me yet haha. NA heaven for me next


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Absolutely fantastic car and untouchable on straight open roads if you dont mind jailtime speeds appearing in seconds.

Country roads though no gadgets can make up for the pure size and mass of the thing. If i needed a car that size as a daily I'd get a bitdi for not much less staright line fun on our busy roads and an rs3 for the noise and giggles on an early sunday morning.

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f730915071571a5a8e9d4bdc7e6ba6e8.png


LOOKS stunning. A genuinely really like it. Makes the lack of grunt all the more disappointing.


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Absolutely fantastic car and untouchable on straight open roads if you dont mind jailtime speeds appearing in seconds.

Country roads though no gadgets can make up for the pure size and mass of the thing. If i needed a car that size as a daily I'd get a bitdi for not much less staright line fun on our busy roads and an rs3 for the noise and giggles on an early sunday morning.

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As I look up to the hills opposite mine right now (my daily commute), I can't help but agree. Just the presence and sound of the thing. Don't see anything else tickling my pickle from Audi for the next 6 years so we'll see. Just how bad is the lack of torque in the B8 RS4?

All about torque now isn't it? These days. Useable power.


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As I look up to the hills opposite mine right now (my daily commute), I can't help but agree. Just the presence and sound of the thing. Don't see anything else tickling my pickle from Audi for the next 6 years so we'll see. Just how bad is the lack of torque in the B8 RS4?

All about torque now isn't it? These days. Useable power.


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It is for manufacturers chasing mpg and co2 figures. Not for enthusiasts enjoying their car.

The b8 has flat torque and revs. That is much more fun than driving a car that makes **** loads of torque for 1500rpm in the midrange then half that headline figure a few k rpm either side of it.

I had the b9 s5 for a week and if you don't have charts and figures in front of you you'd defo say it was lazy or torquey but without the revs it doesnt feel urgent or engaging. I mean the new rs5 redlines 1k higher than my 2.0 tdi for christ sake.

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Also mate you'd only notice it if you stuck it in manual mode at 1500rpm and floored it. The stronic is so well suited to the engine that any prod of the loud pedal has you pelting along with you being pushed back into your seat before you can say screaming banshee

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It is for manufacturers chasing mpg and co2 figures. Not for enthusiasts enjoying their car.

The b8 has flat torque and revs. That is much more fun than driving a car that makes **** loads of torque for 1500rpm in the midrange then half that headline figure a few k rpm either side of it.

I had the b9 s5 for a week and if you don't have charts and figures in front of you you'd defo say it was lazy or torquey but without the revs it doesnt feel urgent or engaging. I mean the new rs5 redlines 1k higher than my 2.0 tdi for christ sake.

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Hence why they're making these things look so much more out there with the bells and whistles. Huh? Over compensating hugely. I'm growing to love my B9. The 8 speed is a bit laggy though. More than Audi make it out. Seems confused a lot of the time unless it's in Sport.

But yeah, mine is worth the money. These new RS models are not. Anyway, getting willlllllllldly off topic, feast your eyes...


3c617ea4768c7d5559e423004b3b9a9a.png



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Also mate you'd only notice it if you stuck it in manual mode at 1500rpm and floored it. The stronic is so well suited to the engine that any prod of the loud pedal has you pelting along with you being pushed back into your seat before you can say screaming banshee

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The loud pedal. Ooft. I cannot wait! My S4 gonna be in serious negative equity though.


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Hence why they're making these things look so much more out there with the bells and whistles. Huh? Over compensating hugely. I'm growing to love my B9. The 8 speed is a bit laggy though. More than Audi make it out. Seems confused a lot of the time unless it's in Sport.

But yeah, mine is worth the money. These new RS models are not. Anyway, getting willlllllllldly off topic, feast your eyes...


3c617ea4768c7d5559e423004b3b9a9a.png



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We need to be grabbing these outgoing V8's while we still can before they're a distant memory.

All the points above re torque vs revs etc are valid, I had a two year stint with an F10 M5 (very similar torque/power curve to an RS6) and to me they are the sweet spot, best of both worlds option, buckets of low down torque that can be driven like a diesel if you so wish but with a peaky top end when the mood and roads allow.

The new RS5 has missed its brief and is, to me, a high powered S5, essentially same engine and gearbox in a higher state of tune. Like for like spec with my B9 S5 on an RS5 is almost £20k more.... not seeing the value myself.

My next car will be a 18 month old RS6 to make hay while the sun is shining... there's a big electrical storm on the way!
 
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More vids...one guy seems really excited haha













All European bar one with no subs but you're listening for the car. Just skip the overviews. Still sounds like me S4. Looks great though.


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We need to be grabbing these outgoing V8's while we still can before they're a distant memory.

All the points above re torque vs revs etc are valid, I had a two year stint with an F10 M5 (very similar torque/power curve to an RS6) and to me they are the sweet spot, best of both worlds option, buckets of low down torque that can be driven like a diesel if you so wish but with a peaky top end when the mood and roads allow.

The new RS5 has missed its brief and is, to me, a high powered S5, essentially same engine and gearbox in a higher state of tune. Like for like spec with my B9 S5 on an RS5 is almost £20k more.... not seeing the value myself.

My next car will be a 18 month old RS6 to make hay while the sun is shining... there's a big electrical storm on the way!

Amen brother. Amen. I'm with you 100% here. They're on their way out and hopefully will be hitting prices us mere mortals can afford! Because they deserve to be in the hands of people that appreciate them. If the latest 'thing' is a huge compromise, give me the old.

Highly tuned S5. Spot on there...nearly every option on my S4 was half the price of the equivalent on the RS5. Not quite sure what kind of driver/person is going to buy this. I'd be interested to see.


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More vids...one guy seems really excited haha













All European bar one with no subs but you're listening for the car. Just skip the overviews. Still sounds like me S4. Looks great though.


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They had to park under a bridge in the second video to amplify the sound lol.

It's obviously a very capable car but doesn't add nearly enough 'soul' over and above the equivalent 'S' car, and these types of car need something more than just technology/science, they need that little bit of magic that you can't quite put your finger on.

I'll reserve judgement until I drive one but it's not doing it for me yet.
 
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They had to park under a bridge in the second video to amplify the sound lol.

It's obviously a very capable car but doesn't add nearly enough 'soul' over and above the equivalent 'S' car, and these types of car need something more than just technology/science, they need that little bit of magic that you can't quite put your finger on.

I'll reserve judgement until I drive one but it's not doing it for me yet.

Exactly. But, at this point, we should be left thinking "I want one!" shouldn't we? It should just make something in your gut jump for joy. Even just hearing it from a road test. I'll wait for the RS4 until I drive one. My local dealer doesn't play ball with test drives unless you're buying.


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There were 3 interesting cars on my drive yesterday: A Ferrari 360 spyder, a Porsche Carrerra S and a McLaren 12C. Not mine of course - it was my daughter's "high school prom" and these were her and her friends' taxis to the venue. My brother-in-law owns the Ferrari, one of my daughter's friends' dad the Porsche and the McLaren is owned by another friends' grandfather. This was the first time they had met so they were talking about each others' cars, and I was listening in. The relevance to this thread was that there was no discussion about performance, so I did not join in to mention that my S5 probably has the edge on performance over the Ferrari and the Porsche and would lose, but likely not embarrassed (especially on a bang-per-buck basis), to the McLaren. No, their conversation was 100% "bling". IIRC the McLaren owner mentioned that part of the bodywork which was carbon fibre was a £17K optional extra. And that's where Audi will score with the RS5. It will be bought by people who want image and will pay for those optional extras. These people don't go on forums like this. WE are NOT the target market for the RS5.
 
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There were 3 interesting cars on my drive yesterday: A Ferrari 360 spyder, a Porsche Carrerra S and a McLaren 12C. Not mine of course - it was my daughter's "high school prom" and these were her and her friends' taxis to the venue. My brother-in-law owns the Ferrari, one of my daughter's friends' dad the Porsche and the McLaren is owned by another friends' grandfather. This was the first time they had met so they were talking about each others' cars, and I was listening in. The relevance to this thread was that there was no discussion about performance, so I did not join in to mention that my S5 probably has the edge on performance over the Ferrari and the Porsche and would lose, but likely not embarrassed (especially on a bang-per-buck basis), to the McLaren. No, their conversation was 100% "bling". IIRC the McLaren owner mentioned that part of the bodywork which was carbon fibre was a £17K optional extra. And that's where Audi will score with the RS5. It will be bought by people who want image and will pay for those optional extras. These people don't go on forums like this. WE are NOT the target market for the RS5.

I genuinely wondered where this was going Then you brought it all the way home! You really think Audi have just bought into the sub culture over making a car for enthusiasts? The whole Shmee scene has kind of ruined the market in my opinion. Like, Monaco for example. I've been twice and obviously it's a car Mecca. Just seeing these glorious machines drive about in the wild. Felt classy and ballsy though.

That was 3 years ago. Since then, every car video I see of supercars in Monaco is full of these people you're referring to in the above post. With the exception of a couple of vloggers who are hating the turbo scene. Anyway, all these young money lads are just acting like nobs in Monaco and being stupendously dangerous because they know they're on camera.

I LOVE the noise, don't get me wrong but just highlighting the seismic shift in who's buying performance cars now. Like you have. I've met some cracking folk on this forum and you're right, I can't see these people being on here. We just getting old?!


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There were 3 interesting cars on my drive yesterday: A Ferrari 360 spyder, a Porsche Carrerra S and a McLaren 12C. Not mine of course - it was my daughter's "high school prom" and these were her and her friends' taxis to the venue. My brother-in-law owns the Ferrari, one of my daughter's friends' dad the Porsche and the McLaren is owned by another friends' grandfather. This was the first time they had met so they were talking about each others' cars, and I was listening in. The relevance to this thread was that there was no discussion about performance, so I did not join in to mention that my S5 probably has the edge on performance over the Ferrari and the Porsche and would lose, but likely not embarrassed (especially on a bang-per-buck basis), to the McLaren. No, their conversation was 100% "bling". IIRC the McLaren owner mentioned that part of the bodywork which was carbon fibre was a £17K optional extra. And that's where Audi will score with the RS5. It will be bought by people who want image and will pay for those optional extras. These people don't go on forums like this. WE are NOT the target market for the RS5.

I agree with your point about the 'bling element of supercars but completely disagree about your point that 'we' Forum-goers/Petrol heads aren't the target market for the RS5, it's not a super car, it's a super fast version of a mid range coupe that us petrol heads should covet and desire, exactly as Thundercliffe says.

These cars shouldnt be nudging £90k in optioned up spec, because that sort of budget starts opening up a whole world of competition it's not got the 'soul' to compete against, 911 and GTR (granted it could be argued the GTR is a bit soulless but you know what I mean!)to name just a couple, let alone the 12 month old used market.

I bet the Chaps you where chatting with wouldn't entertain the thought of an RS Audi of any description as the badge just can't compete with the likes of Porsche,Ferrari and McLaren.
 
I must admit, as I have an S4 on order I was waiting with anticipation to see what the new RS5 was like as that should give an indication of what the new RS4 should be like later this year and if it would be worth the £15k premium.
Can't say I can see £15k worth of extras to be honest, if I want a glob more power I'll take a £2k and get someone like ABT to give me around 420hp using non-permanent methods, that means it's a £13k bodykit & tyre combo (with some tweaks here and there, but same gearbox, interior etc) which I don't think looks better than an S4 or even a high spec A4.
All the wheels I have seen on the RS5 are ugly as hell and look a bit Halfords to me.

I'll stick with the S4 (now changed to Nogaro Blue for MY2018 ;))
 
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I must admit, as I have an S4 on order I was waiting with anticipation to see what the new RS5 was like as that should give an indication of what the new RS4 should be like later this year and if it would be worth the £15k premium.
Can't say I can see £15k worth of extras to be honest, if I want a glob more power I'll take a £2k and get someone like ABT to give me around 420hp using non-permanent methods, that means it's a £13k bodykit & tyre combo (with some tweaks here and there, but same gearbox, interior etc) which I don't think looks better than an S4 or even a high spec A4.
All the wheels I have seen on the RS5 are ugly as hell and look a bit Halfords to me.

I'll stick with the S4 (now changed to Nogaro Blue for MY2018 ;))

Nogaro mate?! Daaaaamn. Can't wait to see that. Go exclusive and get the blue accent stitching. It really does just come down to the body kit and tweaks then. It's got to be more than that surely. They should have went turbo V8. Their technology in the S6 and above is brilliant in that field.


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Nogaro mate?! Daaaaamn. Can't wait to see that. Go exclusive and get the blue accent stitching.

Tempted to get the exclusive interior customised like the RS4 Nogaro Edition a few years ago, but the price is starting to get silly!
 
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Tempted to get the exclusive interior customised like the RS4 Nogaro Edition a few years ago, but the price is starting to get silly!

Noooooo , that car was too much! Haha. I hated that interior. But it certainly was exclusive and will be a collectors one day. Ahhhhh Audi, the option bandits!


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There's more joy in this than the current RS5 reviews




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Noooooo , that car was too much! Haha. I hated that interior. But it certainly was exclusive and will be a collectors one day. Ahhhhh Audi, the option bandits!


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I know it was a bit "in your face" but I liked it as it had that old school vibe to it with the blue alcantara, plus I dislike full leather seats as it feels like you've pi**ed yourself after a couple of hours driving, so the half-and-half would be lovely.
Just a shame half alcantara isn't an option on these like on the TTS.
 
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I know it was a bit "in your face" but I liked it as it had that old school vibe to it with the blue alcantara, plus I dislike full leather seats as it feels like you've pi**ed yourself after a couple of hours driving, so the half-and-half would be lovely.
Just a shame half alcantara isn't an option on these like on the TTS.

Is it? Thought it was exactly the same. In magma, lunar or black? Or just black? Not seen one.


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Is it? Thought it was exactly the same. In magma, lunar or black? Or just black? Not seen one.


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Think you can have the same colours in full leather, but the half alcantara option is black or grey I think.
Sat in one with black upholstery, from memory I think it was the chequed/criss-cross stitch area that was alcantara.
 
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Here we go gents...a good, quick, honest review:





Have to agree with the guy. Just lacks the beating heart that the 4.2 had.


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Here we go gents...a good, quick, honest review:





Have to agree with the guy. Just lacks the beating heart that the 4.2 had.


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That sounds truly ***** doesn't it

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That sounds truly ***** doesn't it

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Genuinely sounds like they didn't even try! Or 12 months time we'll see the RS5 Performance with a great exhaust and the car should have always been. 500bhp.


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