Race Car for Streets?

 

The all-new 2013 Audi RS 5 almost feels like a race car for the street, with its glued-to-the-road suspension, strong brakes and awesome, high-revving 4.2-liter V-8 that generates 450-horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. That naturally aspirated V-8 is good for an oh-my-gosh 0-60 m.p.h time and, says Audi,  an electronically governed top speed of 174 m.p.h. A rear spoiler automatically raises at 75 m.p.h. and retracts at 50 m.p.h.—or can be manually raised and lowered via the push of a button.

 

The exhaust system has two chromed oval-shaped exhaust outlets integrated within the bumper. They emit a performance sound to fit the RS 5’s character and look as if designed by a skilled artist. Audi says the $68,900, all-wheel-drive RS 5 looks like a “classically elegant coupe.” Rather, I think it looks downright slinky. (Audi later says in a press release that the RS 5  styling is “dynamically elegant.”) But the low front end must be kept in mind when pulling into a parking spot with objects such as a high curb at its end.

 

 

Some sports car buffs will gripe that there’s no availability of a manual transmission. Instead, the engine is hooked to a responsive seven-speed, double-clutch  “S tronic” automatic transmission that can operate in responsive fully automatic mode or be manually shifted via the gear selector or shift paddles near the flat-bottom steering wheel. There’s also a launch-control program, which seems silly for this car.

 

The track? Naw. There’s no doubt, though, that the RS 5 has “track-tested performance.” For instance, my test car securely took decreasing radius curves onto freeways so fast that it almost made my ears bleed. Electronic stability control will help keep unskilled drivers safe during hard motoring. It integrates a sport mode and can be switched off entirely. But most should leave it alone because the RS 5 coupe has capabilities far beyond those of most drivers.

 

The car is nicely equipped, with items including a Nappa leather interior, tilting glass-panel sunroof with a retractable sunshade, heated power front seats, decent sound system and push-button start. Safety items include front and side curtain air bags and front/rear acoustic parking sensors. This Audi is too quiet, comfortable and heavy, at a little over 4,000 pounds, to be a race car. The horsepower and weight conspire to result in estimated, mediocre city fuel economy of 16 miles per gallon.

 
From: http://www.tflcar.com/2013/04/review-is-the-new-audi-rs-5-a-race-car-for-the-street/