RS5's a howling high-speed hairdryer

Published Jun 20, 2013

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The introduction of Audi’s RS5 Cabriolet in South Africa last week is somewhat momentous, as it also marks the first time that four RS models (TT-RS, RS4 Avant, and RS5 coupé and cabrio) are available at the same time on local soil.

Gone are the days when RS cars came off the production line at the end of the model’s lifecycle, with just one RS derivative being produced at a time.

Ingolstadt has realised that like Merc’s AMG and Beemer’s M ranges, there’s a definite need for speed among its high-end buyers.

LAST OF A DYING BREED

The latest RS model, the four-seater RS5 Cabrio, gets the same high-revving and naturally-breathing 4.2-litre V8 as found in its coupé sibling and the RS4 Avant (it’s the last time we’ll see this engine in an Audi). Pushing 331kW and 430Nm, this howling hairdryer will get you from standstill to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, before hitting its governor at 250km/h (280 at customer behest). Consumption, with restrained driving, is in the region of 10.7l/100km and emissions around 249g/km.

The soft top is classified as an acoustic hood (standard fitment) and offers a 15mm-thick foam layer between the cover and the interior lining for noise reduction – which Audi reckons brings cabin noise down to coupé-rivaling levels. The striptease act takes 15 seconds (two seconds longer to close) and can be done at driving speeds of up to 50km/h. The folding roof takes up 60 litres of boot space, bringing lugging capacity down to 320 litres – which the Germans promise is still a best-in-class figure.

To compensate for the absence of a metal roof Audi has introduced specially-developed reinforcement components like diagonal struts in the front and rear (for rigidity), and higher-strength side skirts. Rollover protection is located between the cabin and luggage compartment.

ANGRY ‘RS’ TWEAKS

The RS5 is a sexy number offering clean lines with angry RS tweaks, which include finishes in matt aluminium, anthracite RS5 logos, large air intakes, wide shoulders, flared wheel arches, matt-carbon spoilers, wicked 19-inch alloys, and large tailpipes inside an aluminium diffuser.

The go-faster styling continues inside with the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel and paddles, RS-specific menu (with things like a lap timer and oil temperature gauge), sport seats and dials with RS logos, carbon inlays, and a top-of-the-line version of Audi’s MMI satnav and entertainment system (with WLAN hotspot capability).

Audi launched its latest cabrio at the Dezzi Raceway in Durban last week, making it the first time I’ve been on a track alfresco – which when following someone too closely can also lead to a few high-speed forehead stone chips.

NOT REALLY FOR THE TRACK

The RS5 cabrio is 150kg heavier than the coupé, and even with that RS badge it’s not really designed for track use. It feels a little heavy through Dezzi’s drift-biased corners, but the latest version of quattro all-wheel drive, and sport suspension setup makes it one of the better-handling four-seater cabrios.

The seven-speed S Tronic box works well too, and in Sport mode was intuitive enough for the raceway. Roof-down driving also means you get to enjoy the sound of a traditional, normally-breathing V8 at 8 500rpm, which is never a bad thing.

The rampant RS5 cabrio is priced at R986 000. The RS assault continues with the RS Q3 (2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo) and RS7 Sportback (4-litre twin-turbo V8) both expected in SA in January next year – the RS6 Avant will not be coming here. -Drive Times

Follow me on Twitter: @MineshBhagaloo

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