2026 Audi RS5 Avant Plugs Into The Future Of Performance

Audi is gearing up to introduce the redesigned A5 in the second half of the year, so it’s not surprising that attention is turning to the upcoming RS5 Avant. Set to replace the RS4 Avant, the model is a high-performance wagon that is expected to pack a plug-in hybrid punch.

Caught undergoing testing on the Nürburgring, the model sports an evolutionary but streamlined design. Starting up front, we can see a more expansive grille that incorporates a number of sensors. It’s flanked by vertical air curtains and angular intakes that feature a horizontal element. We can also see familiar headlights that appear to incorporate customizable daytime running lights.

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Moving further back, there are bulging fenders that contrast with svelte bodywork. Designers also gave the car flush-mounted door handles, a gently sloping roof, and a sporty front fender vents.

The rear end is heavily disguised, but the wagon has eye-catching taillights that are connected by a slender strip. We can also see smaller reflectors and a dual exhaust system.

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Spy photographers didn’t get a good look inside, but previous pictures of the mainstream variant have revealed the model will have a freestanding digital instrument cluster. We can also expect a minimalist shifter as well as a more modern design.

Audi has been tight-lipped about the upcoming RS5 Avant, but it will ride on the new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC). As the name suggests, the architecture was designed for vehicles with combustion engines and it’s expected to be an evolution of the current MLB Evo platform.

Little else is known about the car at this point, but rumors have suggested the model could use a plug-in hybrid powertrain that incorporates the current twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6. The engine currently produces 444 hp (331 kW / 450 PS) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, which enables the wagon to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.1 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

The plug-in hybrid powertrain would undoubtedly improve on those numbers, while also enabling the car to travel on electricity alone for a distance.