With the new generation of the RS 5, the engineers from Ingolstadt are not just turning over a new leaf, but are actually changing the library. The German beast returns with a hybrid heart and a technological weapon that until now seemed reserved for prototypes from the future - a revolutionary electromechanical system for vectoring the rear axle thrust, integrated into the legendary quattro.
The basis of this magic is a completely transformed rear differential. Unlike previous mechanical solutions, here the classic gear ratio is partnered with a high-tech 400-volt electric motor. This “electric brain“ distributes torque between the rear wheels with mind-blowing speed – the reaction takes only 15 milliseconds, which is ten times faster than a human blink.
Most impressively, the system is completely free from the shackles of the internal combustion engine. It can redirect power even when you're not pressing the accelerator or while using the brakes. With the capacity to create a difference of as much as 2,000 Nm between the left and right wheels, the Audi RS 5 literally “bites“ the asphalt, eliminating understeer in its infancy.
Behind the scenes, the HCP1 supercomputer operates, analyzing every movement of the steering wheel and the road surface in real time. The system is so intuitive that it literally anticipates the driver's intentions, preparing the chassis for the turn even before the car has entered it. Thanks to the water cooling of the 8-kilowatt electric motor, the technology remains effective even during extreme track driving.
The end result is a car with two faces. With the Audi drive select system, you can transform the RS 5 from a comfortable long-distance companion into an aggressive rear-wheel drive machine that obeys your every wish with surgical precision. Audi has not just made a faster car - they have rediscovered control.
