Audi RS5 Confirmed for North America

With sale of the Audi RS4 ceasing several years ago, North America has been wanting for a high-performance Audi for some time and, finally, that drought is about to end. According to a report by Car & Driver, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has confirmed the recently unveiled RS5 will be sold in North America.

The RS5 takes every aspect of the already amazing S5 and ups the ante with a 450-hp 5.2-liter V8, 19-inch wheels, a lowered suspension and massive brakes. Combined with Audi’s S-tronic dual-clutch 7-speed transmission, quattro all-wheel drive and a 3,803 lb curb weight the RS5 can accelerate to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds. There’s also Audi’s drive-select program to control different levels of throttle response, steering, transmission gear changes, the sport differential and even the exhaust system.

Other highlights include an electronic limited slip differential, that slows the inside wheel in a turn when wheel spin is detected. Plus, an optional sport differential will be made available, distributing power between the rear wheels. The RS5 even features Audi’s new crown-gear differential, which allows for up to 70 percent of the power to be distributed to the front wheels, or as much as 85 percent to the rear wheels.

The RS5 should go on sale later this year as a 2011 model and C&D estimates pricing around that of the M3 – although we have to think it will be a good chunk more expensive than the Bimmer.

When it does arrive, the RS5 might not be the only RS model in North America with several reports indicating the TT-RS will make its way across the pond (to Canada at least).