Audi, the third biggest German luxury car maker by sales in India, has introduced the second generation Audi RS5 Coupé in Asia’s third biggest car mart to boost sales.

Priced at Rs 1.11 crore, the all new Audi RS5 Coupé, imported in CBU (completely built unit) form from Ingolstadt, Germany, competes with the BMW M4, which costs a tad higher at Rs 1.33 crore.

Significantly, with this new car, Audi Sport is presenting its first model to feature the new RS design philosophy in India. The Coupé’s all-new 2.9-litre TFSI bi-turbo petrol engine, co-developed with Porsche, produces 331 kW (450 hp) and delivers 600 Nm of torque. The standard quattro drive distributes the power to all four wheels.

The distinctive racing details coupled with high performance of a V6 engine highlights the new Audi RS5 Coupé sporty character and makes it the most desirable model in the Audi A5 family.

“The all new Audi RS5 Coupé is a unique product as it bridges the gap for the customers who are practical and want to own a luxury car with the performance of a sportscar,” Rahil Ansari, head at Audi India told Financial Chronicle.

2018 is the year of Audi progression and in line with this, the brand is renewing its performance car portfolio in the country, he said. “We have lined up more surprises in store for our performance car enthusiasts in the coming days,” Ansari said, declining to reveal details.

The company claimed that the new Audi RS5 Coupe sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, while the top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. Although it does not concern most buyers, but those who would like to know, the fuel economy is rated at 10.8 km per litre.

The 2018 Audi RS5 Coupe’s sporty exterior comprises wider and flatter singleframe grille with quattro branding along the bottom, additional air inlets (front)/outlets (rear), 19-inch 10 star design aluminium forged wheels wrapped in 265/35 R19 tyres and housed in 15 mm wider wheel arches, RS-specific diffuser insert and oval tailpipes. The Audi exclusive black styling package with black ORVM housing is standard, while matt aluminium and carbon styling packages are optional.

Inside, in addition to the typical RS-specific elements related to upholstery and trim inserts, the redesigned Audi RS5 Coupe boasts Audi Virtual Cockpit with special RS screen. The fully digital instrument cluster displays the information on tyre pressure, torque and g-forces, as well as a shift light to prompt the driver to upshift.

michaelgonsalves@mydigitalfc.com