For those who found Audi's decision to equip all of its S models with diesel engines — with the exception of one model — strange, the Ingolstadt manufacturer seems to want to redeem itself. By the end of the year we will see six new Audi RS … and calm the restless spirits, all with Otto engines.
What the image at the top of this article reveals is the return, in large part, of the two most powerful letters in the industry to Audi, after the recent disruptions caused not only by the WLTP, but also by the introduction of updates or new generations of some of its models .
The teaser reveals six dimly lit models, but you don't need a diviner's powers to identify them.
So, starting from left to right, we see the next Audi RS6 Avant, the Audi RS7 Sportback, the two Audi RS Q3s — already including the new Sportback —, the Audi RS4 Avant and, finally, the Audi RS Q8.
As mentioned, unlike the most recent S models — S6, S7 Sportback, SQ8 and S4 — the Audi RS should remain faithful to Otto gasoline engines, although some may be supported with some kind of electrification — semi- hybrids or mild-hybrids 48V.
There are no definitive data on the engines that will equip them, but it is more than expected that the services of the five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI, V6 2.9 TFSI and V8 4.0 TFSI will be required.
The penta-cylinder should be reserved for the two RS Q3, engines that we can already find in both the Audi RS3 and the TT RS, delivering 400 hp. With the arrival of the M 139 by AMG, the most powerful of the four cylinders reaching 421 hp, will Audi be left with 400 hp? We doubt that the war for power between the Germans is over.
The 2.9 V6 TFSI is the most likely choice for the revamped RS4 Avant engine that already powered it. The update we saw for the A4 range thus arrives at the RS4, without this meaning a new powertrain — the V6 TFSI had already been revised to comply with the latest emissions regulations and test protocols, as we've already seen in the RS4 that now leaves the market, as in the RS5.
For the remaining three models that are left, RS6 Avant, RS7 Sportback and RS Q8, the 4.0 V8 TFSI is the obvious choice, and let's assume 600 hp will be the minimum we'll see extracted from this block — the competition doesn't do it for less. In the case of the RS Q8, it remains to be seen whether Audi intends to equal the 650 hp of “brother” Urus, or whether it will leave some space between the two SUVs.
The Frankfurt Motor Show, which opens its doors on September 12th, should be the stage where we will be able to see, for the first time, almost all, if not all, of the new Audi RS.