I’ve driven the hybrid Audi RS 5 — and it's completely changed what I think of plug-in hybrids
For decades, Audi's RS division has built its reputation on extracting astonishing performance from combustion engines, pairing muscular powerplants with the brand's legendary quattro all-wheel-drive system to create machines that could embarrass exotic supercars while carrying an entire family… and their pets.
But times have changed. Stringent emissions regulations, the soaring cost of fuel and the industry's rapid shift towards electrification all mean that even Audi's most revered performance badge can no longer ignore battery packs.
Rather than resisting the inevitable, the Ingolstadt-based company has embraced it, introducing a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the RS 5 for the very first time. If that sounds like sacrilege, bear with me.
Because after spending time behind the wheel of the new RS 5 Avant, it's clear Audi hasn't simply bolted on some battery cells to appease legislators. Instead, it has used electrification to build its most technologically advanced RS model yet.
...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to techradar.com. To see the full text click HERE
