‘Emotional’ Audi RS models to live on in the electric age

September 30

Despite a current lineup dominated by turbocharged five-, six-, and eight-cylinder combustion engines, Audi is confident its RS legacy will live on amidst increasing regulatory pressure.

Of the current 11-car RS range, only the RS e-tron GT features an all-electric powertrain. The rest are powered by internal combustion monsters, the largest of which is the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 found in the RS6, RS7 and RSQ8.

With the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) coming into effect on January 1, 2025, Audi Australia national product manager Matthew Dale says it’s just another chance for the company to show how the RS brand can evolve and adapt.

“The thing with Audi Sport is it’s forever evolving in terms of performance. We’ve shown over the years when we’ve gone from V10s in A6s, then to twin-turbos, now we’ve shown what we can do with RS e-tron GT … where the Audi Sport brand can go in terms of electrification,” he said.

“What that means for the ICE portfolio is yet to be determined. We can’t give too much away [right now] but that will evolve with time as well.”

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As there will be a significant volume of mild- and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) on the cards for Audi in Australia from next year, as well as a growing lineup of electric vehicles (EVs), Mr Dale expects the credits these vehicles will accrue under the NVES will be used to offset high-performance RS models with greater CO2 emissions.

“The technologies we currently have across the range, and the ones that are to come like mild-hybrid plus and PHEVs in other segments, it does allow us to continue to give those RS models, but it’s all based on volume as well,” he said.

“It’s what volume you bring to the market, it’s not necessarily what you sell to the end customer. RS models as a totality aren’t massive, tens of thousands in volume, so it still allows us to bring those models in.”

Audi has previously hinted at RS versions of its upcoming e-tron models to join the existing RS e-tron GT.

Prototypes of what appear to be the RS6 e-tron and RS Q6 e-tron have been spied testing in the past, with Audi executives also having previously appeared to hint at an RS6 e-tron.

Audi confirmed in 2021 it would introduce its last new global model with combustion power in 2025, and then begin “gradually phasing out the production of internal combustion engines until 2033”.

It did, however, indicate it could continue to produce combustion-powered vehicles in China beyond that point.

Mr Dale affirmed the RS brand would live on, regardless of what’s under the bonnet.

“What we can say comfortably is that those performance cars will still be emotional,” he said.

“That sheer emotion when you get behind the wheel … that’s what we want to deliver to our customers. That will continue via the Audi Sport vehicles and the brand.

“Whether [it’s] internal combustion or electric vehicles, performance is a strong consideration for the Audi brand. We’ll continue to offer performance vehicles that excite our customers.”

MORE: Audi Australia preparing for 2025 model onslaughtMORE: How Audi plans to meet tough new Australian emissions standards

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