TEUTONIC CHALLENGE
AUDI HAS ROLLED OUT ITS SECOND-GEN RS5 COUPE AND BMW’S IMMEDIATE ANSWER IS THE M4 CS — WITH LEVELLING ON-PAPER PERFORMANCE
THE RS5’S STYLING LOOKS SO EVOLUTIONARY…
When it comes to replacing an existing model, Audi is one of those brands which takes a rather conservative approach in overhauling the car’s exterior appearance.
Key design elements in the new RS5 Coupe, which takes on the BMW M4 and Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe, include pronounced air vents in the front bumper, two large oval tail pipes at the rear and sassy-looking wheels.
The interior is equally as evolutionary sporting an Alcantara-clad steering wheel, carbon fibre and alloy trim on the dashboard and centre console and red stitching around the cabin — all to emphasise the RS5 Coupe’s sporty intentions.
I HEARD IT’S GOT A DOWNSIZED ENGINE?
That’s right. In place of the 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 comes a 2.9litre twin-turbo V6, coupled to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic rather than the predecessor’s seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Drive is sent to all four wheels via a system that splits drive 40:60 between the front and rear axles under normal driving.
Although maximum power remains at 450hp, torque has swollen from 430Nm to 600Nm thanks to the use of forced induction. As a result, the RS5 Coupe sprints from 0-100kph in 3.9sec — a good 0.6sec faster than before.
HOW DO ITS RIVALS COPE?
The M4, equipped with 431hp 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six, is 0.2sec slower; even the Competition Pack with 450hp is still 0.1sec behind.
Armed with a 476hp 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8, the C63 S does it in 4.0sec. It’s only the go-faster 510hp S that can equal the RS5 Coupe’s record. Like the Bimmer, the Merc comes with seven-speed dual-clutch auto and drives just the rear wheels.
SO THAT BLUE BIMMER IS A RIPOSTE FOR THE AUDI?
Basically, although it is only a go-faster model of an existing base car. Thanks to improving competition, BMW has made a fourth version of the M4 called CS (Club Sport) following the regular model, Competition Package and GTS.
The M4 CS highlights some sporty details like front splitter and rear spoiler made from carbon fibre. Inside, there’s also steering wheel clad with Alcantara and the handles on the slimmed-down door panels have been replaced with loops.
COOL. HOW MUCH MORE POWER HAS IT RECEIVED?
BMW has tweaked the 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six engine to 460hp and 600Nm for the M4 CS. That’s 10hp and 50Nm more than in the M4 Competition Package.
As a result, the M4 CS goes from 0-100kph in 3.9sec — a tenth of a second quicker than the M4 Competition Package. And because the M4 CS comes with the M Driver’s pack as standard, the electronically limited top speed has been raised from 250kph to 280kph.
Speaking of the acceleration time, the M4 CS is now level with the latest RS5 and C63 S high-performance mid-size coupes.
BUT THAT GTS IS QUICKER…
True, the M4 GTS is faster with a 3.8sec time. However, BMW’s intention with the M4 CS is to create a go-faster model suited for public roads; the M4 GTS has been developed with the racetrack in mind.
That’s one reason why the M4 CS still has rear seats and omits the roll-cage fitted in the two-seat M4 GTS. BMW says the M4 CS’s 7min 38sec lap time around the Nurburgring falls in between the M4 Competition Package and M4 GTS.
I SEE. COULD THE CS BE MORE FUN TO DRIVE THAN THE AUDI?
According to BMW, the exhaust sound in the M4 CS can be adjusted by a mode selector, a feature also found in the RS5. As well, drifts can be made easier in the M4 CS thanks to the M Dynamic diff being modified to allow greater wheel slip. The RS5’s Quattro all-wheeldrive system could be more about driving security, although that’s only an initial impression from the armchair.
Standard in the M4 CS is seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle-shift, M adaptive suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. Carbon-ceramic brakes, however, are optional.
The M4 CS will only be built in limited numbers and is expected to command a slight premium over the lesser M4s at just over 10 million baht — around 2 million more than the standard M4.
Should the new Thai Audi importer decide to sell the RS5 Coupe in Thailand, expect it to come under 10 million baht because its sub-3,000cc engine — like the M4’s — can be evaluated with CO2 rules (197g/km equals 35% excise tax).