Must have

It’s not just a car you can live with on a daily basis, but one you want to live with. All the rich, young at heart, enthusiast drivers, here’s the perfect recipe for you, the Audi RS5. And we have driven it

Highlights:

- The engine is a 4.2-litre, V8, petrol that makes 444bhp and 430Nm of torque.

- Gearbox is a 7-speed dual clutch that’s not just fast, but fun to use too.

- The RS5 is one quick car; in fact it is one of the quickest cars we have tested recently. It only takes 4.7 seconds to complete the 0-100kmph sprint and tops out at a limited 280kmph.

- It’s not very fuel efficient though and should return about 6kmpl in the city and a little more than that on the highway run. But, getting 10kmpl will need a miracle.

- It’s priced at Rs 76 lakh ex-showroom in Delhi.

What else can I say, except that the Audi RS5 is simply brilliant. Firstly, it’s an aural tour de force – it lets out small explosions every time it upshifts at low revs, and then while downshifting at higher rpm, it blips with a bark so fierce even the deadliest of Rottweiler run for cover. And it downshifts at higher rpms without complain too, because unlike most cars, this one revs like a motorcycle – almost upto 8500rpm. There’s another small bit that makes the RS5 special, its ability to accelerate. Pardon the cliché, but it does take off like a bat out of hell every time the throttle is pressed into business.

Did you spot a pattern here? Everything I just appreciated about the RS5 has got to do with the car’s heart; it’s 4.2-litre, 444bhp, V8 petrol engine. And honestly, that’s what makes the car special, because everything else about the RS5 has already been experienced before in some Audi or the other.

The quattro and the torque vectoring system that gives the RS5 unbelievable grip around bends and allows the driver to mash the throttle anywhere through a corner without having to pray for life, is something we witnessed on the A7. Its immaculate build quality and rich feeling interiors is a standard feature on all Audis, as are the various gadgets and gizmos, and comfort and safety equipment.

In that sense, the RS5, even though it has everything, isn’t spectacular. That’s of course, till you get behind the steering wheel, crank up the monster of an engine and switch the Drive Select mode to Dynamic. Instantly, the exhaust note becomes brawnier, even at idle. Turn the ESP setting to Sport; floor the throttle pedal and what follows is not just thrill but absolute insanity!

The car squats on its rear suspension; the tyres struggle to grip; the steering fights to stay in a straight ahead position, and seconds later everything is just a patch of blur. 100kmph comes up in just 4.7 seconds and another 10 seconds or so later, when you are about to hit 200kmph, specs in the distance, you realise, have transformed into lumbering trucks. And palms of steel, exuberance and confidence, are now sweaty.

With a pounding heart, over undulated roads, you get on the brakes hard. The steering twitches, there’s a hint of tram-lining, but seconds later everything is back to pedestrian speed. And then you look at the speedo and realise, you are still sitting at over 100kmph. Another hard dab on the brakes and in less than the time taken to get to 100kmph, the car is finally at a standstill. This dear reader is an addiction beyond compare and the true reason to buy the RS5.

Clearly, the RS5 is an absolute joy to drive. But, what really works in its favour is that besides the outstanding, supercar-like manic performance and noise, it’s also a decently practical car. It has a respectable sized boot, decent visibility, a light steering and acceptable ride (in Comfort mode) and it can actually seat adults at the rear, even though it might be a bit of a squeeze. And its ravishing looks only helps seal the deal in the RS5’s favour. Got money? Love driving hard? Then, the RS5 is the answer.