Audi’s RS 4 and RS 5 offered plenty of performance right out of the box, but in 2023 the cars can be ordered with upgrades that aim to boost performance even further while adding style.
Grouped as Competition and Competition Plus packages, the upgrades bring a host of tweaks including an adjustable coil suspension that lowers the ride height by 10mm, front and rear swing bars, and a new exhaust system. Sport exhaust with black exhaust. Removing the soundproofing around the firewall also brings more engine noise into the cabin and helps reduce curb weight by 18 lb.
Engineers also determined transmission performance by reducing gearshift times and improving steering accuracy by introducing a fixed steering ratio of 13.1:1. The all-wheel drive system has also been tweaked to provide more power to the rear wheels.
Stopping is improved with new carbon-ceramic brake rotors on the front axle and tweaked ABS software. According to Audi, stopping distances from 60 mph are 6 feet shorter. Another key upgrade is new five-spoke alloy wheels that come standard with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.
2023 Audi RS 5 with Competition Plus package
2023 Audi RS 5 Sportback with Competition Plus package
2023 Audi RS 5 Sportback with Competition Plus package
The Audi RS 4, available only in Avant wagon guise, has an improvement in the 0-62 mph time from 0.2 seconds to a new time of 3.9 seconds. The RS 5 coupe and RS 5 Sportback hatch sprinted in 3.8 seconds, an improvement of 0.1 seconds. Top speed has also been raised to 180 mph.
No changes have been made to the powertrain. Under the bonnet of each car, you’ll find a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 that makes 444 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and turns all four wheels as standard.
These packages also bring styling tweaks inside and out. In addition to the new wheels mentioned above, there are also dark accents for the exterior and cabin, including some carbon fiber details. The dark accents contrast with some red elements, such as the stitching and the color of the brake calipers. Buyers also have the option to paint the Sebring black crystal effect exclusively for the packages.
The RS 4 Avant isn’t available in the US but for the RS 5 you’re looking at $16,100 for the full range of upgrades.
