Audi launches revised RS5

Audi has launched the revised RS5 which now has the same updated look as the rest of the A5 range which was improved earlier this year. It's available to order now and is priced at £58,725 on the road. The first cars will arrive in April.

The changes are most notable at the front with new headlights, more pronounced bonnet contours and a slightly different grille shape. There are LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights plus redesigned bumpers front and back along with new 10-spoke design 19-inch alloy wheels.

Inside it now gets Bluetooth and DVD-based sat nav as standard along with cruise control and the Audi Music Interface iPod connection. Adaptive cruise control is now available as an optional extra. There is also a revised flat-bottomed RS steering wheel and changes the main buttons, switches and instrument stalks.

Under the bonnet it's business as usual with the same 4.2-litre V8 engine which develops a maximum 450PS along with 430Nm of torque. This gives it a 0-62mph time of just 4.5 seconds with a limited top speed of 155mph. This can be unrestricted to 174mph as an optional extra. Claimed average economy is 26.9mpg with CO2 of 246g/km.

A Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) system is available as an option, while enthusiasts can opt for carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs as an extra. Along with the standard Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system there's also a new dynamic steering option which varies the steering ratio across four settings - comfort, auto, dynamics and individual.

Without this option, the system can apply the same four settings to the steering weigh, along with the S tronic transmission shift points and the throttle response. It also alters the sound of the exhaust system, double-clutching when downshifting in dynamic mode.

The dynamic ride control and dynamic steering options are available individually or combined as part of a new Sport Package, which also includes 20-inch rotor design titanium look alloy wheels and a sports exhaust. It's priced at £2250 which is £2915 cheaper than choosing both seperately.