For almost 20 years, Audi kept ignoring the obvious — and now, it looks like the wait is finally over. A camouflaged Q5 prototype was spotted testing on European roads, and this time there’s no mistaking it: wider wheel arches, a broader track and the oval exhaust tips typical of Audi Sport give away an RS version loud and clear.
Yellow high-voltage markings are a dead giveaway for a plug-in hybrid setup. And by the looks of it, the RS Q5 will borrow its hardware from the new RS5 — a gasoline V6 paired with an electric motor, good for a combined output of around 630 hp and 825 Nm of torque. For a crossover that has so far had to settle for the S badge, that’s a serious leap.
Audi hasn’t released official specs yet. What’s already clear is the price you’ll pay — in weight. The RS5’s battery carries real heft: 25.9 kWh of capacity, and the wagon itself tips the scales at around 2,370 kg. The RS Q5 will almost certainly be even heavier — even the regular SQ5 already weighs about 75 kg more than a comparable S5 Avant. That hybrid punch doesn’t come free.
The model will sit above the SQ5 — and double as a close relative of the upcoming gasoline-powered Porsche Macan, expected in 2028. Audi and Porsche are increasingly sharing development work to avoid footing the bill twice for new platforms and powertrains. Spotted in the same test convoy were a large SQ9 and the next-generation RS6 Avant — which, notably, will also return as a sedan, effectively replacing the RS7 Sportback.
Audi hasn’t named a launch date for the RS Q5 yet. And if the power figures hold up, the real question won’t be about speed. It’ll be whether a heavy hybrid can still deliver the sharpness that makes people reach for the RS badge in the first place.
