Edmunds: 2010 Audi RS5 Meets 2010 BMW M3 CSL

[Bartek S.]

The Clash of the V8-Powered Titans
The rivalry between Audi and BMW is a clash of industry heavyweights, a battle for the hearts and minds of the most demanding, tough-minded car enthusiasts in the world between two adventurous, successful car companies. And it's all coming down to the 2010 Audi RS5 and the 2010 BMW M3 CSL.

These cars are coming down the production pipeline, major statements of automotive performance by two companies that care more about excellence than profit. (They're German, after all.) If you're a car enthusiast, the prospect of these two super coupes will be all you're going to be talking about for the next year.

And yet both Audi and BMW want the other to win the race to market. Why? Because the output of the V8-powered 2010 Audi RS5 and 2010 BMW CSL will both hover around 450 horsepower, and whichever arrives first allows the enemy to gazump it on peak power.

That is, if these cars arrive at all.

Supercharged V6 or Brawny V8?
The 2010 Audi RS5 will be measuring itself against the current BMW M3 with its high-revving 4.0-liter V8. There have been mutterings about a supercharged V6 in the new Audi, and indeed the 2009 Audi S4 sedan that arrives this autumn will feature this unnaturally aspirated 350-hp V6.

But not so the RS5. The RS5 coupe will be a flagship, so Audi will be giving a one-fingered salute to the demands of environmentalists for downsized engines. The RS5 will feature a twin-turbo version of the corporate Audi 4.2-liter V8 and it'll deliver 450 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque, a substantial boost above the 414-hp output of the normally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 we remember from the Audi RS4.

At the same time, this 4.2-liter V8 will incorporate direct injection to improve fuel economy and it will meet the new, stricter European air emissions standards that will come into effect in 2009.

Full article: edmunds

 

[LaArtist]

Lol its funny what they can do with computers these days
for a second i thought
Where the hell did they get hold of this new RS5--hahaha

To bad that there wont be a CSL though
But im looking forward to the RS5

 

[Merc1]

Edmunds must be bored and/or short on real reviews. First time I've seen a review or comparo of 2 cars that don't exist yet from them. This is some Motor Trend type nonsense.

M

 

[Zafiro]

Looks like a copy from Carmagazine.

 

[MoSs]

WOW!!!! if thats how its going look like or even close i would definetly trade my S5 to the RS5

 

[bmwownage]

I don't really understand about 'not enough numbers for the M3 CSL' or something... Are they suggesting that they can't even sell the limited number of CSLs they'll build? How many E46 CSLs were there? in my memory they were sold out very very quickly, and in fact I heard there are only TWO allocated to New Zealand for example.

 

[Zafiro]

WOW!!!! if thats how its going look like or even close i would definetly trade my S5 to the RS5

Really? give the money to poor and people living in misery instead

 

[Mr Robert]

Wow, that "RS5" is really something else, best looking Audi ever.

 

[Deleted member 25]

Really? give the money to poor and people living in misery instead

 

[warot]

I don't really understand about 'not enough numbers for the M3 CSL' or something... Are they suggesting that they can't even sell the limited number of CSLs they'll build? How many E46 CSLs were there? in my memory they were sold out very very quickly, and in fact I heard there are only TWO allocated to New Zealand for example.

They sold out because these cars were rare. I'm not in the loop at all as to what's going on with this car (aka whether it's absolutely 100% sure axed), but the cost to research that car might be greater than the profit that BMW will make. In times like these, it makes sense, even though it hurts.

 

[CarGuy]

wow, that "rs5" is really something else, best looking audi ever.

lol

 

[Tarek]

I'm really looking forward to RS5 and i hope it's like the legendary B7 RS4 not a heavy rocket like the RS6

 

[MoSs]

Really? give the money to poor and people living in misery instead

lol very funny

 

[Mr Robert]

lol

OK, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration but it sure is top 5. The only contemporary threat is the R8 but that suffers from some funny proportions compared to the fantasy RS5. The S5 is of course good looking too but less so than this.

 

[ACE]

The RS5 will feature a twin-turbo version of the corporate Audi 4.2-liter V8 and it'll deliver 450 hp and 332 pound-feet of torque

Since both the NA 4.2 V8 S5 and supercharged 3.0 V6 S4 have around 325 lb ft (440Nm) of torque, I simply don't believe that a twin turbo 4.2 V8 RS5 will only have 332 lb ft of torque. Makes me wonder where Edmunds are getting these numbers from!

 

[Mr Robert]

Makes me wonder where Edmunds are getting these numbers from!

Same place they got the looks of the RS5 - their magic hat.

 

[genbatata]

Lol its funny what they can do with computers these days
for a second i thought
Where the hell did they get hold of this new RS5--hahaha

exactly as me
and yeah bad news that there will be no CSL

 

[DaSilva]

Even if that RS5 is computer made I like it alot!!
The TT wing and that RS6 diffusor oh my god...