Head-To-Head: BMW's E92 M3 Vs. Audi's Newly Leaked RS5 -- The War Rages On

So 450hp out of a 4.2 V8? So that's 107hp/liter...I'm calling BS.

My guess is it will be a turboed/SC V8 or V6 pushing 440-490hp. Audi seems to like these patterns, the new S4 is a SC V6, I could see this being a SC V8 or a tuned SC V6.

With the direction Audi has taken their engines lately, I would have to say the 4.2L V8 SHOULD be out of the question. But, you never know...

I would assume that this RS5, which has taken a bit of time to develop, would use some sort of new, forced induction powerplant.

Just saw pic of redline @ 8300 rpm, which indicates it should be NA. If Ferrari and HONDA can get 120hp/liter, 107 can be done.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/Motor_Shows/Geneva_Motor_Show/78/88539c813dff495ab396844fa70f9334/22-02-2010-07-10/RS5_images_leak_ahead_of_Geneva

Design wise the RS5 wins hands down. Performance wise this will also be a very close contest between the M3. In fact, the RS5 has the best chance of beating the M3 when compared to the MB C63 AMG and Lexus IS-F, which have never had the same interpretation of Audi or BMW's philosophy of peformance/luxury (MB = more luxury cruiser than true sports car, same for Lexus).

450 horsepower from a high-revving, naturally aspirated V8, the torque-vectoring system found on the S4 and Audi Drive Select combined with those looks = the best odds of being an M3 killer.

Not really a new article- the one yesterday was pretty similar. So far we STILL do not know exact figs like HP, Torque, etc. At this point we are speculating. Audi has confirmed it is a NA V8 (look up Stephan Reil interview)and that's pretty much it.
What we do know is it is damn good looking as the S5 and the interior is very sexy. But just like a member of the opposite sex we need to know what's on the inside to make any conclusions. We shall see.......

On looks alone, I would take the M3, but I'd wait for it to get the new face-lifted headlights and tail-lights.

cough man unitd 3 ac mailn 2 cough

From look alone I would take the Audi RS5 for sure. I have seen the both the BMW M3 coupe/sedan Audi A4 and S5 coupe and the S5 coupe is just stunning to see in person.

I know, I know the BMW 335i beat the S5 coupe on Fifth Gear but so what, it not like you're going to race at every red light. They're both both piece of engineering but if I had $60,000+ to spend on car, it would be the new RS5.

I choose the Audi RS5 because I like it exterior and interior design than the BMW M3. Plus where I live you see BMW poser every where, and I mean every where. I live in Orange County, CA.

I can't wait to see the comparison between the BMW M3 coupe and Audi RS5 coupe. I hope this Audi RS5 coupe has a beautiful exhaust note as well = )

correction, Audi A4 sedan and S5 coupe = )

Ill take the M3 w/ the performance package.

it will be more interesting to see if they put M3GTS's 444hp 4.4L V8 into normal M3 and compete with the roughly around 450hp new RS5.
so when the power is similar, it will be more obvious to see if the rwd is better or the awd is better.

The RS5 looks pretty hot, I would take it over the M3.

BMW looks absolut stunning I dont like the Audi it looks somehow wrong.

Inside I would have preferred the e46 look, but its okay anyway even the dashboard dont lean toward the driver.

RS5 hands down. I'm not taking the car to the track (maybe once,twice) and im not doing 150mph in NY ( i learned my lesson and its not fun) as far as looks,bragging rights,comfort,uniqueness,performance all rolled into one id pick the RS5. Besides its looks, soooo many people in NY have the M3 both coupe and 4 door that it seems like a regular 3 series here. My local BMW dealership has them sitting on the lots waiting to be picked up. Dont get me wrong ive driven the new M back to back with a C63 and minus straight line performance the M eats it in every way. I have a buddy with an older RS4 and i absolutely love it. Its not the quickest car in its class but its the best for NYC driving. I can see where a C63 or M3 would fit in the suburbs,but as far as snow,pot holes the size of craters etc, the RS4 felt at home as im sure the RS5 will.Although im not a fan of Audis engines on the A4 (i actually hate them and believe they are veryyyy underpowered)I do love everything else about them. Minus the A4 Audi has a good lineup and i can not wait to drive this beast!

I take the last statement back. To be fair.I have not driven the brand new A4 or S4 so i keep my statement,but for the older A4. Its funny because on the flip side i absolutely love the Golf driving wise lol.Weight and quality are much better in the Golf and it shows.

Why isn't the Lexus IS-F being mentioned here. Isn't the Lexus IS-F the king of the class?"

It's King of Corollas for you!

Nope.. the C63 reigns supreme...

Is the RS5 even coming to the U.S.A.? I thought very few of the RS anything came to the U.S.

Come on Autospies, you should be on top of this. It's on every automotive website already.

"A close relative of the V10 which powers the high-performance R8 sports car, the high-revving V8 engine delivers its output from a displacement of 4,163 cm3. Like nearly every Audi gasoline engine, this one also operates via direct fuel injection known by the abbreviation FSI. This same technology has propelled the Audi R8 racing car to four triumphs at the classic endurance race in Le Mans. The common-rail system generates up to 120 bars of pressure.

Intensive fine-tuning of the dual-branch intake and exhaust system allows the undersquare engine to breathe freely; four adjustable camshafts and tumble flaps in the intake manifold facilitate mixture formation. The 4.2 FSI provides imposing torque and is right at home even at high revs – almost like a race engine. The engine delivers 331 kW (450 hp) at 8,250 rpm and – between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm - transmits a maximum of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) of torque.

The vigorous strength, the spontaneous responsiveness, the joyful high-revving, and the throaty, sonorous music: this V8 produced by hand at Audi stunningly combines the essence of power and emotion. The 4.2 FSI propels the coupé’s 1,725 kilograms (3,802.97 pounds) in 4.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62.14 mph) to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Audi can increase that to 280 km/h (173.98 mph) upon request.

Impressive efficiency: just 10.8 liters of fuel per 100 km
Efficiency is standard in every Audi; the RS 5 is no exception. The ultra-powerful eight-cylinder engine averages 10.8 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (21.78 miles US mpg) - far less than its main competitors. This impressive figure is due in part to the technologies from the Audi modular efficiency platform. The engine and the entire drivetrain have been optimized to minimize friction, the oil pump operates on demand, and an energy-recovery system conserves energy during coasting and braking."

Very impressive. Hp and torque per liter are more than that of M3, yet MPG is 30% better. AUDI starts to win attention from BMW owner like me, but when are they gonna offer damn RWD?

That's a cool looking car, but I actually prefer the front bumper from the S5 to the RS5. It looks sporty AND classy (though I like the rear of the RS5 more than the S5). More importantly though, after reading the info about the RS5 on various sites, three things jump out:

1) Audi is pricing the vehicle almost 10k Euros higher than the M3 in Europe. Not that the people who purchase these can't afford one or the other, but that's the equivalent of $13600. That's a substantial chunk of money for a vehicle that frankly is likely to offer very similar performance. The lack of a stickshift is also a surprise, if BMW did that here with the M3 people would be out with pitchforks and torches (like when the E60 M5 came out).

2) Along that vein I am surprised Audi didn't try to "set the bar higher" with the specs/performance. Within a couple of years of the RS5 coming out, BMW will release a totally new M3 that most folks speculate will be powered by a twin turbo inline six producing 450-500hp, with more torque than the RS5, and less weight than the RS5. By not "leapfrogging" the existing M3 (or best case, only doing so barely), Audi has actually positioned themselves in a bit of a hole for the next eight years. My guess is BMW is breathing a sigh of relief after seeing the specs on the RS5.

3) Much like its stablemate, the RS6, Audi is apparently not even bringing the RS5 to the U.S. If they do, it would be at least a year after the European debut, and again at that point there'll be a new M3 almost around the corner.

This vehicle along with the disappointingly bland new A8 are the first times I've seen Audi make what I'd consider strategic mistakes recently. They've been hitting homeruns for the last few years, but now that's two high profile vehicles in a row. I'm interested to see what happens.

I have not heard that the RS5 won't becoming to North America. It is very likely that is coming as AoA stated a while back that it would. Don't see how either the A8 or RS5 are "strategic" mistakes. The A8 will do quite well. It's styling is no different in the D-Segement compared to than BMW or MB. All of these are conservative designs except the XJ and we will see what happens with its polarizing exterior design. Audi has home runs here. The A8 sets new levels of refinement in the D-Segement.