Audi has been on a bit of a new-model onslaught over the last year. We didn’t really notice in SA as there were not many new model introductions being carried out by the company’s local subsidiary in 2020, for obvious reasons. However, earlier this week Audi South Africa hosted an event whereby the SA media was informed about the automaker’s ambitious Audi Performance expansion plans in the local context.
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Audi Performance expansion plans include releasing a multitude of new or revised high-performance models into the local market. Audi has enjoyed a large degree of success in the upper end of the buying scale and has decided to focus its attention in this area. Audi South African plans to take a larger slice of the performance and premium market with the introduction of these models.
SUVs
Audi South African plans to take a larger slice of the performance and premium market with the introduction of these models. With recent buying trends it is no surprise to learn that several of the newcomers are SUV models.
The performance SUV onslaught is led by two all-new entries into the SA fold, the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback (which you can read about here). They are followed by the only two diesel options of the entire performance family, the SQ7 and SQ8 (more info here), which are available in limited numbers locally. And finally the top-dog RS Q8, which is widely known to be a budget Lamborghini Urus (read our driving review here).
Model | Power (kW) | Torque (N.m) | 0-100 km/h | Price |
RS Q3 | 294 | 480 | 4,5 sec | R1 094 000 |
RS Q3 Sportback | 294 | 480 | 4,5 sec | R1 128 000 |
SQ 7 TDI | 310 | 900 | 4,8 sec | R1 679 500 |
SQ 8 TDI | 310 | 900 | 4,8 sec | R1 848 500 |
RS Q8 | 441 | 800 | 3,8 sec | R2 354 500 |
Stationwagons
Audi is also the only premium brand to offer high-performance station wagons (the very first RS sold to the public was the Porsche-developed RS2 Avant). The RS4 Avant boasts a fresh new appearance but remains unchanged under the skin (read our driving review here). The heavy-hitting RS6 Avant appears on the local listings for the very first time (more info on the twin-turbo V8-powered machine at this link).
Model | Power | Torque | 0-100 km/h | Price |
RS4 Avant | 331 | 600 | 4,1 sec | R1 296 000 |
RS6 Avant | 441 | 800 | 3,6 sec | R2 070 000 |
Sportscars/Coupes
Despite the ever-increasing number of practical performance models on offer, staples such as the sporting coupes have remained part of the portfolio. The entry point to this range in the TT RS and TT RS Roadster. This facelifted model (read more about the revisions here) features the company’s famed turbocharged five-pot motor. At the very top of this line-up is the mid-engined Audi R8. The V10 engine is the only naturally aspirated unit in the entire Audi product range.
Model | Power | Torque | 0-100 km/h | Price |
TT RS Coupe | 294 | 480 | 3,7 sec | R1 062 000 |
TT RS Roadster | 294 | 480 | 3,9 sec | R1 113 500 |
RS5 | 331 | 600 | 3,9 sec | R1 394 500 |
RS5 Sportback | 331 | 600 | 3,9 sec | R1 409 500 |
RS7 Sportback | 441 | 800 | 3,6 sec | R2 173 500 |
R8 Performance | 449 | 560 | 3,2 sec | R3 336 000 |
R8 Spyder Perf | 449 | 560 | 3,3 sec | R3 592 500 |
All new Audi performance models listed above, as well as the Audi S8 performance saloon, will be on sale from local dealerships from April 1, 2021.
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