Photo Gallery: 2021 Audi RS 5 Coupe And Sportback Launch Editions

If you’re looking to snag an Ascari edition Audi RS 5, you’re going to have to act fast.

For as long as I can remember, the fight to between the country’s most popular car colors has been a battle royal between black, white, and silver. And while there’s nothing wrong with any of those colors, I think there should be a moratorium on those hues, just to give the roads a little more pop. Because without Ma Mopar’s fantastic palate, it would be pretty monotonous out there. So I was stoked to get a look at the Ascari RS 5 launch edition, and its stunning shade of Ascari Blue paint. Truth be told, it made me think of one of my favorite moments on The Simpsons.

Styling-wise, the 2021 Audi RS 5’s front fascia has been slightly tweaked. The Singleframe grille is wider and more angular, and there are also small vents above the Four Rings, right at the hood line. Audi says they’re there to pay homage to the 1984 Sport quattro, and while they might be a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail, I think they look trick. The wheel arches have also been flared every so slightly, and out back there’s a unique RS diffusor surrounding a pair of oval exhaust pipes. But my favorite exterior touch is undoubtedly the Ascari blue brake calipers.

Along with the Ascari edition, there’s a Black optic edition, which is available in more colors, including Mythos Black, Glacier White, Daytona Gray, Nardo Gray, and Tango Red. But the Ascari models will be significantly more rare, as only 25 Coupes and 100 Sportbacks will be made, compared to 100 Coupes and 325 Sportbacks for the Black optic.

Both the Coupe and the Sportback are powered by a 2.9-liter V6 which pumps out 444 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque, and the mill is mated to an eight-speed automatic which sends power to all four corners via Audi’s legendary quattro system. As you’d expect, those numbers mean either car is going to be right quick from a dig. In the Coupe, the sprint from zero to 60 mph will take a scant 3.7 seconds, while the Sportback needs just a tenth longer. Keep your foot in it, and standard RS 5 models will hit 155 mph, but given their extra-special nature, Ascari editions will be able to achieve 174 mph.

Pricing for the RS 5 Coupe starts at $75,100, which while the Sportback comes in at $75,400. Both Black optic editions are $87,400, while the extremely limited Ascari comes in at $95,600 for the Coupe and $95, 900 for the Sportback. In my book, the Ascari edition is worth every penny of that premium, and I bet buyers will agree.

Photos: Audi

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