Should Audi Rethink How They Position Their RS Models and Follow the Porsche Philosophy?
The current Audi RS models are certainly fast, but do they live up to their racing sport heritage?
Both Porsche and Audi offer RS models. Both companies are under the Volkswagen umbrella. They both have a long and distinguished motorsports history. But the top-shelf RS models from each brand take drastically different approaches. The Audi RS models are extremely quick and powerful. They are wonderful cars that many people aspire to own. We love them here at Audi World. But RS means racing sport. RACING. Look at the Porsche RS models. The GT4 RS and the 911 GT3 RS. These are essentially race cars. The 911 GT3 RS has a drag reduction system borrowed from F1 for Pete’s sake. These cars are raw and wonderful and probably a bit too extreme to work as daily drivers.
The Audi RS models are different. First of all, there are a lot of them. RS 3, RS 5, RS 6, RS 7, RS e-tron GT, and RS Q8. They are powerful and quick, but none of these can be considered hardcore track weapons. Audi is not Porsche. They have different missions, and price points. But they do have a lot in common. And should Audi borrow the Porsche philosophy when it comes to producing RS models? Perhaps. You can’t argue with the market. Look at the prices of any Porsche RS in history. They are depreciation proof. And in fact, are typically worth well more years later than when they were new. The Audi RS models are desirable but don’t have that kind of market. I was offered an allocation on a new 911 GT3 RS, for $200,000 OVER sticker. No Audi commands that.
Audi GTS Models
Of all the Audi RS models that you can get in 2023 I would argue that only the RS 3 and RS 5 can really be given the treatment required to turn them into track weapons. The others, while they can certainly be fun on the track and even set some decent times, are just too large to really compete for that last tenth of a second. Maybe these bigger sedans, wagons and SUVs should be called something else. Perhaps the GTS badge is more fitting for them. If you want RS to mean hardcore motorsport having a 5,500-pound SUV wearing the badge waters down that philosophy. Even if it does have nearly 600 horsepower.
RS 3 and RS 5
Both the RS 3 and RS 5 are wonderful cars as is today. But again, RS should be a hardcore racer. It is not always about power. The Porsche RS cars don’t always get massive power bumps. The 911 GT3 RS gets only a 3 percent power bump over the regular GT3. But the RS car adds a ton of aero, there is more carbon fiber, the only transmission is a PDK. The car is built to chase lap times. As is the GT4 RS. The Audi RS 3 and RS 5 get big power bumps and bigger wheels and some other tweaks to make them faster. But they are half measures in a way as all the luxury remains. What if Audi ripped out the back seats and added magnesium wheels and carbon fiber hoods and so on?
Yes, the price would go up. But so what? Let’s say Audi creates an RS 5 that starts at $95K instead of $78K. But it drops 200 pounds. It picks up some advanced aero and additional cooling and all the other goodies you want for the track. Do you not think that Audi would sell every single one they could make?
More Than Price
I will state again that the Audi RS cars are wonderful. And just because a Porsche RS demands more on the secondary market doesn’t mean they are right and Audi is wrong. But the Audi RS cars don’t really make sense. An RS Porsche is a hardcore racer. An RS Audi is everything from a powerful wagon to a powerful SUV to a powerful coupe to a powerful sedan. You get the point. The Audi RS cars have the power. But the ‘R’ in RS means racing, and right now none of those models are truly equipped for it.
Images: Audi
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