VIDEO: 2026 Audi RS 5 Prototype Spotted on the ‘Ring! (Plug-in Hybrid?)

YouTube channel CarSpyMedia captured footage of the prototype 2026 Audi RS 5 Avant lapping the ‘Ring, let’s check it out!

The Audi RS nameplate has been associated with some of the fastest cars from the German marque since 1994. And with the end of the R8, the RS moniker now represents Audi’s absolute pinnacle of sheer performance. These cars are certainly no strangers to the Nordschleife, Audi having utilized the circuit as a proving ground for decades. And on June 10, another brand-new model joined the ranks: the 2026 Audi RS 5 Avant. Seen in the below video by CarSpyMedia as it attacks the infamous Green Hell!

The brand’s latest super-wagon is actually a replacement for the current generation RS 4 Avant. Thanks to the company’s revised naming conventions, all even numbers are allocated to electric models, and odd numbers to anything with a combustion engine. This includes the 2025 RS 5, which is rumored to be powered by a plug-in hybrid variation of the current RS 5’s twin-turbocharged 2.9L V6.

Proving Its Worth

The audio in the video isn’t exactly evocative of the levels of performance expected of an RS, but to our ears, it certainly sounds similar to the current generation RS 4 & RS 5 (and S6 & S7). Without hybridization, the current RS 4 Avant makes 444 horsepower and 442 lb/ft torque, is capable of up to 174 mph (with the Dynamic Pack), and can sprint to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds (as tested by MotorTrend). Adding an electric motor to this setup will certainly add weight, but expect some impressive power and performance gains as well.

What we do know so far — and can see in the video below — inspires some confidence, certainly coupled with the planted stance as it eats up the turns. The car undoubtedly has heft to it, and the suspension is compliant enough for a comfortable drive on the road. As one expects of a luxury PHEV in its class these days. However, it still managed a respectable display of performance. In all but one case: the sound. The screaming of the tires under the RS5’s weight as it turned easily overpowered the V6’s exhaust note. (Something turbocharged Audis tend to struggle with.)

There’s been plenty of criticism surrounding the rather underwhelming sound already. Something we’re likely going to have to get used to from future Audi models. But, mediocre sound aside, it appears at first glance to be quite the capable machine. It’s certainly adept at shifting all that weight around, and the hybrid motor’s worth its weight in gold on corner exits. Only time will tell if it measures up to the outgoing RS’s.

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M.C. Cuccio

I've been an automotive aficionado since I had baby teeth. My path was set when I first leaned on my grandfather's classic Porsche as I learned how to walk. One of my first memories was my mother sitting me behind the wheel of her Pontiac and talking me through the instrumentation and controls. Even though I was a mere three or four years old, I was instantly sold, and filled notebooks with technical drawings, sketches, and collections of manuals of all sorts of cars. I've actively tracked developments in automotive and motorsport technology for well over 20 years, and pride myself on being intimately familiar with the functions and history of a wide range of vehicles.

My primary goal as a writer and enthusiast is to equally learn and share what I've learned in a constructive and interesting way. I maintain connections with people from around the world and can read technical manuals in Italian, Japanese, and Spanish, granting me access to a wide array of resources. My primary focuses are deep-dives into historical topics, motorsport discussion, and learning about the complex mechanical elements of such vehicles. As such, my research is never perfect; as anyone into cars will attest, the more you learn about cars, the more you realize how little you actually know. Therefore, I always welcome fresh knowledge and corrections to help me better my work in the future.

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