Saar: It is powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 450PS/600Nm.

Audi India has finally launched the RS 5 Coupe. It carries a price tag of Rs 1.11 crore (Rs 1,10,65,000) (ex-showroom India). It is the most-powerful variant in the A5 model range and leaves the previous range-topper in India, the S5, a bit numb. Why? Well, to an untrained eye, that is a valid question. Allow us to explain in ‘vistaar’.

First of all, where the RS 5 comes in a Coupe form, the S5 is offered in the Sportback setup. That’s a two-door configuration to a four-door one for passengers. Secondly, the RS 5 rides lower, has bigger wheels as standard (19-inch vs 18-inch) and features a more shouty exterior design. Thirdly, and most importantly, the RS 5 Coupe is much more powerful than the S5 Sportback. The 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6 engine in RS 5 Coupe produces 450PS/600Nm. That’s 96PS/100Nm more than the 3.0-litre V6 engine produces in the S5.

As far as the transmission is concerned, the RS 5 gets an 8-speed automatic transmission. It is mated to Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. Power is split between the front and rear axles in the ratio of 40:60. Thanks to all that, the RS 5 Coupe can complete the 0-100kmph sprint in 3.9 seconds and reach its electronically-limited top-speed of 250kmph without any hiccup. If you want to go faster, Audi will also supply an optional RS dynamic package which takes the top-speed up to 280kmph. In case you are wondering, the 0-100kmph time for the S5 is clocked at 4.7 seconds. Its top-speed, however, is also limited to 250kmph.

In the styling department, the RS 5 Coupe’s exterior features RS-specific diffuser at the rear, Audi’s trademark hexagonal grille at the front, bigger air intakes and a bespoke exhaust system. The cabin upholstery is draped in Alcantara and the steering-wheel is, of course, a flat-bottomed one. There are a lot of RS badges to remind you that you are in something special, including the floor mats and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit.

In India, the Audi RS 5 Coupe takes on the BMW M4 and the Mercedes-AMG C63 S. They are priced at Rs 1.33 crore and Rs 1.41 crore (both ex-showroom), respectively.