ABT RS5-R: The 720 PS Audi RS5 With Carbon Everywhere, 22-Inch Wheels And Just 130 Units
The new Audi RS5 already arrived with a problem most fast estates would love to have. It produces 630 hp from a plug-in hybrid V6, and it weighs about 2,370 kg doing it. Audi solved the power question and created a mass question at the same time. Now ABT Sportsline has stepped in with the RS5-R, and its answer is refreshingly blunt: add more power, cut some air, and do not pretend the weight is going anywhere.
The result is a 130-unit special edition with 720 PS, a full carbon aerodynamic kit, forged 22-inch wheels and an interior trimmed in microfibre. It is also, by the time you add installation, a package that costs roughly two thirds of the car it bolts onto.
Whether that is excellent value or excellent theatre depends entirely on what you want from a fast Audi. Here is everything ABT has actually published, separated from the numbers that get repeated without context.
Sourcing note: the core figures in this article come directly from ABT Sportsline's own press release dated 29 October 2026 and its RS5-R product page, cross checked against CarScoops' reporting and Audi's published RS5 data. Where a number is a manufacturer claim, a conversion between units, or our own arithmetic, we label it as such. Nothing has been invented to fill a gap.
Key takeaways
- Power: system output rises from 470 kW (639 PS) to around 529 kW (720 PS), with torque up from 825 Nm to 905 Nm.
- Availability: 130 units worldwide, offered as both a Sedan and an Avant, and order books are open now.
- Price: the conversion kit costs between €62,000 and €68,000 before installation, and excludes the base car.
- Coming next: an 800 PS upgrade and an Akrapovič titanium exhaust are planned for the second quarter of 2027.
- The catch: ABT states all performance figures apply on 98 RON fuel, and top speed stays exactly where Audi left it.
What the ABT RS5-R actually is
First, some context that explains why this conversion exists at all. The current RS5 is Audi Sport's first plug-in hybrid RS model. Under the bonnet sits a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 producing 375 kW (510 PS) on its own, working with an electric motor for a combined 470 kW, or 639 PS, and 825 Nm.
That powertrain replaced a car that was lighter and simpler. Audi's own numbers put the RS5 Avant at around 2,370 kg, which makes it heavier than the larger RS6 Avant with its non-electrified V8. Adding electricity bought emissions compliance and instant torque, and it cost the RS5 a chunk of the agility its badge used to imply.
ABT's response is not to chase that weight back. It is to overwhelm it, then sharpen everything the driver can actually feel. The package is called ABT Power S for the engine work, and it is backed by a full aerodynamic and chassis programme that most tuning houses would sell as three separate products.
This is also not ABT's first limited edition of the year. The company has spent 2026 marking its 130th anniversary with a series of numbered specials, including the roughly 1,000 hp RS Q8 we covered in our look at the ABT RSQ8-LE 1000 and its near-$400,000 price tag. The RS5-R is a different proposition: smaller, more attainable relative to its donor car, and built in a larger run.
The numbers: what ABT Power S actually changes
This is where most coverage gets vague, so it is worth being precise. ABT publishes two sets of figures: one for the combustion engine alone, and one for the combined hybrid system. The combined number is the headline, but the engine number tells you where the work happens.
| Measurement | Standard RS5 | ABT RS5-R | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| System output | 470 kW (639 PS) | About 529 kW (720 PS) | +81 PS |
| System torque | 825 Nm | 905 Nm | +80 Nm |
| V6 biturbo alone | 375 kW (510 PS) | About 435 kW (591 PS) | +81 PS |
| Engine torque | 600 Nm | 680 Nm | +80 Nm |
| Top speed | Series level | Series level | No change |
Source: ABT Sportsline press release, 29 October 2026. US readers will see this quoted as 710 hp and 667 lb-ft, because 720 PS converts to about 710 hp and 905 Nm converts to about 667 lb-ft.
Two details that matter more than the headline
The gain is not spread evenly. Almost all of the extra output comes from the combustion engine, which rises 81 PS while the electric side contributes the same as before. That means the RS5-R feels different mostly in the rev range where the V6 is doing the work, not in the first few metres of electric-only running.
The top speed is deliberately untouched. ABT states plainly that top speed remains at series level. This is a traction and mid-range package, not a VMAX exercise, and ABT also confirms the upgrade works with its myABT app for switching between configurations.
Then there is the fuel caveat, and it deserves its own heading.
The 98 RON catch
ABT states that all performance figures apply to operation with 98 RON fuel. If you fill an RS5-R with regular premium in a market where 98 is hard to find, you should not expect the published 720 PS. This is normal for aggressive software calibration, but it is the kind of practical detail buyers discover after they have signed, not before. Budget for the good fuel and for the higher consumption that comes with it.
The aero kit: gloss carbon or Carbon Camouflage
ABT has not treated the bodywork as decoration. The aerodynamic package is a proper list of parts, and it is offered in two finishes rather than one.
What is included:
- A front spoiler with front blades
- Louvres set into the front wheel arches
- Mirror caps
- Side skirts
- A completely new rear apron with an integrated diffuser
- A rear wing with aero blades, fitted to the Avant
That last point matters. The rear wing is an Avant-only item, which means the two body styles do not look identical from behind. Some coverage glosses over this. If you are choosing between the Sedan and the Avant partly on appearance, that wing is a real differentiator.
On finish, ABT offers either a glossy exposed carbon fibre or a matt finish it calls Carbon Camouflage. The matt option costs more, which is worth knowing before you assume the cheaper price in the table below gets you the look from the photographs.
Wheels, suspension and the parts you cannot see in photos
The RS5-R sits on 22-inch forged wheels from ABT's EVO Performance range in gloss black, wrapped in 315/25 R22 tyres. That is a very short sidewall on a car weighing more than two tonnes, and it tells you where ABT has chosen to trade comfort for response.
Underneath, ABT fits lowering springs to bring the body closer to the road, plus sport anti-roll bars to reduce body roll and sharpen turn-in. Given the donor car's mass, the anti-roll bars are arguably the more meaningful change of the two. Stiffening the body's resistance to roll does more for how a heavy estate feels through a corner than a lower centre of gravity alone.
Inside: a "1 of 130" reminder every time you get in
ABT's interior work is restrained by tuning house standards, which is probably the right call for a car that already has a strong cabin.
- The badge and door sill trims carry the lettering "1 of 130"
- The centre console, dashboard and seat frames are trimmed with Dinamica panels, a grippy microfibre material
- The shift paddles are finished in the same carbon as the exterior
Note what ABT does not claim. There is no new seat structure, no stripped-out rear bench and no roll cage. This remains a fully usable four-seat estate or sedan, which is entirely consistent with the RS5-R's role as a very fast daily rather than a track toy.
What it costs, including the parts nobody quotes
Plenty of coverage gives a single starting price for the RS5-R package. The official breakdown is more complicated, because the carbon finish and the installation are priced separately, and none of it includes the car.
| Configuration | Kit price | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan, gloss visible carbon | €62,000 | €7,160 |
| Sedan, matt Carbon Camouflage | €65,000 | €7,160 |
| Avant, gloss visible carbon | €65,000 | €7,600 |
| Avant, matt Carbon Camouflage | €68,000 | €7,600 |
All prices include 19 per cent German VAT, exclude the base vehicle, and exclude the TÜV approval fee. Source: ABT Sportsline.
Now add the donor car. For reference, CarScoops reports German pricing of €106,200 for the RS5 Sedan and €107,850 for the Avant. Combine those with the conversion and you get the following, which is our arithmetic rather than a manufacturer figure.
| On the road, before TÜV and options | Approximate total |
|---|---|
| Sedan, gloss carbon | About €175,360 |
| Sedan, Carbon Camouflage | About €178,360 |
| Avant, gloss carbon | About €180,450 |
| Avant, Carbon Camouflage | About €183,450 |
Derived by adding the published retrofit and installation prices to the reported base car prices. Excludes the TÜV approval fee, any options, and any market-specific taxes or duties.
Read that table again and the real story of the RS5-R appears. The conversion adds roughly 65 per cent to the price of the donor car. For that money a buyer gets 81 extra PS, a carbon body kit, a set of forged wheels, springs, anti-roll bars and some interior trim.
For ABT, the numbers are rather more attractive. If all 130 units sell at the listed kit prices, the conversion package alone represents somewhere between 8.1 and 8.8 million euros of revenue, before installation fees. That is a healthy business for a run that requires no crash testing, no type approval of its own and no factory line time.
The 800 PS upgrade is already on the roadmap
Here is the part that should give any RS5-R buyer pause. ABT has confirmed that for the second quarter of 2027 it is planning further retrofit options for the standard RS5, including a performance upgrade to 588 kW, or 800 PS, alongside a titanium exhaust system developed with Akrapovič.
That is a significant jump again, and it raises a straightforward question. The RS5-R's power advantage is 720 PS today. When the 800 PS kit arrives, the limited edition's headline number will no longer be the biggest in ABT's catalogue for this car.
The counter argument is that the RS5-R buys exclusivity and appearance, not just output. There will be 130 of them, each numbered, with the aero kit and the interior. The 800 PS kit will be available to any RS5 owner who wants it. Those are different products, and buyers who understand the difference will be happy. Buyers who assumed the RS5-R was the ultimate RS5 in every measurable sense may not be.
Video: a close look at the 720 PS ABT RS5-R Avant, including the carbon aerodynamic parts and the 22-inch forged wheels.
What the RS5-R is up against
ABT is not selling into a vacuum. The RS5 Avant's most obvious rival is the BMW M3 Touring, and the comparison cuts both ways. The BMW is lighter and does not carry plug-in hybrid hardware, but it cannot match the Audi's electric-only commuting ability or the ABT version's raw output. We compared the wider German saloon picture in our 2026 BMW 3 Series and M350 xDrive review, and the theme there is consistent: BMW is currently winning on cabin technology while Audi leans on traction and torque.
Inside Audi's own range the picture is awkward. CarScoops notes that the RS5-R produces more power than the limited-run RS6 GT, which was quoted at 621 hp. That sounds like an easy win until you remember the mass. The RS5 Avant weighs roughly 280 kg more than the RS6 Avant, so the smaller, cheaper car needs every one of those 720 PS just to stay level.
| Consideration | How the RS5-R rates |
|---|---|
| Output | Genuinely high for the class at 720 PS |
| Weight | Unchanged and heavy, at about 2,370 kg for the Avant |
| Exclusivity | Strong, with 130 numbered cars worldwide |
| Value | Weak on paper, at roughly 65 per cent of the base car's price |
| Longevity | Uncertain, with an 800 PS kit due in 2027 |
| Everyday use | Very good, since nothing has been removed from the cabin |
If you are weighing up the broader direction of Audi Sport, including how the brand is handling the shift from V8s to electrified flagships, our breakdown of Audi's 925 PS RS e-tron GT performance shows where the top of the range is heading. The RS5-R is a bridge between that future and the old world of tuned V6s.
There is also the question of what Audi keeps building at all. The RS5 is safe for now, but the group's wider portfolio is being cut back hard, as we reported in our coverage of Volkswagen Group's reported model cuts. Niche performance derivatives tend to survive those exercises only when the business case is obvious.
Editor's note: why the published numbers keep changing
If you have read about the RS5-R elsewhere this week, you may have seen 710 hp, 709 PS or 720 PS, and either 667 lb-ft or 905 Nm. Those are not contradictory. They are the same car described in different units.
- Metric horsepower against imperial horsepower. ABT quotes 720 PS. One PS is slightly smaller than one imperial horsepower, so 720 PS works out to about 710 hp and 529 kW. All three describe identical output.
- Torque follows the same rule. ABT's 905 Nm converts to about 667 lb-ft. Both appear in coverage of the same press release.
- The price is often quoted as a single figure. ABT actually publishes four kit prices plus two installation prices plus a separate TÜV fee. A single "from €62,000" is accurate but incomplete, which is why we have laid out the full matrix above.
- The "next year" upgrade has a firm window. ABT states the second quarter of 2027 for the 800 PS kit, and confirms 588 kW as the target. Figures like 789 hp that circulated earlier are simply the imperial conversion of the same target.
One thing nobody can tell you yet is how it drives. ABT has not published a 0 to 100 km/h claim for the converted car, and no independent outlet has tested one. Any acceleration figure you see for the RS5-R at this stage is either the standard car's 3.6 seconds or somebody's estimate.
Pros and cons
Working in the RS5-R's favour
- 720 PS from a documented, app-supported calibration
- Real carbon aerodynamic parts in two finishes
- Only 130 cars, each individually numbered
- Nothing removed from the cabin, so it remains a usable daily
- An 800 PS and Akrapovič exhaust upgrade path is already confirmed
Reasons to hesitate
- Roughly €69,000 to €75,600 before TÜV, on top of the car
- The 720 PS figure requires 98 RON fuel
- Top speed is unchanged, so it is not a VMAX special
- Kerb weight is untouched at roughly 2,370 kg for the Avant
- The 800 PS kit will shortly out-power it for a fraction of the money
- No independent performance data exists yet
Is it worth it?
There are two ways to answer this, and they lead to opposite conclusions.
As engineering value: no. Adding 81 PS to a 2,370 kg plug-in hybrid estate, at a cost that exceeds sixty per cent of the base car, is not a rational purchase. Anyone calculating cost per horsepower will find better arithmetic almost anywhere else in this segment. Even a mid-range Audi with a fraction of the output is more efficient money.
As a product: yes, and fairly convincingly. ABT has not just wound up the boost. It has built a coherent object: an aerodynamic package with genuine functional claims, a chassis that acknowledges the weight problem, wheels that change the stance entirely, and an interior that marks the car without ruining it. Numbered into 130 units, that is a collectible with a clear identity rather than a catalogue of bolt-on parts.
The honest verdict is that the RS5-R is the right car for a specific buyer and an expensive mistake for everyone else. That buyer wants a fast Audi that looks unlike any other fast Audi, values rarity over raw metrics, and intends to keep the car long enough that the 800 PS kit becomes irrelevant. Everyone else should buy the standard RS5 and spend the difference on the options list.
For a sense of where this sits in Audi's wider performance hierarchy, including the smaller car that still defines the badge for many enthusiasts, the 2025 Audi RS3 review is a useful reference point on what a lighter RS product feels like.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the ABT RS5-R have?
ABT quotes around 529 kW, or 720 PS, with 905 Nm of torque. In imperial units that is roughly 710 hp and 667 lb-ft. The 2.9-litre V6 alone rises from 510 PS to about 591 PS.
How much does the ABT RS5-R cost?
The conversion costs €62,000 for a Sedan in gloss visible carbon or €65,000 in matt Carbon Camouflage. The Avant is €65,000 and €68,000 respectively. Installation adds €7,160 or €7,600 depending on body style, plus a TÜV approval fee. Prices exclude the base vehicle.
How many ABT RS5-R will be built?
ABT is limiting the RS5-R to 130 units worldwide across both the Sedan and the Avant, with each car carrying "1 of 130" badges and door sill lettering.
Is the RS5-R only a power upgrade?
No. It also brings a full carbon aerodynamic package, lowering springs, sport anti-roll bars, 22-inch forged wheels with 315/25 R22 tyres, and an interior retrimmed in Dinamica microfibre with carbon shift paddles.
What fuel does the ABT RS5-R need?
ABT states that all published performance figures apply to operation on 98 RON fuel. On lower octane fuel you should not expect the quoted 720 PS.
Is the ABT RS5-R faster than an RS6?
It has more power than the RS6 GT, which was reported at 621 hp, but the RS5 Avant also weighs roughly 280 kg more than an RS6 Avant. No independent test has compared them, so any claim about which is quicker in practice is currently guesswork.
When does the 800 PS upgrade arrive?
ABT plans further retrofit options for the standard Audi RS5 in the second quarter of 2027, including a performance upgrade to 588 kW (800 PS) and a titanium exhaust system developed with Akrapovič.
Can you buy the ABT RS5-R in the United States?
No US pricing or availability has been announced for the RS5-R package. ABT's pricing is quoted in euros including German VAT, and the conversion is offered through ABT's European operation with TÜV approval.
Image gallery
The bottom line
ABT has done the sensible thing with a difficult brief. The new RS5 arrived heavier than the car it replaced because plug-in hybrid hardware is heavy, and no amount of carbon fibre was going to fix that. Rather than pretend otherwise, ABT added the output the chassis can use, stiffened what could be stiffened, and dressed the car in parts that look like they belong on a race car rather than a parts catalogue.
What it did not do is solve the value equation. At roughly €175,000 to €183,000 before options and TÜV approval, the RS5-R is a statement purchase. Buyers who want the fastest RS5 in a straight line should wait for the 800 PS kit. Buyers who want one of 130, with carbon down the flanks and a badge on the sill that says so, will not need convincing.
Daniel Abt, chief marketing officer of the ABT Group, summed up the pitch in the official announcement: "For us, a car means freedom, goosebumps and a part of your own identity. That is what we built the ABT RS5-R for." It is marketing, but it is also an accurate description of who this car is for.
Orders are open now through ABT Sportsline, with the full technical sheet published on the ABT RS5-R special editions page and the original release available in ABT's press release archive.
Would you pay 65 per cent of the car's price for the RS5-R kit?
Or would you take a standard RS5, add the 800 PS upgrade in 2027 and keep the change? Tell us in the comments, and follow AutoNewsLine for every new ABT build and Audi RS launch as it lands.
Image credits: ABT Sportsline press material, with additional photography compiled via CarScoops. Technical and pricing sources: ABT Sportsline press release dated 29 October 2026 and the ABT RS5-R product page, with donor car data from Audi as reported by CarScoops, Motor1 and Autocar. Figures reflect information available on 1 November 2026 and are subject to change by the manufacturer.
