Audi's 2026 RS 5 Avant Looks Like the Perfect Sports Wagon in New Spy Shots

Therefore, prototypes of this upcoming model have been spotted several times these past few months. More recently, our spies had a close encounter of the third kind with another tester, this time at the (in)famous Nurburgring in Germany, which looked planted through the corners despite its family-oriented nature.

Compared to the current RS 4 Avant it replaces, the new Audi RS 5 Avant has a wider and taller grille separated by a horizontal slat that holds the front license plate. The headlamps were sharpened to make the car look more aggressive, and the side vents now have a vertical shape. The hood ends further back, and the four-ring logo is still visible beneath the trippy camouflage.

Out back, it probably hides a full-width light bar beneath the stickers, spanning across the tailgate from one taillamp to the other. We can see a more aggressive diffuser and some rather small (for an RS model) tailpipes. Nevertheless, we expect these to be provisional, as the final ones should be larger and retain their oval shape. The RS badge will still decorate the tailgate.

Unlike some rivaling models, the Audi RS 5 Avant has swollen fenders with vents behind the front ones. These are exclusive to the RS car, as the regular A5 Avant does not feature them. The side skirts are sporty, and the profile has similar proportions to the current one. The flush-mounted door handles are a nice touch.

Look for a pair of bucket seats inside and exclusive upholstery and trim compared to the regular A5. The RS 5 Avant will also have a re-tuned chassis with stiffer suspension and lower ground clearance, a necessary upgrade to improve its high-speed cornering ability. The brakes are also superior to those of the standard model, keeping the power in check.

Speaking of power, it has been reported that the 2026 Audi RS 5 Avant will use a V6 engine with electric assistance, quattro all-wheel drive, and a dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The output and torque are unknown, but it will obviously be punchier than the current A4 Avant, which has 444 hp (450 ps/331 kW) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, taking 4.1s to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph).

We wouldn't look for the next RS 5 Avant in the United States, as its predecessor is unavailable here. Some outlets report that it might debut on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean sometime next year or even in 2026.