Audi‘s 2019 RS5 Sportback model, the Coupe version’s more practical five-door sibling, has been priced in the U.S. from $74,200, not including a $995 destination charge. That’s $4,300 more than what you’d spend on the Coupe.

Just as its two-door brethren, the 2019 RS5 Sportback is also powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine, cranking out 444 HP (450 PS) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, with the help of an eight-speed automatic and a rear-biased all-wheel drive system.

In a straight line, the RS5 Sportback will hit 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill in just 3.8 seconds (0.1 seconds slower than the Coupe), before maxing out at 155 mph (250 km/h). Opt for the Dynamic Plus Package and that number becomes 174 mph (280 km/h).

Compared to the S5 Sportback, the RS version sits closer to the road by 0.25 inches (7 mm). While the car features a fixed sports suspension setup as standard, buyers can also choose the adaptive dampers as an option.

For the 2019 model year, both the RS5 Sportback as well as the Coupe have received notable standard equipment updates, meaning that you get Audi MMI Navigation Plus, Audi Virtual Cockpit, Audi Connect Prime & Splus, direct tire-pressure monitoring system, Audi phone box and rear USB charge ports all free of charge.

Meanwhile, Audi park steering assist is also new for 2019 – this system can automatically steer your RS5 Sportback into detected parallel or perpendicular parking spaces.

The Audi A4 and A5 go into the new model year in May 2021 with the "S line competition" and "S line competition plus", two new appearance packages that with attractive features that make these two models look truly sporty.

The appearance package "S line competition" for the Audi A4 includes the S line exterior package as well as an additional black package. It includes a matte radiator grille, a blade, a strip to protect from stone chipping, an S4 spoiler as well as the Audi rings in the Singleframe grille all in black. 19" cast wheels make the package even more dynamic. For the Audi A4, the "S line competition plus" package also includes LED headlights, an ambient lighting package, black side mirrors and an illuminated entry sills with aluminum inlays in the front. All motorizations with 150 kW and more also feature red brake calipers.

In the new model year, customers can also order both versions of the Audi A4 sedan with a roof in Brilliant black. The spectrum of colors for exterior paint ranges from Terra gray, Quantum gray, Daytona gray, Tango red, Glacier white, Navarra blue and Turbo blue to Mythos black. In addition, solid finish in Ibis white is also available with Brilliant black side mirrors.

As with the Audi A4, customers can also choose their Audi A5 between the "S line competition" and "S line competition plus" editions. The exterior design of the "S line competition" for the Audi A5, with 20" wheels, is based on the S line exterior and additionally features striking black elements such as the spoiler and radiator grille. With the "S line competition plus" for the Audi A5, matrix LED headlights, black side mirrors, red brake calipers for motorizations of 150 kW and more as well as the ambient lighting package highlight the car's dynamic look. Exterior finish options are Distrikt green, Quantum gray, Daytona gray, Tango red, Glacier white, Navarra blue, Turbo blue and Mythos black. The Audi A5 coupé is also available with a roof in Brilliant black.

The Audi A4 and the Audi A5 with "S line competition" and "S line competition plus" will be available to order on the German market from May 20, 2021. Delivery will begin in July 2021. In Germany, the Audi A4 S line competition is available starting at 38,250 euros and the Audi A4 S line competition plus starting at 45,400 euros. The Audi A5 S line competition starts at 43,200 euros and the Audi A5 competition plus starts at 49,600 euros.

Audi A5 Sportback S line competition plus

We have written many things about the next-gen Audi A4 Avant that is expected to arrive next year, but what is the case with the more traditional three-box bodystyle? The four-door sedan could transform into a sexier and more practical five-door Sportback bodystyle, which if materialized could also serve as a replacement for the A5 Sportback, merging two models into one.

​​​​​​​Starting with the A4, all of the camouflaged prototypes caught by our spy photographers at the time of writing had the Avant bodystyle, with no reported sightings of a sedan. However, we are confident that Audi won’t let the rival BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans unanswered, so it is safe to assume that an A4 with three-box proportions will arrive shortly. Still, with sedans getting sleeker rooflines and fastback models becoming more common, Audi designers could come up with an A4 Sportback instead of a traditional sedan. Our associates Jean Francois Hubert/SB-Medien created a rendering of the hypothetical model giving us a better idea of what to expect.

The A4 Sportback would share the entire front end with the A4 Avant, including the aggressive matrix LED headlights, the wide Singleframe grille, the sculpted bumper with the triangular intakes, the wide front fenders and the distinctive bonnet. The differences would appear from the B-Pillar and back, with a dropping roofline and pronounced shoulders adding more drama into the mix. It would also share the same dashboard with two separate screens – a smaller free-standing instrument cluster and a larger central touchscreen for the infotainment.

Such a vehicle would be very close to the current A5 Sportback, making it obsolete. Audi hasn’t given any information about the future of the A5 family, but rumors about a possible demise of the A5 Sportback are circulating the web since 2019. Merging the A4 sedan and the A5 Sportback into a single model would make sense from a financial standpoint, as the automaker tries to sustain both its ICE-powered range while at the same time offering BEV alternatives for every single line for the remaining part of the decade.

We already know that the next generation of the Audi A4 will be split into two separate models. The ICE-powered A4 that we have been detailing will be based on either an evolved version of the current model’s MLB platform or the rumoured PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture that is said to underpin the last combustion models from Audi. Then, there will also be a fully electric A4 e-tron that will be based on the completely different PPE architecture and possibly feature a uniquely designed Sportback body, similar to the larger A6 e-tron.

Having two separate models for each model line for one more generation will significantly increase the size of Audi’s lineup. The automaker has already announced it will axe the A1 and the Q2, but more bodystyle variants could end up on the chopping block in order to free up space and resources for the EVs. Mind you, the last model with a combustion engine will be unveiled in 2026, before Audi becomes an EV-only brand in 2033.

The fifth-gen Audi A4 debuted in 2015 and received a facelift in 2019. Likewise, the current second-gen A5 was introduced in 2016 and was updated in 2019. This means that both models could be replaced at around the same time, making it easier to merge bodystyle variants. What we don’t know is whether Audi will go for a more drastic solution and discontinue the entire A5 range including the Coupe, Cabriolet, and Sportback, or keep the two-door models alive for one more generation, fighting against the BMW 4-Series and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLE.

In any case, all bodystyle variants of the next ICE-powered Audi A4 and A5 would share the same platform and engine lineup. This would include an updated version of the mild-hybrid 2.0 TFSI petrol engine, a new plug-in hybrid powertrain with increased EV range, an electrified V6 TFSI for the S models, and a stronger plug-in hybrid setup for the performance-focused RS.

We expect to learn more about the sixth-gen Audi A4 in the next few months, and hopefully spot camouflaged prototypes with the three-box bodystyle in order to see how it looks in real life.