- RS 5 Sedan and Avant shown publicly.
- First RS plug-in hybrid from Audi.
- 470 kW and 825 Nm combined.
- Unveiled at Kyalami on 8 November.
- Shown to 500 VIP customers and media.
Audi South Africa joined Heineken 0.0 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday, 8 November, for the 2026 Heineken House F1 Edition, an event built around live viewing of the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix. Under the banner RS like never before, the brand ran passenger laps and a display of its performance range.
The day also marked the first public appearance in South Africa of the new RS 5, in both Sedan and Avant form, in front of 500 VIP customers and media.
Audi RS 5 plug-in hybrid powertrain
The RS 5 is the first high-performance plug-in hybrid from Audi. It pairs a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 with electric power, and the combined system produces 470 kW and 825 Nm of torque. Drive goes through a newly developed quattro system with Dynamic Torque Control.
Markus Schuster, Head of Audi South Africa, said the local market has “a remarkable appetite for high-performance vehicles”, with Audi Sport’s share of total Audi sales placing South Africa third worldwide.
Audi RS 3 and the five-cylinder anniversary
Guests rode along in the RS 3 and the new RS 5 on the circuit. For the smaller car, the timing carried extra weight: 2026 marks 50 years of the Audi five-cylinder engine, first introduced in the Audi 100 in 1976. The RS 3 continues that line with a 2.5 TFSI unit producing 294 kW and 500 Nm.
RS Q8 performance and RS e-tron GT performance
Two further RS models were on static display. The RS Q8 performance recently won the Performance category and finished third overall at the 2026 South African Car of the Year awards. Alongside it stood the fully electric RS e-tron GT performance, which delivers up to 680 kW with Launch Control and reaches 100 km/h from rest in 2.5 seconds.
Wider Audi range on display at Kyalami
Beyond the RS line-up, the A3, A5, Q2, Q3 and Q5 were also shown, giving guests a look at the current Audi product offering. The partnership with Heineken 0.0 combined the race viewing with music and entertainment, taking the brand to a lifestyle audience outside the usual dealership setting. The RS 5 has now been shown publicly in South Africa, and further local details are still to follow.
Supplied by MotorPress (Faith Sikosana, Communications & Relationships Manager, Audi South Africa)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.
Enjoyed this story? We need your help.
Add Saffarazzi as a preferred source. You’ll see more of our stories on Google, and you’ll help us grow.
