Earlier this week, the CarBuzz team discovered by way of a trademark filing that Audi was at least considering giving the Q5 a high-performance model called the RS Q5. Now theCarBuzzspy photographers have found it in the metal, capturing what looks to be the new RS Q5 in testing around the Nurburgring in Germany. RS Q5 Looks Extra Beefy CarBuzz/Valnet This prototype is hiding in plain sight, because on the surface it is just another SQ5 with some new wheels. Look more closely, though, and there are some very obvious details.The fender flares, to start. These arches poke out much further than the standard Q5 or the SQ5. That's to allow wider wheels and tires to fit, and though we normally try to get you the exact size, the shadows in these images are blocking the sidewall numbers.Whatever the tires are, they're big. The brake rotors inside them are also large, and are drilled like we would expect from an RS model instead of an S. There is tape on the front caliper, which is most likely hiding an RS logo to try and throw us off.CarBuzz/Valnet There are giveaways in both the nose and the tail. Up front, the side inlets are fully open instead of mostly closed on the SQ5. The main grille appears to have more open space, as does the lower section. All of this helps cool whatever is under the hood of this SUV.While the SQ5 has four tailpipes sticking out from under the rear bumper, the RS model has just two. They're larger and oval, and the difference is a typical S versus RS feature.The RS Q5 will be a plug-in hybrid model, and that should give it much more horsepower and quicker acceleration than the SQ5. The SQ gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that makes 362 horsepower. The RS Q5 will probably end up with the same power unit as the RS5 sedan, which has a2.9-liter turbocharged V6and an electric motor to give it 630 hp and 608 lb-ft, with 503 of those horses coming from the gas engine. Look Out, AMG, BMW M CarBuzz/Valnet Since the Q5 confusingly sizes up with BMW's X3, not the similarly-numbered X5, we'll look at the X3M as its main competitor. The latest X3M uses a gas-only 3.0-liter turbo-six to make 473 hp standard or 503 in Competition form.Up to this point, Audi has had a nearly full range of RS models on the car side, with its highest-performance badge going on everything from the smallest A3 to the e-tron GT electric. The SUV side of the company has gotten the short end of the performance stick, with just the Q3 and Q8 SUVs getting the treatment so far. This would help fill in the gaps, and give it competitors to Mercedes-AMG and BMW M models.On the inside, expect a cabin very similar to the SQ5. That includes the SUV's 14.5-inch center screen and 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit display. RS models normally add more leather and microfiber, along with red accent details and more heavily-bolstered sports seats.RS models also normally add suspension upgrades, including adaptive dampers. Sharper steering and changes to the quattro AWD system should be part of the package, too. And the RS5's torque vectoring system is probably going to end up here as well.With Audi testing the vehicle completely exposed like this, we believe the reveal will happen very soon. Possibly in the next couple of months.Audi RSQ5 Mule 2
