2018 Audi RS5 Prototype Flies on Nurburgring, Torque Vectoring Works like Magic

And with the 2018 RS5 having hit the Nurburgring in the meantime, this offers us the perfect opportunity to take a look at the Ingolstadt machine's handling.

You see, the outgoing RS5, with its naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8, introduced a dual solution for the understeer issue that has plagued many otherwise brilliant RS vehicles: we're talking about the optional sports rear diff, as well as the all-wheel torque vectoring. The latter is a feature that, combined with uses individual wheel braking to split the power, aiming to eliminate wheelspin.

Well, it seems the German engineers have built on that, as the next-gen model we see here seems to display shining cornering abilities. The swift manner in which the RS5 changes direction at times indicates serious hardware work.

As for the firepower, the RS5 should, once again, share its engine with the entry-level R8. While we're currently navigating rumor mill waters, the all-new twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 that has debuted on the 2017 Porsche Panamera 4S should also be used by Audi.

With the forced feeding set to up the ante on the torque front, we expect Audi to stick to the path it used when the S5 traded its atmospheric 4.2-liter V8 for a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and not upgrade the power or even remove a few horses. So the 2018 RS5 should allow its driver to play with 450 hp or less. Nevertheless, the response of the engine means one won't have all that many reasons to cry over the spilt natural aspiration.

We should now be one year away from the public introduction of the 2018 Audi RS5, which means we'll get plenty of occasions to discuss the German velocity machine.