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Audi may have just built a 630-horsepower plug-in hybrid answer to the BMW X3 M, and the Nürburgring spy shots suggest they’re dead serious about it this time.
The rumored twin-turbo V6 plus electric motor combo isn’t even the wildest part — Audi apparently developed a dedicated drift mode to neutralize BMW’s rear-bias handling advantage, which would be a philosophical first for a brand that’s built its identity around Quattro grip.
If these specs hold up, the 2027 RS Q5 could completely redraw the performance SUV hierarchy, and anyone cross-shopping in this segment might want to hold off writing that deposit check.
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Audi is finally upping its game and taking the fight to BMW. New spy shots reveal that the German automaker is testing the RS Q5, a potentially plug-in hybrid performance SUV intended to directly rival the X3 M.
At first glance, the prototype just looks like an SQ5. But the wider, riveted, fender arches suggest the stance has also been widened in a bid to handle the extra power we suspect the new SUV will have. A yellow warning sticker on the top corner of the rear window also seem to confirm a battery is present, so we’re looking at a hybrid.
The location of the photos is also a bit of a clue as to what we’re dealing with. They were taken at the Nürburgring, because where else does any serious German performance car maker test their upcoming vehicles.
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What do we know about the upcoming RS Q5
Okay, so the shots aren’t telling us much. Drive it through a city and it could just belong to any SQ5 owner capable of fitting a body kit and slapping on some matching paint. That’s mules for you.
But there are a lot of rumors circulating about what’s underneath that bodywork. Most notably the hybrid powertrain that’s currently throwing it around the legendary 13-mile long track it was photographed at.
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According to the rumor mill, the RS Q5 is packing a 2.9 liter twin-turbo V6 capable of cranking out around 630 horsepower once paired with the electric motor. It’s also rumored to produce around 608 horsepower of torque to help get that power on the road. Theoretically it could tow a boat or something too, it’s an SUV with a very powerful engine and the performance SUV/watercraft owner overlap might be significant.
In terms of transmission, we may be looking at an eight-speed automatic. There are still some questions in the air about the transaxle and whether it will share the same one as the upcoming RS 5. Rumors suggest it will, but packaging that without negatively impacting the crossover’s cargo space is a significant engineering challenge.
Audi is also known for its exceptional “Quattro” all-wheel drive system. Which is better for racing and practical driving, but isn’t as fun as sliding the back end out of a rear-biased or RWD performance vehicle, like the ones BMW produces. To compensate for this, Audi is rumored to have developed a “drift mode” designed to help you slide things like the RS Q5 around more easily.
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While we lack any interior shots, the cabin is probably the thing we know the most about. The interior is expected to be a sportier version of the SQ5’s, with a bunch of RS graphics scattered around it. That means you’ll get the same Audi “Virtual Cockpit” infotainment and driver display system consisting of an 11.9 inch digital cluster and a 14.5 inch central touchscreen. Both of these will also get their own RS graphics, just in case you forget what you’re sitting in while browsing through cheesy early 2000s pop on Spotify or whatever it is Audi owners do.
We’ll likely know more in the coming months. The RS Q5 is set to release as a 2027 model year vehicle, which likely means a mid-to-late 2026 launch.
