Audi Australia readying 13 new hardcore RS sports cars for 2020

Audi Australia is preparing a torrent of new RS and less-potent S models to launch this year that is expected to give a massive boost to its sports car sales.

No less than 13 full-fat Audi Sport models – RS-badged vehicles and the flagship R8 – will either relaunch or be updated in 2020, kicking off with from the middle of the year with the return of the RS3 Sportback and sedan.

The floodgates will open in the third quarter however, with the all-new RS6 Avant, RS7, RS Q3, RS Q3 Sportback, and RS Q8, as well as facelifted versions of the TT RS, RS4 Avant, RS5 coupe, RS5 Sportback, R8 and R8 Spyder.

Interest in Audi Sport models have traditionally been large enough for Australia to make it into the top-five markets in the world, but last year the local market was severely limited in supply, with only the RS4 Avant, RS5 coupe and RS5 Sportback available.

The RS6 Avant, RS7 and RS Q8 all share the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 engine, outputting 441kW/800Nm in overseas markets, while the RS4 Avant and RS5 pair are motivated by 331kW/600Nm 2.9-litre turbocharged V6.

The smaller-sized RS3 family, TT RS, RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback meanwhile, are powered by a 294kW/480Nm 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine.

To compliment the RS and R8 line-up, the facelifted SQ7 large SUV, and new S6, S7 and SQ8 will launch in the second quarter of the year.

Following this, the diesel-powered SQ5 TDI mid-size SUV will be released mid-year that will be in showrooms alongside the petrol-powered version, while the facelifted S5, S6 and new S8 will hit in the third quarter.

Last year, BMW sold 4288 M cars in Australia, while Mercedes-AMG moved around 6077 units, though both of Audi’s competitor brands count vehicles such as the M1350i and Mercedes-AMG GLC43 in their ranks.

Audi Australia’s high-water mark for Audi Sport sales is around 1500 units, which it hit in 2018.