The strength of 450 horses

Fire-breathing cars are not practical and everyday cars are not powerful - thankfully now we have the Audi RS5 that is both powerful and utilitarian

It is refreshing to see that there are still some car makers who believe in taking risks and are building cars with unprecedented raw power, and for whom fuel economy is just a minor irritant. But while men have lusted after muscle-bound super cars, at the back of their mind they have always known that such vehicles are anything but practical. As things have gone, the dichotomy is clear: you can have a car that is insanely powerful or you can have a car that you can drive in everyday life, not store it in the garage and air it only over the weekends.

The guys at Ingolstadt, headquarters of Audi in Germany, seem to have said, "Hang on a minute, we don't understand what the fuss is all about. Why, we have a fire-breathing V8 sports coupe, the RS5, which promises to knock the wind out of you." They could not more right. The RS5 in Sepang Blue pearl-effect paint glistening on the road couldn't be a more pleasant challenge.

One can stand for hours and admire the aggressive, yet beautifully sculpted, RS5. The extra large mesh grill is a show stopper, equally complemented by the chiselled yet edgy, larger-than-life front bumpers. Though the new RS5 is roughly 20mm lower than its predecessor, you have to drive it to believe that it sails over speed breakers without a murmur. The colossal 19-inch alloys add a sporty flavour to the car. It has extra comfortable bucket seats in Alcantara leather upholstery. With integrated head rests, the seats fit like second skin around the contours of your body. This coupe comes with two rear seats as well. They are comfortable but as expected the seats at the back feel slightly cramped and getting in and out of the car can be a task. Either it's the thought that matters or Audi has made the rear seats simply as an option for kids and shopping bags. And needless to say, a car of this sort comes with all comfort and safety features. The Audi MMI system, or the entertainment set-up, is simple and easy to use though one can get a bit overwhelmed by all the buttons.

The RS5 starts with a big roar. The coupe is a breeze to drive even in the narrow passages in residential colonies or in meandering traffic. Initially I had butterflies in my stomach as one doesn't get to drive a V8 engine every day, especially with hostile buses trying to bully you on the road and autorickshaws inexplicably trying to cut you off. But the RS5 confidently handled all these. Despite its size, it felt like a compact, agile vehicle.

The seven-speed S-tronic transmission is perfect for all seasons. Its comfortable mode is ideal for everyday use. The gears ratio is shorter than the dynamic mode which tackles start-stop traffic easily and makes the drive to the city centre a fairly effortless affair. The fun begins when you see an empty road ahead and you slide into the sports mode. This is when the engine comes alive. The taller gear ratios allow you to leave everyone eating dust. The acceleration is bone chilling because before you can bat an eye lid the vehicle has crossed the three-digit mark. No curve is too challenging for this coupe as an all-wheel drive is standard for the model. So not only are you planted on the tarmac, but you also can whiz past turns with little difficulty.

Does the RS5 have any downsides? Not that I can think of, but, yes, the steering could have been a bit more responsive. Keep in mind we are nitpicking here. The exquisite exhaust note, the V8 nirvana with the horses running wild, the awesome style statement - and yet this super sport coupe remains a practical car. In other words, though it has a stolid German badge on the hood, it feels and performs like an unbridled Italian stallion.

AUDI RS 5
Engine Type: 4.2 litre V8
Power: 450hp@ 8250rpm
Torque: 430Nm 6000rpm
Transmission: 7-Speed auto
0-100 km: 4.5 seconds

Price: Rs 98.32 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)