We've long known that Audi's RS5 coupe will finally be sold on this side of the Atlantic, but before a single car comes stateside, it seems Audi's seen fit to give the rennsport coupe a minor facelift in keeping with other recent RS-line models.
For 2012, the RS5 receives a number of minor performance and visual changes. Up front, the RS5 gets a revised front fascia with a wider grille and new LED running lights, which now wrap around the top of the headlamp assembly. The car now sits on redesigned 19-inch wheels -- which can also be upgraded to 20-inchers -- and engineers have also revised the steering ratio for the electric power steering rack.
Beneath the skin, the new RS5 remains essentially unchanged. A 4.2-liter V-8 -- rated at 450 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque -- is still mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission and Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. According to Audi, the RS5 sprints from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds, and ultimately hits an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. For those who need a little more speed, Audi says it can increase that limiter to 174 mph "upon request" (and a little extra cash).
Audi hasn't yet announced pricing or release dates for the American-spec RS5, but it should almost certainly be worth the wait (and the price) for fans of ultra-quick cars from Ingolstadt.
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