The New Audi RS 5 Just Won Performance Car of the Year

[Source: News UK]

The new Audi RS 5 hasn’t been around for long, but it is already collecting hardware. The latest generation of Audi’s performance car has been named Performance Car of the Year at the 2026 News UK Motor Awards.

Now in its ninth year, the annual awards bring together The Times, The Sunday Times, and The Sun to recognize some of the best new vehicles across the automotive industry. Categories range from family cars and SUVs to luxury and performance machines. This year, the Audi RS 5 came out on top in the category we care about most. That’s another impressive early accomplishment for a car that represents a significant change for Audi Sport.

Plug-In Hybrid RS

The new RS 5 abandoned the previous model’s twin-turbo V6-only powertrain for a plug-in hybrid setup. At its heart is still a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6, but it is now joined by an electric motor. The combination produces 630 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, making this the most powerful production RS 5 yet.

That power is sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive, allowing the RS 5 to rocket from zero to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds. Audi also offers the new model in both Sedan and Avant body styles.

The award is especially notable considering how many significant performance cars are arriving right now. News UK’s 2026 awards included everything from the Aston Martin Valhalla, which was named Luxury Car of the Year, to the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring, which Jeremy Clarkson selected as his personal Car of the Year. The Ferrari Amalfi Spider took the overall Car of the Year award from The Times and The Sunday Times. Yet when it came specifically to performance cars, the RS 5 got the nod.

For Audi enthusiasts, the recognition should provide another reason to be excited about the newest RS model. Moving to a plug-in hybrid powertrain was always going to generate some controversy, particularly among fans of traditional Audi Sport models. But if the early reception is any indication, Audi may have gotten the formula right.

The new RS 5 hasn’t even had much time to prove itself yet, and it already has a Performance Car of the Year trophy to show for it.