Look: New 2020 Audi RS 5 Sportback in pictures

There are countless models in the market that combine performance and practicality with aplomb, however, the list begins to dwindle a little when you expect them to provide elegance, luxury and class too. Can the 2020 Audi RS 5 Sportback buck that trend?

Audi has just launched the five-door RS 5 Sportback — replete with a classy cabin, lots of tech and a hefty 450 horses produced from its turbocharged V6 — so we grabbed the Nardo Grey tester to see if it can deliver it all...

It definitely makes a solid first impression - check out the extended wheelbase and those short overhangs...

It features a wide Singleframe grille (with the quattro logo in matte black) flanked by a pair of large air inlets, a long, muscular hood...

Around the back it gets an RS-typical diffuser with oval exhaust tips and a surface-mounted spoiler lip on the boot.

These 20in glossy black alloys round off what is a subtle but sporty exterior.

It definitely makes a solid first impression and the good start continues when you swing open the doors revealing a smart cabin that is as well-appointed as ever. Some of the tech includes a traffic-jam capable adaptive cruise control system, an 8.3in infotainment system and Audi’s digital cockpit (it replaces the gauge cluster with a 12.3in display and is one of the most intuitive set-ups around).

It is finished entirely in black with carbon inlays - and check out that awesome gear lever!

The seats are wrapped in Fine Nappa leather and offer good levels of comfort but more importantly they’re very supportive and lock you in place when you drive spiritedly

This car is a bit like a saloon, a coupe and a hatchback and it is practical; it can easily accommodate five adults.

Its blown 2.9-litre TFSI is also used in Porsche’s Panamera and it produces 600Nm of torque and when you bury the throttle it pins you back to those RS-embossed seats taking just 3.9 seconds to hit 100kph!

Mated to the V6 is a sportily tuned eight-speed tiptronic with quattro permanent all-wheel drive that distributes power to the axles in a 40:60 split.

There’s no detectable turbo lag either and the surge of thrust is accompanied by one heck of a raucous exhaust note. With all of that power it’s a good job that the brakes are as strong as they are. They do a sublime job in bringing proceedings to a halt.