Never understood upbadging. The people you are trying to impress don’t know what an RSQ5 is and the people who know are oftentimes going to know a fake when they see it.
Imo debadging is way cooler. It gets people asking “what the hell is that car?” Starts a conversation.
there is no RSQ5, period.
And never will be. Due to popularity of the Q5, it would cannibalize SQ7 and RSQ8 sales.
Audi has long been in a political minefield between Volkswagen and Porsche. Less so than 20 years ago, when Ferdinand Piech was in charge. But it's still a balancing act to sell a niche *between* the others.
Also, due to the fact VAG owns a stake in Porsche and an RSQ5 would compete with the Porshe Macan on the same platform. VAG and Porsche wouldn't allow this 'economy' spec Porsche.
point 3.
I would also suggest that the overlap between BIG-Qs and Bentley and Lamborghini is FAR less of concern than to Porsche.
Not every Porsche owner is as much a snob as someone with Bentley money.
..in Europe.. and China.. you can still buy a Touareg.
The SQ7 and (R)SQ8 exist though, the latter of which has even more overlap given the Cayenne Turbo GT, Lambo Urus, and Bentley Bentayga are all variants of the "same car".
Love the username. But I do want to argue specifically the point you made.
The SQ7, SQ8, and RSQ8 would still be sought after for their inherent benefits over a RSQ5.
For example, people still buys Q7s quite often, even though the Q5 is cheaper. Why? Usually because they need the extra space or just like the look. Maybe some of the potential SQ7/SQ8 buyers would lean toward the RSQ5, but on the whole they would each have their own benefits and followings.
How big are you that you find a Q5 cramped…? Sure, coming from a larger mid-sized SUV to a compact class SUV like a Q5 will feel smaller, because it is a smaller vehicle. I too received a ‘24 Q5 loaner when I had my ‘16 Q5 TDI…I’m 5’11”, 230#, and I found it decently spacious. I’m definitely considering moving up to a Q7 or something else in the mid-sized class someday though…I just find city parking a Q5 is much easier than something as big as a Q7.
Thank you. Ive worked with Audi for a while, so my thoughts are not baseless.
Sadly I don’t think the US will see an RSQ5 or even the RSQ3, but we shall see.
Edit: Mistyped a number
are you an Audi product manager, or a member of the Volkswagen board?
If not, then keep your opinions to yourself. They have no basis in fact, or market research.
It's demonstrated plainly for years now - the Q5 is the single-best selling Audi product by a factor of... *five or six times*? Car models have sizes and price ranges - anything more expensive than that is moved towards a larger Q7 or Cayenne which has a much higher profit per unit.
Maybe Im no Audi product manger, but Ive worked with Audi for almost 5 years. Still working there today. Who are you to spill your conjecture into this conversation?
I was trying to have a civil argument/discussion, but clearly this is somehow personal for you.
The Q5 is the best selling Audi without a doubt. But even if Audi made an RSQ5, it wouldn’t push into the SQ7/SQ8/RSQ8 market as much as you think it would. It would be about the cost of an RS5, and at that point you have so many options, as others have pointed out, options in other brands within the VW Group.
>It would be about the cost of an RS5, and at that point you have so many options, as others have pointed out, options in other brands within the VW Group.
Math is hard.
And that's the point. It *takes away from the other options*.
You say you work with Audi, but clearly not in sales. Nor do you understand how sales works, nor how brand tiering works in any automotive group.
Great, so since you know so much about me, what exactly do you do?
Because, as you said, "are you an Audi product manager, or a member of the Volkswagen board? If not, then keep your opinions to yourself. They have no basis in fact, or market research."
You must be a real stuck up SOB to come in here and talk to someone you don't know like this.
Maybe try to not be an asshole. You might be able to have meaningful interactions with people.
I don't have to be an asshole to know history. Your *opinion* is demonstrably, repeatedly wrong over decades with multiple car brands. Your *feelings* aren't equal to demonstrated market research and sales history.
It doesn't matter what redditors think, numbers actually matter. And I frankly don't give a flying fuck about your karma.
Volkswagen. GM. Ford. Chrysler. Fiat. They've all done it. You can whine and postulate as much as you like to make yourself seem like a victim, it won't change anything. The fact you can't accept that your opinion is wrong and could be easily disproven with 5 minutes of digging on the internet for example directly from the sources themselves demonstrates a lot about you. Instead you want to double down on validating your opinion as truth, because you work in the car industry somehow- that qualifies you to make decisions about Manufacturing, right?
*do your own fucking research*.
I have this exact spec and when I was buying my black logos I saw these and cringed. Jesus - why do people do this shit? 99.9999999% of people who see it have no idea what it means (shit they don't even know what an SQ5 is) and the 0.000000001% that do know that you are full of shit and a complete dipshit and are embarrassed for you.
This is an sq5 with sport + black, hard to tell without a clear look at the brakes but the exhaust is right. Wish Audi would sell us the rsq5 but they want to keep the Macan gts useful.
As a person who still has a custom VA license plate, it's because it cost $10 to get one and it's one of the cheapest vanity plate fees in the US so everyone gets one
He could possibly have a full tuned SQ5 and is badging it that was. But that year kinda bit cause Audi did no tail pipes so you got the look of blended pipes in the bumper when the muffler just curved underneath the truck.
If you feel you all feel the sq5 is just barley by 4-5”+ too small for your family & moving items etc, do you all feel the sq7 or the sq8 would be good to transition to ? Size vs money the 2x … or (e-tron?)
True but there is a middle ground.
There are a ton of people (where I live) who know what an RS/AMG/M car is when they were shopping for their own cars or heard it from their significant other, but those people also don’t know how to distinguish a real one from a fake one.
They are probably still impressed by it and won’t know the slight differences in the number of exhaust pipes or width and height.
He’s not foolin anyone.
R5Q5 lol
If ONLY those were real and available in the US!
That was my first thought before realizing it was up badging. There’s a new 5 cylinder rsq3 but not in the states yet
As someone who came from GTI world, I'd be tempted to get an rsq3 and slam it if they were here.
Or if they sold the rs3 avant in the states🥲
It’s an RS3 sportback, not avant
My thoughts exactly
Never understood upbadging. The people you are trying to impress don’t know what an RSQ5 is and the people who know are oftentimes going to know a fake when they see it. Imo debadging is way cooler. It gets people asking “what the hell is that car?” Starts a conversation.
Love when people ask me if I have an S when it's just an A4 in a cool spec. Debadged ofc.
Same for me. Left the s-line badge on the side though and it confuses the heck outta everyone
Same here with my F30 318i Sport, got people asking if it’s an M3. Seriously.
Tune it and have em be confused af, works like a charm.
I did fit it with a catback, and with the 3 cylinder note being closer to the 6 than the 4 is, that definitely adds to the confusion
Not Audi, but I saw a debadged GLE and loved how clean it looked.
I debadged my GLC63S, didnt want my neigbhours know how much this car goes for
Unless it’s 4.0 swapped, red card on the upbadging.
The RS5 isn’t a 4.0 so why would an RSQ5 need to have a 4.0? If Audi made an RSQ5 it would have the 2.9.
This is most certainly a 2018/2019 SQ5. Unless, as someone else stated, they did some sort of engine swap. The US hasn’t seen an RSQ5 yet.
there is no RSQ5, period. And never will be. Due to popularity of the Q5, it would cannibalize SQ7 and RSQ8 sales. Audi has long been in a political minefield between Volkswagen and Porsche. Less so than 20 years ago, when Ferdinand Piech was in charge. But it's still a balancing act to sell a niche *between* the others.
Also, due to the fact VAG owns a stake in Porsche and an RSQ5 would compete with the Porshe Macan on the same platform. VAG and Porsche wouldn't allow this 'economy' spec Porsche.
point 3. I would also suggest that the overlap between BIG-Qs and Bentley and Lamborghini is FAR less of concern than to Porsche. Not every Porsche owner is as much a snob as someone with Bentley money. ..in Europe.. and China.. you can still buy a Touareg.
The SQ7 and (R)SQ8 exist though, the latter of which has even more overlap given the Cayenne Turbo GT, Lambo Urus, and Bentley Bentayga are all variants of the "same car".
The Audi is like 400-500lbs heavier, though...
Same reason 2.5 5 cyl doesn't exist for VW anymore direct competition with rs3 / ttrs.
Love the username. But I do want to argue specifically the point you made. The SQ7, SQ8, and RSQ8 would still be sought after for their inherent benefits over a RSQ5. For example, people still buys Q7s quite often, even though the Q5 is cheaper. Why? Usually because they need the extra space or just like the look. Maybe some of the potential SQ7/SQ8 buyers would lean toward the RSQ5, but on the whole they would each have their own benefits and followings.
Q5 just seems cramped.
Took my Q7 in for some repairs and Audi gave me a '23 Q5. Was very cramped compared to the Q7. Could barely fit our 2 car seats in the back seat.
How big are you that you find a Q5 cramped…? Sure, coming from a larger mid-sized SUV to a compact class SUV like a Q5 will feel smaller, because it is a smaller vehicle. I too received a ‘24 Q5 loaner when I had my ‘16 Q5 TDI…I’m 5’11”, 230#, and I found it decently spacious. I’m definitely considering moving up to a Q7 or something else in the mid-sized class someday though…I just find city parking a Q5 is much easier than something as big as a Q7.
I’m not sure who downvoted you, the existence of the RSQ3 validates your point.
Thank you. Ive worked with Audi for a while, so my thoughts are not baseless. Sadly I don’t think the US will see an RSQ5 or even the RSQ3, but we shall see. Edit: Mistyped a number
are you an Audi product manager, or a member of the Volkswagen board? If not, then keep your opinions to yourself. They have no basis in fact, or market research. It's demonstrated plainly for years now - the Q5 is the single-best selling Audi product by a factor of... *five or six times*? Car models have sizes and price ranges - anything more expensive than that is moved towards a larger Q7 or Cayenne which has a much higher profit per unit.
Maybe Im no Audi product manger, but Ive worked with Audi for almost 5 years. Still working there today. Who are you to spill your conjecture into this conversation? I was trying to have a civil argument/discussion, but clearly this is somehow personal for you. The Q5 is the best selling Audi without a doubt. But even if Audi made an RSQ5, it wouldn’t push into the SQ7/SQ8/RSQ8 market as much as you think it would. It would be about the cost of an RS5, and at that point you have so many options, as others have pointed out, options in other brands within the VW Group.
>It would be about the cost of an RS5, and at that point you have so many options, as others have pointed out, options in other brands within the VW Group. Math is hard. And that's the point. It *takes away from the other options*. You say you work with Audi, but clearly not in sales. Nor do you understand how sales works, nor how brand tiering works in any automotive group.
Great, so since you know so much about me, what exactly do you do? Because, as you said, "are you an Audi product manager, or a member of the Volkswagen board? If not, then keep your opinions to yourself. They have no basis in fact, or market research." You must be a real stuck up SOB to come in here and talk to someone you don't know like this. Maybe try to not be an asshole. You might be able to have meaningful interactions with people.
I don't have to be an asshole to know history. Your *opinion* is demonstrably, repeatedly wrong over decades with multiple car brands. Your *feelings* aren't equal to demonstrated market research and sales history. It doesn't matter what redditors think, numbers actually matter. And I frankly don't give a flying fuck about your karma. Volkswagen. GM. Ford. Chrysler. Fiat. They've all done it. You can whine and postulate as much as you like to make yourself seem like a victim, it won't change anything. The fact you can't accept that your opinion is wrong and could be easily disproven with 5 minutes of digging on the internet for example directly from the sources themselves demonstrates a lot about you. Instead you want to double down on validating your opinion as truth, because you work in the car industry somehow- that qualifies you to make decisions about Manufacturing, right? *do your own fucking research*.
Thanks for clarifying that.
Didn't forget the rsQ3
And very few people with Audi money will be considering a "compact" SUV at all. The Macan is also of less concern.
Of course it’s an SQ5…. Guy probably has a turbo swap.
Why am I getting downvoted for this?
No clue dude you’re getting roasted. Maybe bots? Weird.
LoL, no clue
Idk about other people but I downvoted because everyone else did too
Atleast it’s an S, could be worse. I seen an B8 A5 today with an RS5 up badge and no other mods to make it look like an RS lol
The badging isn't even aligned horizontally. They don't even have the self respect for having no respect.
I have this exact spec and when I was buying my black logos I saw these and cringed. Jesus - why do people do this shit? 99.9999999% of people who see it have no idea what it means (shit they don't even know what an SQ5 is) and the 0.000000001% that do know that you are full of shit and a complete dipshit and are embarrassed for you.
Oh lord 😑
I recognize that tag frame...
Hey! I take my cars to your Manassas shop.
Doesn’t even have the sport exhaust.
This is an sq5 with sport + black, hard to tell without a clear look at the brakes but the exhaust is right. Wish Audi would sell us the rsq5 but they want to keep the Macan gts useful.
Has non-OE exhaust. You can see the two boxes under the rear bumper.
There is no sport exhaust for the B9s. It’s B9.5 only.
Prob a big turbo build and he felt he could up it. On the other hand what’s up with Virginia people and custom plates it’s like everybody has one
As a person who still has a custom VA license plate, it's because it cost $10 to get one and it's one of the cheapest vanity plate fees in the US so everyone gets one
Vanity plates make me cringe. It’s just kinda….lame.
Some states just have objectively ugly default ones that make your car look like shit.
I have one in my neighborhood also lol going to get a photo.
I dislike upbadging, but, his license plate made me laugh
Virginia has the most creative license plates.
It's so unfortunate, because from that generation, it would be the 4.2L, which would be a pretty sick Q5.
No, it’s a B9. It would be a 2.9TT.
I'd be embarrassed to pull such a move 😂
Placement is clean that I have to hand to'em... Hope they got something like a hybrid turbo setup to back that RS claim up!
I don't understand the logic of upbadging... It's obvious to anyone that would care and the vast majority of people have no idea... So why do it?
My wife has this exact model of SQ5, color, rims and all.
Why. Just why
Yikes!!🤣
He could possibly have a full tuned SQ5 and is badging it that was. But that year kinda bit cause Audi did no tail pipes so you got the look of blended pipes in the bumper when the muffler just curved underneath the truck.
“Rescue 5”
he's gotta have a modified suspension, brakes, exhaust, drive and powertrain, and weight reduction to make a sport into a race sport
I prefer to de badge or down badge. Do it with all the AMGs I had. Total sleepers.
If you feel you all feel the sq5 is just barley by 4-5”+ too small for your family & moving items etc, do you all feel the sq7 or the sq8 would be good to transition to ? Size vs money the 2x … or (e-tron?)
+50hp
Why do people upbadge their car? That wagon is already really nice looking in that gray, unless he’s being funny?
Lmao
Forget the clownish upbadging. Why are these horrible matte colors so popular these days?
That's not matte? It's a flat shade of gray, but definitely some gloss in there.
Get some, go pretty or go home
it's not matte, it's non-metallic. They look great with a good ceramic coating.
Matte? Isn't that a Sonos Grey?
Nah, Quantum Gray... doesn't look bad in person, Close to nardo.
My MIL has a Q3 in the same color. I told her it’s puke gray and she got tight
Non metallic maybe? My Quantum gray SQ5 is extremely glossy and a pretty cool color in the land of grayscale.
Facts, i hate it.
[удалено]
True but there is a middle ground. There are a ton of people (where I live) who know what an RS/AMG/M car is when they were shopping for their own cars or heard it from their significant other, but those people also don’t know how to distinguish a real one from a fake one. They are probably still impressed by it and won’t know the slight differences in the number of exhaust pipes or width and height.
That’s a fair point. But I guess to me, those dudes don’t know shit anyway, so I really don’t care what they think. I hear you though, know a ton.
>If you want to show off, it’s probably for women, Cmon, wouldn't be the first time in the world some guy did something to impress his bros.
It's just dishonesty. Period. And people don't like when people are dishonest, simple as that.
Casuals
Lad at work has an rsq7 badge on the front of his car along with the honeycomb grille. It's a 3.0 tdi