RideLust

The Audi RS5. Photo: Audi

Just when you were ready to write off Audi for building boring but luxurious cars comes word that Audi will import the RS5 into the United States. The V8 powered, 450 horsepower, two-door hoonmobile will grace these shores sometime in 2012 if Kicking Tires is correct.

U.S. buyers can currently opt for the V8 powered, 354 horsepower Audi S5, which will get you to sixty in 4.9 seconds from a standing start. The ride is more “GT car” than sports car, so S5 buyers looking for a track-day toy may want to wait until the stiffer, faster RS5 hits Audi showrooms. Audi isn’t giving out details on pricing, but an 2011 S5 coupe currently stickers at $55,175. Expect the RS to fetch a substantial premium over the S, which will put it in the same league as Cadillac’s higher horsepower CTS-V Coupe. The CTS-V Coupe, which packs a supercharged 565 horsepower V8, has a sticker price starting at $62,165.