The high-performance crossover coupe could be packing a plug-in hybrid powertrain shared with the RS5

Spy photographers recently snapped the upcoming Audi SQ3, but that isn’t the only high-performance crossover in the works. Quite the opposite as an RS Q5 Sportback has been spied for the first time.

Caught undergoing testing on and around the Nürburgring, the model builds on the SQ5 Sportback but is even more extreme. This is immediately apparent as the crossover coupe adopts a unique grille that is taller and interrupted by a horizontal bar. We can also see a special mesh pattern, which helps to distance itself from lesser variants.

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Elsewhere, there’s a new front bumper and revised air intakes. The latter are partially hidden, but appear taller and narrower than those found on the SQ5.

The profile largely carries over, but the crossover has been equipped with extended wheel arches that hint at a wider track. We can also expect the production model to ride on sportier wheels that are backed up by a high-performance braking system.

Some of the biggest changes occur out back, where the prototype has a massive dual exhaust system with oval tips. They’re joined by a revised spoiler and a new bumper, which eschews the faux ventilation found on the SQ5.

Spy photographers didn’t get a good look inside, but we can expect a familiar cabin with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch infotainment system, and an available front passenger display. They’ll likely be joined by a sport steering wheel, special seats, and plenty of RS badging.

Under the hood, we can expect to find the RS5’s plug-in hybrid powertrain. It consists of a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6, a 25.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, an electric motor, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

This gives the RS5 a combined output of 630 hp (470 kW / 639 PS) and 609 lb-ft (825 Nm) of torque. Those generous numbers allow the sedan to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.6 seconds, hit a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), and have a combined electric-only range of up to 52.2 miles (84 km).