Johannesburg: Audi South Africa brought the thrill of Audi Sport to Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday, 8 November, partnering with Heineken 0.0 to introduce the 2026 rendition of the Heineken House F1 Edition, for a celebration of motorsport, performance and culture.
Under the banner RS like never before, the Four Rings delivered an immersive showcase of its high-performance automotive portfolio, combining exhilarating on-track experiences with the excitement of the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix race viewing.
The occasion also marked a significant milestone for Audi Sport in South Africa, as the new Audi RS 5 Sedan and Avant made its first public appearance on local soil to an audience of 500 VIP customers and media.
RS like never before: Performance takes centre stage
Few places capture the spirit of motorsport quite like Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. Against this backdrop, Audi brought its RS performance credentials to life, giving guests the opportunity to experience the power, precision and driving dynamics that define Audi.
The Audi RS 3 and new RS 5 took to the circuit for exhilarating passenger laps, offering guests a first-hand experience of their performance capabilities.
The occasion was particularly fitting for the Audi RS 3, as 2026 marks 50 years of Audi’s legendary five-cylinder engine. First introduced in the Audi 100 in 1976, the engine went on to become an icon of the Four Rings, earning its reputation through motorsport success and a distinctive sound. Today, the RS 3 carries that legacy forward with its 2.5 TFSI five-cylinder engine, delivering 294 kW and 500 Nm of torque.
Beyond the track, the Audi RS Q8 performance and RS e-tron GT performance completed the showcase, demonstrating the breadth of the Audi RS portfolio.
Fresh from claiming the Performance category title and third place overall at the 2026 South African Car of the Year awards, the RS Q8 performance reinforced Audi’s standing in the high-performance SUV segment.
Alongside it, the fully electric RS e-tron GT performance demonstrated another dimension of Audi performance, delivering up to 680 kW with Launch Control and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds.
Together, the four models reflected the evolution of Audi RS, from its celebrated combustion-engine heritage to the latest developments in electric and electrified performance.
A new chapter for Audi: The RS 5 makes its South African debut
The highlight of the occasion was the exclusive unveiling of the new Audi RS 5 range, presented publicly in South Africa for the first time.
As Audi’s first high-performance plug-in hybrid, the new RS 5 represents a significant evolution of the RS formula, combining the character of a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 with the immediate response of electric power.
Together, the powertrain delivers 470 kW and 825 Nm of torque, bringing a new dimension to RS performance.
At the heart of its dynamic capabilities is a newly developed quattro drivetrain with Dynamic Torque Control, designed to deliver exceptional agility, precision and control.
The RS 5 demonstrates how electrification can enhance the driving experience while preserving the performance characteristics that have long distinguished Audi Sport. It is a contemporary expression of “Vorsprung durch Technik”, where technological advancement translates into tangible driving performance.
Its debut at Kyalami offered a fitting introduction, with selected guests experiencing the latest expression of RS performance on one of South Africa’s most celebrated racing circuits.
Four Rings. One shared passion.
The collaboration with Heineken House F1 Edition brought together two brands through a shared appreciation for sport, culture and experiences that connect people.
With the São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix providing the sporting spectacle, Heineken House transformed Kyalami into a destination where motorsport, music, entertainment and automotive performance converged.
Audi’s participation extended beyond its RS showcase, with the A3, A5, Q2, Q3 and Q5 also on display, giving guests an opportunity to explore the brand’s latest product offering.
The partnership created an opportunity to take Audi beyond the traditional automotive environment, connecting the Four Rings with wider lifestyle audiences.
Markus Schuster, Head of Audi South Africa, commented:
“South Africa has a remarkable appetite for high-performance vehicles, with Audi Sport accounting for one of the highest shares of total Audi sales globally, placing our market third worldwide. This enthusiasm makes the first public unveiling of the new RS 5 at Kyalami particularly significant. As Audi Sport’s first high-performance plug-in hybrid, the RS 5 demonstrates how electrification can take our performance capabilities even further, while staying true to the driving character that defines RS. Our partnership with Heineken 0.0 gave us the perfect platform to bring that excitement to life and connect with audiences through a shared passion for motorsport.”
Driven by performance. Inspired by motorsport.
For decades, motorsport has played an important role in shaping Audi’s approach to performance, with technologies developed and proven in competition influencing its road-going vehicles.
From five decades of the iconic five-cylinder engine to the latest generation of electrified RS performance, Audi continues to build on this heritage while exploring new possibilities.
The new RS 5 represents the next step in that journey, demonstrating how the pursuit of greater performance continues to drive technological development at the Four Rings.
Through its partnership with Heineken 0.0, Audi South Africa brought this story to life at Kyalami, creating an experience that celebrated the brand’s motorsport heritage, its latest RS models and the shared excitement of high-performance driving.
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