Audi says the new RS 5’s entire 2026 production is already sold out. The news comes as sales launch in Australia and New Zealand, with Japanese orders open ahead of an October 20 on-sale date. Audi USA still hasn’t announced a U.S. price, an on-sale date or how many cars it will get.
We read the sell-out as a strong vote of confidence in the new RS 5, though it says more about Europe than about America.
What Audi actually said about the sell-out
The claim comes from an Audi AG media release dated October 7, 2026, issued from Ingolstadt and Singapore for the RS 5’s Asian premiere at the Singapore Grand Prix. It reads: “the entire annual production for 2026 is already sold out.” It’s a company statement, with no executive named or quoted.
That covers calendar-year 2026 production at Neckarsulm, where the car is built. It’s about every RS 5 the factory builds this year, not any one country’s allocation. The release also says orders in Europe are nearly twice what Audi originally expected. It gives no unit numbers and no demand figure for any other region.
Audi adds that no RS model before this one has had such a successful market launch. That’s Audi’s own superlative. The car only reached customers in June, and the whole year’s build is already spoken for.
Japan, Australia and New Zealand: prices and timing
Audi AG says sales are launching in Australia and New Zealand, with Japan starting at the same time and Korea, Taiwan and other overseas markets following.
Audi Japan opened orders on September 29, and the car goes on sale October 20, 2026, through 127 dealers. The sedan is ¥15,500,000 and the Avant ¥15,750,000. Those prices include consumption tax but exclude registration costs, other taxes, insurance and the recycling fee. Audi Japan quotes an EV range of 53 miles (85 km) for the sedan and 52 miles (83 km) for the Avant.
In Australia, the sedan starts at A$179,900 and the Avant at A$182,900 (Audi Australia list prices). Audi Australia says only that the car arrives in the second half of 2026, with no specific on-sale date. Its WLTP EV range figures are 48 miles (78 km) for the sedan and 47 miles (76 km) for the Avant.
In New Zealand, the sedan starts from NZ$194,990 MRP and the Avant from NZ$196,990 MRP. Audi New Zealand lists the sedan’s EV range at up to 52 miles (84 km), a provisional WLTP figure.
Each market publishes its own range number, so compare range within one market rather than across them.
What it means for U.S. buyers
Audi USA has not announced U.S. pricing, timing or allocation, and nothing Audi has published connects the 2026 sell-out to how many cars America will see. The Drive reported that an Audi USA spokesperson said the RS 5 won’t arrive in the U.S. until sometime in 2027. That’s secondhand, and other outlets have reported different timing, so we’re treating 2027 as likely rather than confirmed.
If you want one, tell your dealer now so they can contact you when Audi USA opens orders. Treat any price a dealer quotes today as an estimate, not an Audi figure.
The car, briefly
We covered how it drives in our RS 5 first drive, so here’s the short version. It pairs a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor for 630 hp (470 kW) and 608 lb-ft (825 Nm). Audi Australia and Audi Japan both quote 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.6 seconds.
| Market | RS 5 sedan | RS 5 Avant | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | ¥15,500,000 | ¥15,750,000 | On sale October 20, 2026 |
| Australia | A$179,900 | A$182,900 | Second half of 2026 |
| New Zealand | NZ$194,990 MRP | NZ$196,990 MRP | Sales launching |
| United States | Not announced | Not announced | Not announced |
Japan prices include consumption tax; Australian and New Zealand prices are each market’s published list price.
We’ll post U.S. pricing the day Audi USA releases it, and you can follow along on Instagram at @audi_obsession.