Polestar/Audi

One of the greatest perks of this gig is jetting off to stunning locations worldwide to pilot extraordinary vehicles - even a dull destination for a routine ride beats the daily grind. Yet, it's uncommon for two prime opportunities to sync up seamlessly for back-to-back action. This week, luck is on my side: I'm in Austria putting the refreshed Audi RS5 through its paces, then skipping the flight home for a jaunt to Spain to tackle the Polestar 5.

Though not head-to-head foes, both are high-powered sedans loaded with advanced features, and they share that intriguing '5' in their names. Expect track time and thrilling Austrian byways for the RS5, while the Polestar leg runs from Barcelona to Valencia amid its epic Sweden-to-Morocco adventure. Fire away with your queries on these fresh machines. Which grabs your attention more? What specifics intrigue you? Which elements should I cover in the forthcoming reviews?

What they are

Polestar/Audi

Representing Germany, the revamped Audi RS5 debuts a plug-in hybrid setup for the lineup. It pairs the prior model's twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 pumping 503 horsepower with a transmission-integrated electric motor delivering 175 hp and 339 pound-feet of torque. Combined, that's 630 hp and 608 lb-ft, backed by a 25.9-kWh battery offering 54 miles of electric-only driving per the European cycle. Standout tech includes a preloading limited-slip differential and rear-axle electromechanical torque vectoring. Audi claims top-tier drifting prowess, which I'll verify firsthand soon.

From Sweden comes the Polestar 5, a spacious all-electric fastback. I'll sample the Dual Motor variant with 748 hp, 599 lb-ft, and 416 miles on the WLTP cycle, plus the Performance edition boosting to 884 hp and 749 lb-ft at the cost of 351 miles range. It rides a supercar-inspired bonded aluminum chassis and sports a striking look sans rear window.

Readers, share your must-knows on these potent sedans. I'll field select questions in the comments and weave the rest into my detailed reviews.