INGOLSTADT: A modern classic from Audi is making a comeback: The third-generation RS 4 Avant promises potent performance with a high level of everyday practicality.
It’s 4.2-litre V8 produces 450hp; the seven-speed S tronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive transfer that power to the road.
The Audi RS 4 Avant uses the same high-revving, normally aspirated V8 engine that powers the RS 5 Coupe.
The 4,163cc powerplant produces 450hp at 8,250rpm for a specific output of 108.1 hp per litre.
Its maximum torque of 430Nm is available from 4,000 to 6,000rpm.
The V8 with its red-painted cylinder head covers accelerates the RS 4 Avant from 0-100kph in 4.7 seconds on its way to a governed top speed of 250kph. This can be increased to 280kph upon request.
Hand-built at Audi’s plant in Gyor, Hungary, the 4.2 FSI engine combines its power with efficiency, consuming on average less than 11 litres of fuel per 100km.
With its high efficiency and long top gear, the standard seven-speed S tronic also contributes to the vehicle’s good fuel economy.
Drivers can let the lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission shift automatically or change gears manually using the selector lever or the paddles on the steering wheel.
For explosive starts, drivers can also activate Launch Control, which manages the engagement of the clutch at an optimum starting speed and minimum wheel slip.
Like every RS model from Audi, the RS 4 Avant comes standard with quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
The default 40:60 ratio of the rear-biased configuration ensures sporty handling.
The chassis of the Audi RS 4 Avant is a complex design. Many components of the five-link front suspension and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension are made of aluminum. The new speed-dependent power steering is an electromechanical system with a direct steering ratio for precise road feel.
It helps the driver stay on course by making slight steering corrections when braking on surfaces with different amounts of grip.
The taut RS setup lowers the body by 20mm compared with the Audi A4 Avant.
New, polished 19-inch, ten-spoke forged aluminum wheels shod with 265/35-series tyres are standard. Audi also offers 20-inch wheels with 265/30-series tyres.
The Audi drive select driving dynamics system is among the standard equipment for the RS 4 Avant. With it, the driver can switch between three modes – comfort, auto and dynamic – to determine the characteristics of the steering, the seven-speed S tronic and the throttle valve.
Audi drive select can even vary the sound of the exhaust system, double-declutching when downshifting in dynamic mode. If the car is equipped with an Audi navigation system, a largely driver-configurable custom mode is also available.
In addition to the sport differential, another component available for Audi drive select is dynamic steering. It varies its steering ratio by nearly 100 percent depending on the speed driven and automatically countersteers slightly at the cornering limit for even more precise and stable handling.
The Audi RS 4 Avant is 20mm longer and 24mm wider than the A4 Avant, but 20mm lower.
The interior of the RS 4 Avant is clad completely in black, with the exception of the roofliner, which is optionally available in Moon Silver. Chrome clasps subtly accentuate switches and control elements. Carbon inlays are standard, with brushed matte aluminum, Aluminum Race, black piano finish or a light stainless steel mesh available as options.
The driver information system with colour display includes an RS menu with a lap timer and an oil thermometer. Both it and the MMI monitor display a special RS welcome screen when the car is started.
Options for the luggage compartment, which offers up to 1,430 litres of cargo space, include a rail system with load securing set and a power hatch.
Delivery of the Audi RS 4 Avant is scheduled to begin in fall 2012 at a base price of 76,600 euros (RM306,000) in Germany.