Audi has released details of its new (or perhaps tweaked) RS4 Avant and on paper at least does not appear to be very much altered from the model it replaces.
However, Audi insist that there are enough under-the-skin differences and improvements to warrant the ‘new’ tag and therefore until there have been a few independent road-tests of the car we must assume that their engineers have moved the Vorsprung durch Technik game on.
Did you know that it took Audi 11 years to obtain the rights to register ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ (progress through technology) as a trademark? It wasn’t even dreamt up by Audi in the first place either – that was down to advertising supremo Sir John Hegarty in 1982 who came across the phrase on a trip to Germany. When he suggested that it should be used as a strap-line in Audi’s Advertising campaigns his colleagues told him he had lost the plot. He had the last laugh.
So has the RS4 progressed at all on the technology front?
On paper the new RS4 has almost identical performance figures to the old model. The venerable 4.2 V8 produces a healthy 450PS which allows the RS4 to reach 62 mph in 4.7 seconds and on to a limited maximum of 155 mph which can be de-restricted to allow a top speed of 174 mph. Let’s face it that is quick enough for most people and in a way it’s a relief to see an end to the ‘BHP Wars’.
The car will come as standard with an S tronic 7 speed transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel-drive which incorporates some wizardry to swap the power from a standard 40:60 split to pretty much whatever the car thinks it needs depending on driving conditions. Throw in a bit of torque vectoring, Electronic Stability Control, trick suspension linkages and you have a car that is grippy to say the least.
To help reign in all of this power Audi has fitted internally ventilated wave brake discs with eight-piston calipers which are lurking behind the amply-proportioned 19″ ten-spoke polished forged alloys wrapped in 265/35 rubber. It should sit nicely on the road like all RS4’s before have done with a broad-shouldered stance that makes the car look bigger than it really is. Nice.
There is a new optional ‘Sport Package’ available which for £2250 will include 20″ Alloys, Sports Exhaust, Dynamic Ride Control and Dynamic Steering System. Seems like reasonable value since to specify each option on its own the total cost would come to £2915.
You can have any colour for the interior of the new RS4 as long as it is black. However the headlining is available in Moon Silver if you want to lighten the mood inside the car.
Standard equipment includes DVD-based satellite navigation, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation, cruise control and Audi Music Interface iPod connection and there appears to be a myriad of ‘option packages’ to customise the car even further if the buyer wishes to.
The new RS4 Avant will be priced at £54925 when it appears in your local Audi dealer’s showroom and is avalable to order right now.
If you would like further information regarding the new RS4 Avant or any other model in the Audi range please contact The Car Spy on 01732 760699 or email sales@thecarspy.net
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