• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

Audi Expands RS4 Range with Cabriolet and Avant

RS4 Now Available With Your Choice of Open Skies or Extra Cargo Space

With 414 horsepower, an 8,200 rpm redline, a naturally aspirated FSI V8, routed through a six-speed manual gearbox and distributed through the world-famous quattro all-wheel drive system, could there be a more perfect performance Audi than the RS4?

The 2006 RS4 picks up right where the RS6 and previous RS4 left off, providing drivers with the ultimate in high performance all-weather motoring, but with Audi having honed in on the steering, handling and power delivery to make this the finest

You have no idea how badly we want to drive this car. (Photo: Audi of America)

RS-car theyve ever built. The stunning sedan, arriving in dealerships starting this summer, is a car that we absolutely cannot wait to drive.

Actually, there is one way that it could be better; Audi could stuff all of the RS4s powertrain, suspension and styling into an Avant. RS-series cars (the production ones, at least)

The RS4 Avant, pictured in its trademark eye-searing blue paint. (Photo: Audi of America)

have always been offered as wagons, or as Audi calls them, Avants. The first of the batch, the 90-based RS2, was only available in Avant form, as was the B5-generation (2000) RS4. Audi switched things up with the V8 twin-turbo powered RS6, initially offering it as an Avant, and later on, for the first time ever as a sedan - the latter being the one that came here. Now the production order has reversed. Audi launched the new-shape RS4 in sedan

Flat cargo area means you can fit more Ikea flat pack in Avants bay than ever before. (Photo: Audi of America)

form earlier, and is following up with the Avant and a new Cabriolet convertible. Both new models feature the same changes needed to transform an S4 sedan into an RS4, including adaptive dampers, rear-biased quattro all-wheel drive as well as upgrades to the engine and transmission.

With the announcement of the RS4 Avant, Audi has added supercar levels of performance to class-leading levels of practicality and storage space. Like the A4 Avant, the RS4 features a versatile trunk area that has flat walls free of intrusions from the rear

Open-top RS4: 8,200 RPM loud and clear. (Photos: Audi of America)

wheel well arches. Underneath the carpeted floor is a plasticized sub-floor for storing wet or dirty items, while small cargo is contained in the bay through a web-like net, or chrome-plated tie-down hooks. Unfortunately, the A6s ingenious cargo area solutions, which include a cargo seatbelt and hard metal divider, arent available.

An intriguing if not unexpected addition to the RS-car range is the RS4 Cabriolet. Unlike the Avant and Sedan models, the RS4 convertible is probably pitched towards a slightly more relaxed crowd. While it has the same tuning-fork 19-inch wheels and aggressive bodykit, it comes with less sport-oriented seats, though the race-style buckets of

RS4 Cabrio features tamer, suede-lined seats from the S4. Note flat-bottomed steering wheel and new shift knob. (Photos: Audi of America)

the Sedan and Avant are optional. The RS4 Cabriolet also features Audis new Acoustic Roof as standard equipment, which when raised delivers quieter interior noise levels than the sedan or wagon. But for warm sunny days, the roof can be retracted in a mere 21 seconds, and at speeds of up to 30 km/h, allowing those in the cabin access the engines beautiful song without obstruction.
In terms of performance, the Avant and Cabriolet are closely matched to the Sedan in the 60 mph sprint. The Sedan trips the stopwatch in 4.7 seconds; the Avant and Cabrio take 0.1 second more, showing the explosive, immediate power of the naturally aspirated engine despite the weight handicap. The gap starts to separate once the speed increases; 125 mph takes a very brief 16.6 seconds

Like these RS-Series Avants, the latest RS4 wont make the journey across the Atlantic. (Photos: Audi of America)

in the sedan, but 16.9 seconds in the Avant and 17.5 seconds in the Cabriolet, the differences to do, no doubt with the added weight. If youre gunning for the outright fastest RS4, any will do as theyre all electronically limited to 155 mph.

The RS4 Cabriolet and Avant will start production later this spring, and will be in dealerships starting this summer. Unfortunately chances are slim to nil that North Americans will be receiving these alternate body types as theres little market case for the Avant. Aside from the fact that it carries on the Avant heritage for Audi, no other manufacturer currently builds a superwagon with compact dimensions. Audi couldnt bring itself to import the RS6 Avant, creating and building the RS6 Sedan to our market instead. Interestingly, the RS4 Cabriolet stands a better chance, as it could compete with the M3 Cabriolet and Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet.

Page:  1

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo