After a four-year absence from our market, the Audi RS4 is set to return in Avant guise at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.
Those of you hoping for a hot saloon variant will be disappointed to hear that the new RS4 will only be available as an Avant (Audi parlance for estate), partly due to the company’s tradition of largely introducing its hot RS-badged models in Avant guise and possibly to avoid such a model treading on the toes of the RS5, with which this model shares its powerplant.
Stylistically, the RS4 treatments doled out to this Avant are quite subtle and include a matte-aluminium frame for the honeycomb grille, a deeper front bumper with enlarged air dams, LED headlamps, flared sills and wheel arches and chromed oval tail pipes at the rear. The all-black interior features a contoured sports steering wheel, sports seats, a smattering of RS decals and a lap timer integrated into the MMI system. Fold the rear seats and the RS4 serves up 1 430 dm3 of load space.
The normally aspirated 4,2-litre V8 at the heart of the new RS4 churns out 331 kW at 8 250 r/min and 430 N.m of torque between 4 000 and 6 000 r/min – enough to reportedly propel this high-performance load-lugger from standstill to 100 km/h in 4,7 seconds and on to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h. There is talk, however, of an optional performance pack that could bump the top speed up to a startling 280 km/h.
The RS4 is underpinned by a heavily revised version of the current A4 Avant’s chassis and rolls on a set of model-specific 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 265/35 rubbers, while 20-inchers with 265/30 profile tyres are offered as an option. Stopping power is provided by a brake setup identical to that of the RS5, comprising eight-piston callipers clamping down on ventilated and cross-drilled discs measuring 365 mm – carbon-ceramic front discs measuring 380 mm will be offered as an option.
Other upgrades include extensive use of aluminium componentry in the multi-link suspension setup, an adaptive-damping system, a ride height lowered by 20 mm and an electro-mechanical power-steering module capable of applying a modicum of opposite lock under extreme cornering manoeuvers to stabilize proceedings.
A spokesperson for Audi SA has confirmed that the RS4 will find its way here in early 2013.
