AUDI RS 4 AVANT BREAKS LOOSE!

The oft-rumoured brand new Audi RS 4 Avant has broken cover! Audi obviously didn’t want it done this way, they wanted to wait until its official launch in Geneve month. Unfortunately with the internet being what it is, things just leak out. So they’ve been forced to release all official info and pictures, and we have it all.

Starting with the engine, it’s the old 4.2—litre V8 with natural aspiration making duty once again. We’d hoped Audi would be the first in this class to introduce turbo/ supercharging by using the new 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 in the RS 4, but sadly it’s not the case. Guess we’ll have to wait for next-generation A4 to see any of that. Nevertheless, the 4.2 is still one hell of a rollercoaster. Charging up 331kW at a dizzy 8250rpm and 430Nm of torque between 4000rpm and 6000rpm, the RS 4 Avant sounds like a kite in a hurricane.

By the looks of things, the 0 – 100km/h claimed time of 4.7 seconds is quite achievable under the right conditions (sea level, right ambiant temperature, use of Launch Control), and the top speed of 250km/h will come around in no time at all. A special package is available to increase that to 280km/h should speeding fines not be enough for you. The engine is built at the Audi plant in Györ, Hungary, and is said to drink less than 11 litres of fuel per 100km driven. There was no manual announced so the standard gearbox is the 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic with super quick changes. It sends the rage to all four wheels through quattro AWD, but can allocate as much as 85% of torque only to the rear wheels. The crown-gear centre differential distributes power between the two axles quite immediately too.

In the suspension department Audi has made use of five-link front suspension and the self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension, both of which are made from aluminium. The car itself is 20mm lower than a standard A4 Avant and runs on standard 19-inch aluminium wheels with 265/ 35 tyres. A 20-inch is available where the car is sold. Optional carbon fibre ceramic brakes can be ticked off from the menu.

In terms of aesthetics, you can immediately spot the RS 4 Avant with its single-frame front grille with a honeycomb design, LED daytime running lights, a race-car inspired splitter edge, chiselled side sill caps, matte aluminium side mirrors and the definitive two oval tailpipes that stand for Audi RS.

Some of the lovely interior goodies include heatable front sports seats, carbon fibre inlays, an optional black piano interior finish, a flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel, a leather/ Alcantara ambiance, optional RS bucket seats (our favourite!), an RS lap timer, MMI infotainment system, aluminium foot pedals and much more.

While there is no talk of a sedan RS 4, the A4 range only gets replaced in 2015. There’s still time for one. Meanwhile, let’s hope the new RS 4 Avant makes it to South Africa, even if less than 50 units are imported. We have a feeling it will make those lucky buyers very happy people indeed.


UPDATE: Audi South Africa has confirmed it will be launching the RS 4 Avant in Mzansi before the end of March 2013.