Every German car company has their performance tuning arm and Audi is no different. The “S” badging has come to mean something special for Audi fans and the current line of S models compete with the likes of Mercedes AMG and BMW M models. Throughout the past 5 years or so, the automotive industry, especially this high end sector, has seen a never ending horsepower and performance war. The original Audi RS6 could be considered the catalyst for the addition of a Kompressor for the Mercedes 5.4-liter powerplant and for BMW dropping a 500-hp V10 into the M5.
As that mid-size sports sedan war has begun to cool down, the entry level sedans are receiving more attention. The rumors that Mercedes will add a C63 Black Series model to the lineup may end up speeding the production of Audi’s next RS4. The original model was a muscle car in a tight suit producing 414hp from a 4.2-liter V8 that was stuffed in the small engine compartment. This, in addition to a tightened suspension, bigger brakes, and a six-speed manual, make the car very hard to compete with.
Recently, Audi has been spied testing a mule version of the RS4 Avant. Before we get too excited, let’s remember something interesting about Audi. For starters, they like to test their ultra-high performance sedans in Avant (wagon) form before expanding to the more traditional models. In the past Audi has also made models in RS4 Avant form and never brought them to the United States. That being said, this next generation RS4 should be hitting the market within the next several years. Audi has already confirmed the RS5 model will be coming to the United States and when that happens, the RS4 should not be far behind.
UPDATE 01/31/2012: Audi has officially confirmed that the RS4 Avant will be making its world in March at the Geneva Motor Show. The model will be equipped with a 4.2 FSI V8 engine that will deliver a total of 450 HP. Next to it, Audi will also be unveiling the A1 Quattro, the new generation A3, and the A6 Allroad Quattro.
Hit the jump for more details on the Audi RS4 Avant
Everyone’s attention may be centered on the start of the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but spy photographers are still hard at work capturing images of future models as they test their way into perfection. This week’s captive is the new Audi RS4 as it takes some hot laps on the Nürburgring.
The new RS4 Avant prototype caught testing revealed some new lights and a new grille which will highlight the upcoming facelift for the full A4/S4 range. It also features big air intakes on the revised front end, wider fenders, and massive oval exhaust pipes.
Now comes the power. If you live in the United States, chances are you don’t really care about the newRS4 Avant, either because it hasn’t been confirmed for the US market or because Americans still have this "thing" about not liking wagons. For the latter, may we remind you that Audi likes to test their S variants in wagon form before expanding to the more traditional models, so listen up. Audi has two options for the new RS4’s engine. Their first option is to use the same 4.2 liter V8 with 450 horsepower found in the RS5, and the second is to down-size to a twin-turbo V6 which will deliver about the same amount of power. We’re placing our bets on the V6 only because automakers have to focus more on fuel economy and if Audi can get the same amount of power and provide customers with gas-saving efficiency, that’s what they are going to do.
The next time you see a vulture pecking away at a carcass near an automotive graveyard, that carcass may just be Audi’s highest performing version of the A4. The Audi RS4 was originally rumored to receive a new generation in 2010, but since this year has come and gone, we can all venture a solid guess that that rumor was completely unwarranted. Now the next ripple spreading through the automotive world is that the next generation A4 - set to be revealed in 2015 - will not receive its RS version.
Not being able to see the next RS4 is extremely unsettling for us as it was one of our favorite Audi models offered on the US market - especially in its convertible version - but we’ll just have to see what other piece of automotive meat will get tossed to us when the time is right. Audi seems to think the future RS6 will be worthy enough to attract the RS4 fans and this is where their focus will be until the car debuts. This new model is rumored to be powered by a new 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 engine that will deliver around 600hp, which is same as the RS7. Sounds intriguing enough for us. What do you guys think? Hit us up in the comments section below.
According to reports, the German automotive conglomerate Volkswagen AG is reshaping the lineup of four ringed luxury vehicles that it is planning to offer in the U.S. in a more economical way. While Audi has no plans of producing a diminutive A1 mini car or a drop top A3, they are planning a few other versions of the compact hatchback. These variants include everything from a clean diesel burning five door to a four door sedan, much like an upscale VW Jetta, and even a compact crossover called the Q3. The German automaker is also considering a zero emissions A2 BEV. An all electric A2 city car would definitely soften up the U.S. market’s opinion about a possible e-Tron super car further on down the road.
On a more global note, the German automaker has also canceled plans to build an all out racecar spec motor sports version of their current entry level sedan, the RS4. However Audi did tell us that their RennSport division is focusing on the B segment cars, so that only leaves the RS5 to get our high performance hopes up, at least until the next round of cutbacks. However it would have been unlikely for the German automaker to expand the breadth of their RS lineup for next year with the TT-RS scheduled for delivery and an RS3 in the works. Although we here in the U.S. will most likely never see the latter, it is rare that Audi build more than one RS variant per model year. Either way it looks like all of Audi’s in house high performance tuner cars will keep with a sleek two door theme.
The last new Audi RS4 to roll out of a showroom was back in early 2008. At the end of that year the German automaker has already released a new generation A4 with the theme of downsizing for efficiency. With the new body also comes a new RS4. Audi prefers to wait until they are closer to the end of their product’s life cycle before developing and all out factory tuned hot rod and so the word has just broken that the next four-ringed sports car to wear the RS4 badge will go n sale in the spring of 2010.
It is possible that the German automaker is aiming for a Geneva Motor Show launch, looking forward to embarrassing competitors offerings like the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG, the BMW M3 and the Lexus IS-F. The current trend is a high horsepower combination of speed and luxury, however none of these other high performance machines can match the handling performance of Audi’s Quattro all wheel drive system.
The 2010 Audi RS4 will be powered by a V8 engine that will deliver an impressive 450 HP, a gain of 30 HP compared to the old 4.2 Liter FSI equipped RS4. The future super sedan will also feature larger air intakes in the front bumper, inspired by the Audi TT-RS and the upcoming RS5. Like all of the rennsport models, the RS4 will wear a more aggressively styled aero kit.
