Performance estates have been the Holy Grail for car enthusiasts for some time now. With an immense breadth of abilities hidden behind a subtle, practical body, it’s not difficult to see the appeal of a fast load-lugger.
Audi has been a dominant force in this segment for two decades now, and the latest RS 4 Avant aims to continue where the old car left off. It’s available to order now, but ahead of UK cars arriving early next year we’ve headed out to Spain for an early drive.
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This RS 4 ditches the sonorous, naturally aspirated V8 found in the previous two models for a twin-turbo V6. Lifted straight from the RS 5, it produces 444bhp and 600Nm of torque; 170Nm more than the outgoing car. Combined with the standard Quattro all-wheel drive system, that means the RS 4 matches the more powerful Mercedes-AMG C 63 S – sprinting from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds.
It’s seriously effective in-gear, too, and thanks partly to Audi’s decision to mount the turbochargers within the engine’s ‘V’ for greater response, there’s very little lag. Where the old car needed working to get the best out of it, this offers a great slug of punch from as little as 2,000rpm.
However, there’s also a downside to this. The linear power delivery, plus the rapid-fire shifts of the eight-speed auto gearbox, means that you often find yourself changing up early and using the torque – rather than relishing revving it out like the old V8. The engine noise, while certainly loud enough with our test car’s optional sports exhaust, just isn’t as emotive as the outgoing model, either.
Don’t think that means it’s a dull car, though. The new RS 4 is 80kg lighter, and 31kg comes from the engine. That makes it feel less nose heavy and keener to turn in, and while the steering isn’t brimming with feel, it’s direct and pleasingly weighted. The grip it develops in a series of bends is extraordinary – you’d have to be driving far too quickly to unstick it, even with all of the driver aids turned off.
The RS 4 is an extremely fast point-to-point car, then, but it’s also the first fast Audi estate to feel nicely balanced – thanks to an all-wheel drive system that can send up to 70 per cent of its power to the rear via an electronic differential. Understeer isn’t an issue unless you’re really ham-fisted, while a small amount of slip can be provoked from the back-end on the exit of the bend. It’s not as adjustable or lairy as a C 63, but it’s more playful than we’ve come to expect from a fast Audi estate.
It’s also got a real Jekyll and Hyde personality. With our test car’s optional Dynamic Ride Control system left in Comfort or Auto it’s a fine cruiser. In these settings it offers a compliant ride, a more subdued engine note and not too much in the way of wind or road noise. We found it quite firm in Dynamic mode, however.
Of course, being based on the standard A4, you’ll enjoy one of the most well executed and classy interiors in the business, too. The figure-hugging sports seats, Alcantara steering wheel and prodigious application of suitable badging give just enough indication of the RS 4’s supercar status. Space in the back is good, and the 500-litre boot is one of the largest in its class.
Outside, there’s a full suite of RS and Quattro badging, while those trademark oval exhausts and unique wheels give it the necessary kerb appeal. The only missing ingredient is the unusually subtle wheelarches, meaning this latest RS 4 doesn’t quite have the road presence of its predecessors. Our Carbon Edition test car adds special trim to the bumpers and door mirrors – but it’s a full £10,000 more than the standard car.
- Model: Audi RS 4 Carbon Edition
- Price: £71,675
- Engine: 2.9-litre 6cyl turbo petrol
- Power/torque: 444bhp/600Nm
- Transmission: All-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic gearbox
- 0-62mph: 4.1 seconds
- Top speed: 174mph
- Economy/CO2: 32.1mpg/199g/km
- On sale: Now
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ReplyDeleteGreg Prosmushkin