A practical sports car comes of age: Precisely 18 years ago, the first Audi RS4 Avant was launched. At the 2017 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main, the fourth generation of the Audi RS4 Avant made its world debut. This vehicle combines high performance with excellent suitability for everyday use. Its 2.9 TFSI engine with 331 kW (450 hp) and 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) of torque make it the sporting spearhead of the A4 family. The standard quattro drive distributes the power of the V6 twin turbo engine across all four wheels. “The Audi RS4 Avant is our RS icon with an incomparable history,” says Stephan Winkelmann, Managing Director at Audi Sport GmbH. “As with all our RS models, it combines excellent driving performance with maximum everyday usability. In China, the Audi RS4 will drive forward new growth in its segment as a unique high-performance Avant.”
The designers took inspiration from numerous motorsport details used on the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO when designing the Audi RS4 Avant. The front features solid air intakes with a honeycomb structure typical of an RS and the wide, flat single-frame grille. The optional Matrix LED headlamps have shaded trims. Compared to the Audi A4 Avant, the wheel housings have been widened by 30 millimeters (1.2 in) each, and are also emphasized by the quattro blisters. At the rear, the RS-specific diffuser insert, the oval tailpipes of the RS exhaust system and the RS roof spoiler make a bold statement. The unique Nogaro Blue Pearl Effect paint available as an optional extra from Audi exclusive is reminiscent of the first generation from 1999. The new Audi RS4 Avant comes with 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels as standard, and 20-inch wheels are available as an optional extra.
In the new Audi RS4 Avant, the V6 twin turbo engine delivers an output of 331 kW (450 hp). Its maximum torque of 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) – 170 Nm (125.4 lb-ft) more than its predecessor – is deployed throughout a wide speed range from 1,900 to 5,000 rpm. This means the Audi RS4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 4.1 seconds. Its top speed is 250 km/h (155.3 mph), and with the optional RS dynamics package, the top speed increases to 280 km/h (174 mph). The power of the 2.9 TFSI twin turbo is transferred to the quattro permanent all wheel drive via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission with optimized shift times that is specially tuned to sporty driving. On request, Audi will fit a sports differential on the rear axle. The average fuel consumption is 8.8 liter per 100 kilometers (26.7 US MPG) (200-199 grams CO2 per kilometer [321.9-320.3 g/mi]). This represents an efficiency increase of 17% over the previous model. The new Audi RS4 Avant weighs 1,790 kilograms (3,946.3 lbs), making it 80 kilograms (176.4 lbs) lighter than before.
The black interior underlines the sporty character of the Audi RS4 Avant. The RS sports seats with optional honeycomb stitching, the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sports steering wheel, the shift gate and the illuminated sill panel strips bear the RS emblem. In the Audi virtual cockpit and in the head-up display, RS-specific displays provide information about G-forces, tire pressure and temperature, as well as power and torque. The optic packages Gloss Black, Carbon with Aluminum attachments, and Carbon with Black attachments enhance the range of options for the exterior. The Audi exclusive range fulfills practically all other customization wishes. In the basic configuration, the luggage compartment of the new Audi RS4 Avant offers 505 liters (17.8 cu ft) of storage space, while 1,510 liters (53.3 cu ft) of volume is available with the seats folded down. The luggage compartment lid is electrically driven as standard.
The new Audi RS4 Avant is the sporting spearhead of the A4 family. Its RS-typical design draws on numerous motorsport influences from the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO. The front section, sides and rear all differ significantly from the Audi A4 Avant. The much wider and flatter single-frame radiator grille with a new, three-dimensional honeycomb structure bears the quattro logo and the RS4 emblem. A blade in a contrasting color links the solid lower air intakes. The optional Matrix LED headlamps are differentiated from the standard LED headlights thanks to the shaded trims. Next to these are additional, vertical side air intakes that make the high performance Avant appear even wider. The quattro blisters emphasize the strong bulges over the wheel housings, which have been extended by 30 millimeters (1.2 in) on both sides.
Compared to its direct predecessor, a naturally aspirated high-speed V8 engine, the re-developed V6 twin turbo delivers a completely new dimension of torque and efficiency. From 1,900 to 5,000 rpm, the 2.9 TFSI engine delivers a full 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) of torque to the crankshaft – 170 Nm (125.4 lb-ft) more than its predecessor. With its output of 331 kW (450 hp), equating to a performance of 155.5 hp per liter, the new RS4 Avant accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 4.1 seconds, which is 0.6 tenths of a second faster than before. The RS dynamics package increases the electronically controlled top speed from 250 km/h (155.3 mph) to 280 km/h (174 mph). The 2.9 TFSI V6 twin turbo engine from Audi Sport is a nod to the legendary 2.7 liter V6 from the first RS4 Avant. Produced from 1999 to 2001, it delivered 279 kW (380 hp).
