1 February 2013
Off to a good start in a red-hot wagon
When we got the call from Audi’s head office to collect the latest RS4 Avant it took us a matter of minutes to arrive at the reception desk to collect the keys. We couldn’t think of a better way to kick-start 2013 off than behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel of a red-hot wagon.
Our test vehicle is kitted out with the optional-extra adaptive RS sports suspension pack, Bang and Olufsen sound system, privacy glass and flashy 20-inch alloy-wheel rims.
The first generation RS models started off with the RS2 fitted with a 2.2L motor. The next version arrived in RS4 form and took a big step up to a 2.7L twin-turbocharged V6 engine. From there RS4 took a huge jump to a 4.2L V8 engine without a turbocharger or supercharger in sight. This was great for car enthusiasts but with a trend of car manufacturers downsizing engines, and running with forced induction, you would expect Audi to go with the flow with the latest model.
From the get go, the distinctive visual hints of aggression are obvious. Up front is Audi’s honeycomb mesh grille, large air ducts on the front bumper, flared wheel arches, a discreet boot spoiler and a rear diffuser.
Inside, the cabin reveals a more sophisticated car with black-leather seats, a large multi-media interface screen (MMI) and carbon fibre look dashboard inserts. Boot space is a useful 490L while folding the rear split seats allows for 1,430L loading space.
Practical car with sports car credentials
From the initial start up, it’s obvious from the invigorating exhaust sound that this isn’t an average engine. Audi continues to use the naturally aspirated 4.2L V8 petrol fuelled engine found in the previous model but squeeze more power out of it to deliver a whopping 331kW of power and a reasonable 430Nm of torque. The engine redlines at an impressive 8,250rpm and a sprint from standstill to 100km/h is completed in 4.7 seconds. The average fuel consumption is claimed at 10.7L/100km although you will need a feather-light foot to achieve this.
Standard features include a reverse camera with front and rear proximity sensors, three-zone climate control air-conditioning and a navigation system.
The seven speed dual clutch transmission is the only available transmission on the latest RS4. The absence of a stick shifter reduces the fun factor to some degree but the S-tronic transmission changes quicker than any driver could manage with a manual ‘box, and there are paddle shifters for a sporty driving experience, while being a practical choice for an everyday car. The trademark quattro permanent all wheel drive system features a self-locking crown gear centre differential and torque vectoring system, which combine to keep the car firmly gripped to the tar seal.
The stopping power is pretty good too. The large brake disks are shaped like a set of precision synchronised waves, assisted by eight-pot callipers up front, to provide instant stopping force. The front rotors can be upgraded to a ceramic set, to cancel out any likelihood of brake fade during extreme driving, but for a hefty $17,000, they’d be hard to justify.
The sports suspension system allows for adjustments from auto to dynamic or comfort mode but unless you have loss of muscle reflexes, or you are on a race track, I doubt you will be using the dynamic ride option.
The RS4 Avant is a practical family wagon with true sports car performance and handling. With only one body option, pricing kicks off at $154,000, with a long option list to choose from.