Now this is the kind of Audi model range expansion we can get on board with. The next RS4, set to to be V6 powered and launched next year will be offered as both a saloon and estate. Keen fast Audiphiles will know that's only the second time in RS4 history that this has happened, the last being the
iconic B7 of 2005
New one has a lot to live up to...
The decision has come about through demand from the US and China, where they still like a sedan or four-door or whatever regional variation of saloon sounds best. There is no confirmation yet that the RS4 saloon will be sold in Britain but with both
M3
C63 saloons
available, plus the potential of a
fast Jaguar XE
, surely the case for British sales is easy to make.
Remember when Audi said it would only have one RS-badged model on sale at a time, to preserve the exclusivity of the badge? Yes, that definitely isn't happening any more. The RS4 will be launched next year which is an incredibly quick turnaround given the new A4 has only just been announced. Remember the outgoing RS4 only went on sale four years after the standard car. Apparently Audi customers want RS versions early in the product lifecycle. And we know there are plenty of customers!
So what will the next RS4 actually be? We can bid farewell to another screaming V8 sadly, the old 4.2 most definitely not making an appearance in the next car. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 in the RS6 isn't likely either, the engine expected to be instead powered by a new 3.0-litre turbocharged V6. Around 500hp is likely to go battling the BMW and AMG.
Further details are scarce at present but a new supersaloon in development is good news by us. As for fast Audi hit and miss, it's certainly been hit rather than miss recently with the R8, S1 and RS6 all impressing. Even the RS3 was better than expected. Finally if news of another RS4 saloon has you interested in the old one, decent ones are now available for less than £20K. Tempting...