Those S4 badges are fooling nobody Audi. It's clear this is the new RS4, successor to the Avant-only and
V8 RS4
that recently went out of production. You can't put those wheels, arches and exhausts on an A4 estate and expect nobody to notice!
What's a fast Audi without huge wheels?
According to our spy photographer - and as was expected - this car is no longer a V8 though. It's said to be a V6, with the belief that it will be derived from the new 3.0-litre turbocharged engine in
the S4
. Where that car has one turbo, the RS4 is expected to add another blower to boost power to around 450hp. It has also been suggested that it could use the electric turbo technology as seen in the
RS5 TDI
concept, which would be a key advantage over its twin-turbo rivals from
BMW
Mercedes
. It's a nice nod back to the
original RS4
and its 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 too.
There has already been confirmation that there will be a four-door RS4, although we don't know yet whether it will be an A4 saloon or A5 Sportback. It will at least give the RS4 a more direct rival to the M3, whatever the reality.
Given the standard S4 was only recently revealed at Frankfurt, we're probably a little way off seeing the RS4 in production trim. However, Geneva next year is a possibility given how significant the show is for the European manufacturers. More as it's available.
Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien