Wednesday 13th September 2017

New Audi RS4 - Frankfurt 2017

The RS4 looks to the future by returning to its bi-turbo V6 roots

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It's been quite a while since we've had a new RS4 to get excited about, it having been over five years since the B8 came into the world.

Despite half a decade passing though, Audi still deems 450hp to be sufficient for its most potent A4. Only now it comes from a 2.9-litre, bi-turbo V6 (shared with the RS5) rather than the 4.2-litre, naturally aspirated V8 you got previously. It's not all doom and gloom on the numbers front though. Where the old car was often criticized for being down on torque, the new one steps up to the plate with 442lb ft - 125lb ft more than before - available all the way from 1,900 to 5,000rpm. And, well, twin-turbo V6s have worked OK in RS4s before...

Well course it's Nogaro Blue

Combine that grunt with the new eight-speed tiptronic and the RS4's Quattro all-wheel drive, and a planted right foot will see you getting from 0-62 in just 4.1 seconds - more than half a second quicker than the B8. Top speed is a limited 155mph but can be lifted via the RS Dynamic package to 174mph.

Other tricks up the B9's sleeve include an optional rear sport differential, optional RS Sport Suspension Plus with Dynamic Ride Control, optional ceramic brakes and optional Dynamic Steering. In short, a lot of ways to very quickly make this a very expensive proposition.

One area the new car will hopefully not be so damaging to your wallet though is at the pump. Weighing 80kg less than before, this RS4 is 17 per cent more efficient than its predecessor, hopefully making not only for a more agile and dynamic ride, but a more frugal one too.

V8 gone; huge pipes remain

Styling inspiration is said to have been taken from the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO - because why wouldn't you remind everyone you made that at every possible opportunity - with aggressively flared intakes, and arches that are 30mm wider than standard. There are 19-inch forged aluminium wheels, with 20-inch rims optional, as well as an RS diffuser and the gigantic oval exhausts familiar from before. Nogaro Blue also returns as a paint colour, this car sharing more in common with the RS2 that originally bore the famous hue than the last RS4 to wear it.

Inside there's a flat bottomed steering wheel, of course, RS Sport seats and a healthy smattering of RS badges. The Virtual Cockpit and HUD now also gain the ability to display RS specific information such as g-force without your eyes having to leave the road. Well that's one way to make the commute more interesting!

New Audi RS4 walkaround

Audi RS4 Price & Release Date

The new RS4 can be ordered from the autumn onwards with pricing starting in Europe at 79,800 euros - expect a UK price and spec soon.

 

[culpz]

I like it. Basically a modern re-creation of the B5 RS4 with a few modern tweaks. An RS4 is definitely on the cards one day.

[J4CKO]

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

[Ares]

Nice, and good to see there is still a smoking version to be had in the era of increasing tree-hugging.....but shame Audi RS have gone from being the nutter side of the market to the safer side of the market, visually and grunt-wise.

With the RS4's competitors now boasting 500bhp (M3 aside, but that's being replaced 2018/19) and turning the wick up on thrills, I hope this is enough.

Not sure where the Audi 90 inspiration sits though?

[ISO51200]

Looks like it belongs in a tuning catalogue from the late 90's

Sure its very capable but it looks like dog st

[Ares]

Ares said:

Nice, and good to see there is still a smoking version to be had in the era of increasing tree-hugging.....but shame Audi RS have gone from being the nutter side of the market to the safer side of the market, visually and grunt-wise.

With the RS4's competitors now boasting 500bhp (M3 aside, but that's being replaced 2018/19) and turning the wick up on thrills, I hope this is enough.

Not sure where the Audi 90 inspiration sits though?

Dug out picture of the Audi 90 Quattro IMSA GTO.

Still can't see the similarity? And it only serves to remind how good hot (and nutter) Audis used to look....

[culpz]

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

[Richard-390a0]

culpz said:

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

Anything with an S or RS badge & 4 or 5 drs are fair game at the minute over on the Audi forums I browse with almost daily new theft threads.

[Ares]

Richard-390a0 said:

culpz said:

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

Anything with an S or RS badge & 4 or 5 drs are fair game at the minute over on the Audi forums I browse with almost daily new theft threads.

I blame Ronin & Jean Reno....

[Icehanger]

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

thought the same when read the article, great car but desired by scum and soon to be stolen to order

[DuncB7]

I'll keep my B7. Very disappointing.

Not entirely sure this release is much better than the B8 RS4.

The M3 will continue to mop the saloon market then. I'm convinced Audi are missing a trick with Avant only.

[Ares]

DuncB7 said:

I'll keep my B7. Very disappointing.

Not entirely sure this release is much better than the B8 RS4.

The M3 will continue to mop the saloon market then. I'm convinced Audi are missing a trick with Avant only.

And losing the V8 (near) USP.

But the M3, whilst still the benchmark, is no longer the obvious answer as it has easily credible saloon car competition more than ever before from the C63 and the QV. The next one will need to up the ante to become the default option

[crashley]

As someone who needs/wants a medium sized quick estate the options aren't that great; Merc C63, Alpina D3 (B3 is nuts expensive) and this. If BMW built an M3 estate i'd own one tomorrow.

I really wanted to be excited by this as a potential early order for next year, but on these details alone it doesn't cut it... especially when the (saloon only) QV is boasting 500bhp.

[Ares]

crashley said:

As someone who needs/wants a medium sized quick estate the options aren't that great; Merc C63, Alpina D3 (B3 is nuts expensive) and this. If BMW built an M3 estate i'd own one tomorrow.

I really wanted to be excited by this as a potential early order for next year, but on these details alone it doesn't cut it... especially when the (saloon only) QV is boasting 500bhp.

Issue with estates are they they are a shrinking market, being replaced by the SUV. Love the fact or bemoan it, but that is the way the buying public are moving, thus engineering an estate car rather than SUV is too tight a risk - Alfa have gone for a 500bhp Stelvio as the practical option. Merc have stuck with the C63 estate, but both have the saloon as their mainstay. BMW do the coupe (as do Merc). Audi are playing a risky game by putting all their eggs in the dying market.

[russy01]

I dont want to reduce this to a video of a drag race as I am also a little disappointed that its not at least 475hp... but dont be totally put off by the figure of 450hp!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpRLb9Rf1do

The RS5 is already showing most of its competition a pair of clean heals (in a 1/4m drag) with its paltry 450hp. Also its 4WD will make it the fastest car point to point for most drivers in most conditions by a considerable margin anyway...

Obviously its not all about 0-60, drag races and point to point - but the RS4 will not struggle in the performance dept. I also imagine that in a few years time they'll drop a 500hp+ Performance edition as they have with the RS6 and SQ5 - personally making it the car it should be now.

I have been looking forward for the release of this car for a LONG time. Considering an outgoing RS6 or a new RS4 (the more sensible choice IMO) - but this release hasn't made me exactly excited for the RS4...

[rich861]

What are people doing with these estates when 450bhp, 442ft lbs, 0-62 in 4.1s (all probably conservative Audi figures) isn't enough?

[MrBarry123]

Richard-390a0 said:

culpz said:

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

Anything with an S or RS badge & 4 or 5 drs are fair game at the minute over on the Audi forums I browse with almost daily new theft threads.

It's a fair point J4CKO makes. As much as I'd like one of these and even though I'm in an area where that kind of crime is low, unless I lived in a gated development and/or could garage it, I'd never be able to rest easy with it parked on the drive. I simply don't want the worry or potential hassle if something was to happen.

[Ares]

russy01 said:

I dont want to reduce this to a video of a drag race as I am also a little disappointed that its not at least 475hp... but dont be totally put off by the figure of 450hp!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpRLb9Rf1do

The RS5 is already showing most of its competition a pair of clean heals (in a 1/4m drag) with its paltry 450hp. Also its 4WD will make it the fastest car point to point for most drivers in most conditions by a considerable margin anyway...

Obviously its not all about 0-60, drag races and point to point - but the RS4 will not struggle in the performance dept. I also imagine that in a few years time they'll drop a 500hp+ Performance edition as they have with the RS6 and SQ5 - personally making it the car it should be now.

I have been looking forward for the release of this car for a LONG time. Considering an outgoing RS6 or a new RS4 (the more sensible choice IMO) - but this release hasn't made me exactly excited for the RS4...

Alas, as soon as the AWD launch traction has gone, the RS5 is nowhere (see second part of the video where the RS5 is blown away)

....and as an example of where the game has moved to, here is the same drag race both with the Alfa against the same Merc and BMW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-4c6E77obs. The Alfa creams it, and does the standing 1/4 0.2 faster than the RS5 managed, despite it's 2WD!

And the fact that a brand new RS isn't getting you excited is a sad day for the marque!

[russy01]

rich861 said:

What are people doing with these estates when 450bhp, 442ft lbs, 0-62 in 4.1s (all probably conservative Audi figures) isn't enough?

Its normally people who have not driven a car with 450hp! The B8 RS4 got a lot of stick for being flat and gutless from keyboard warriors - completely forgetting it would still hit 100mph in 9.X seconds (as quick as supercars from the previous decade!)

Its not a massively exciting car I must admit. But it will be a bloody good and bloody fast one...

[Ares]

russy01 said:

rich861 said:

What are people doing with these estates when 450bhp, 442ft lbs, 0-62 in 4.1s (all probably conservative Audi figures) isn't enough?

Its normally people who have not driven a car with 450hp! The B8 RS4 got a lot of stick for being flat and gutless from keyboard warriors - completely forgetting it would still hit 100mph in 9.X seconds (as quick as supercars from the previous decade!)

Its not a massively exciting car I must admit. But it will be a bloody good and bloody fast one...

As someone that had four 450-500bhp cars over successive weekends to test drive, there was a significant difference between them. The fun/excitement factor was the biggest difference/decider, but raw pace was noticeable.

450bhp is enough, but when the market has already moved on, making a new car that is only 'enough' isn't what these cars are about. Especially when it will likely be saddled with more weight (due to body shape & AWD) and duller dynamics.

[Terminator X]

Richard-390a0 said:

culpz said:

J4CKO said:

Nice car if you can keep hold of it or like meeting chaps with balaclavas and baseball bats in the small hours !

Seems like a strange aspect of the car to specifically focus on. Probably applies to Golf R's more than anything.

Anything with an S or RS badge & 4 or 5 drs are fair game at the minute over on the Audi forums I browse with almost daily new theft threads.

I can confirm mine has never been stolen.

TX.