Among enthusiasts, Audi is best known for its fast estates. So there was absolutely no way it was going to let BMW dominate the uberwagon headlines in 2022; an RS4 Competition might not be as seismic as an M3 Touring, but it’s certainly as interesting as this generation has yet been, what with its coilovers, reduced sound insulation and Pirelli P Zero Corsas.
Now we know what a Comp will cost: £84,600 on the road, with just 75 RS4s - all of them Sebring Crystal Black - coming to the UK. An M3 Touring, in case you’d forgotten already, is £80,550. It feels like £79,995 might have been a useful undercut, but then the Competition does come crammed with kit. In addition to the model-specific features - the RS Sport Suspension Pro adjustable coilovers, RS Sports Exhaust System Plus, 180mph top speed increase - those cars coming to the UK will also get matte carbon accents, a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, the lighting pack and RS Sports seats. Given even the colour is assigned, it would be a surprise if a Competition buyer has any options to pick from at all.
And although M3 excitement isn’t likely to subside anytime soon, there is still plenty to be optimistic about when it comes to Audi's main rival. The dynamic steering now has a fixed ratio of 13.1:1, software tweaks promise faster shifts, stiffer anti-roll bars work with the new suspension for ‘exceptional precision, composure and control’ and - get this - Audi even uses the word ‘adjustability’ in a press release. This is thanks to the reworked sport diff and its increased rear bias. So it’s all quite encouraging, even with the same 450hp and 442lb ft from the 2.9 V6 as before.
Audi will be accepting orders for the RS4 Competition from next month, ahead of deliveries at the start of 2023. Just about when those Tourings should arrive, in fact…
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