Audi Expands RS4 Range with Cabriolet and Avant
With the announcement of the RS4 Avant, Audi has added supercar levels of performance to class-leading levels of practicality and storage space. Like the A4 Avant, the RS4 features a versatile trunk area that has flat walls free of intrusions from the rear wheel well arches. Underneath the carpeted floor is a plasticized sub-floor for storing wet or dirty items, while small cargo is contained in the bay through a web-like net, or chrome-plated tie-down hooks. Unfortunately, the A6’s ingenious cargo area solutions, which include a cargo ’seatbelt’ and hard metal divider, aren’t available.
An intriguing if not unexpected addition to the RS-car range is the RS4 Cabriolet. Unlike the Avant and Sedan models, the RS4 convertible is probably pitched towards a slightly more relaxed crowd. While it has the same tuning-fork 19-inch wheels and aggressive bodykit, it comes with less sport-oriented seats, though the race-style buckets of the Sedan and Avant are optional. The RS4 Cabriolet also features Audi’s new Acoustic Roof as standard equipment, which when raised delivers quieter interior noise levels than the sedan or wagon. But for warm sunny days, the roof can be retracted in a mere 21 seconds, and at speeds of up to 30 km/h, allowing those in the cabin access the engine’s beautiful song without obstruction.
In terms of performance, the Avant and Cabriolet are closely matched to the Sedan in the 100 km/h sprint. The Sedan trips the stopwatch in 4.8 seconds; the Avant and Cabrio take 0.1 second more, showing the explosive, immediate power of the naturally aspirated engine despite the weight handicap. The gap starts to separate once the speed increases; 200 km/h takes a very brief 16.6 seconds in the sedan, but 16.9 seconds in the Avant and 17.5 seconds in the Cabriolet, the differences to do, no doubt with the added weight. If you’re gunning for the outright fastest RS4, any will do as they’re all electronically limited to 250 km/h.
The RS4 Cabriolet and Avant will start production later this spring, and will be in dealerships starting this summer. Unfortunately chances are slim to nil that North Americans will be receiving these alternate body types as there’s little market case for the Avant. Aside from the fact that it carries on the Avant heritage for Audi, no other manufacturer currently builds a superwagon with compact dimensions. Audi couldn’t bring itself to import the RS6 Avant, creating and building the RS6 Sedan to our market instead. Interestingly, the RS4 Cabriolet stands a better chance, as it could compete with the M3 Cabriolet and Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet.
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