Audi RS4
By Butch Chiu
The new Audi RS4 is a very dynamic high-end car that packs in a lot of new and innovative concepts, combined with an exciting new design and equipment that would make any adult feel like a kid in a toy store. The RS4 sets the bar higher than ever before; a new bully on the block for long standing champions BMW and Mercedes to compete with. The BMW M3 and the Mercedes C55 AMG both trail behind when matched up to the Audi. Sure, it’ll cost you more, but if you’re a car enthusiast, you’ll have no regrets when you ante up to this supreme driving machine. At first glance, the RS4 may look just like your neighbor’s A4, but this is a completely new development from the ground up.
New to the RS4 are technical advancements straight from Audi’s Motorsport division. Audi’s innovative FSI technology is the driving force behind the powerful new engine. It also sports a new generation of its famous Quattro drive, featuring asymmetric/dynamic distribution of torque. The new V-8 redlines at 8250 rpm and produces 420 charging ponies; we’re talking 100 hp per liter. Max torque is 317 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm, and torque range comes between 2250-7600 rpm. The massive horsepower combined with the impressive torque numbers insures that you can run with anyone, even the guys with the megabuck exotics. The result is excellent muscle and pulling force at all times, enabling the driver to drive in truly relaxed style without frequent gear changes. The RS4 accelerates from 0-60 mph at 4.7 seconds, reaching a top speed of 152 mph. Audi has incorporated an electronic speed limiter that prevents you from pushing your car past that.
Audi’s engineers have also optimized the RS4’s power to weight ratio, giving the driver more confidence when pushing the car to its limits. To reduce weight, the RS4’s body is constructed of aluminum, making the total weight lower than that of the A4. The bucket seats are designed specifically for the RS4 to not only be very light, but also offer extremely good body support in every situation.
While its extremely aggressive styling clearly makes this the most radical car Audi has ever developed, the new radiator grill, lines, and the side surfaces with the shoulder line plastically filling in the car’s contours all prove that the RS4 is a member of the A4 family. But to separate the two, the RS4’s got air intake scoops in front and brand new custom-designed 18-inch racing wheels. This is an A4 pumped up on steroids. Adding even more to the aggressive styling are the spoiler (integrated into the trunk lid) and the large silver tailpipes protruding from the rear. The RS4 has been lowered 30 millimeters, and the car’s track has been widened, both structural enhancements designed to offer the driver a more stable feel when driving at high speeds. At the end of the day all these modifications to the body of the car are significant not only in terms of design, but also above all, in terms of function.
Inside the RS4, Audi has combined elegant leather-clad Audi-style luxury with the fury of a true pumped up sports car. There’s no question of the influence that Audi’s Motorsport division has on this car. The RS4 is exceeds everything any sports car enthusiast could desire.
The sporty feel of the car is immediate when you enter the cabin. The bucket seats in the RS4 cradle the driver and offer excellent support. Additionally, the seats feature a control button that inflates the side support elements, adjusting perfectly to each driver. Other Motorsport influences include the start button, located on the center console, the sculpted aluminum pedals, and the new sport steering wheel. One of the coolest features of the RS4 is the sport button on the steering wheel, which gives the driver the ability to modify the gas pedal control map. This enables the driver to tailor the response of the car to be quicker or more relaxed, depending on the mood.
Additional features of the RS4 include the acoustic parking system at the front and rear, protecting the front and rear from scratches when parking, the Bose concert sound system, and the sports suspension with variable damper control (DRC). Other features available on the RS4 are Audi’s navigation system and dynamic adaptive headlights that guide the driver around bends in the road.
All in all, this not just another sport sedan on the market, but a sports car that has now raised the bar for all other auto manufacturers. We look forward to the response from BMW and Mercedes, which will both inevitably push performance limits further than ever before, but for now, the RS4 sits comfortably at its perch at the top of the totem pole.
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