I've only heard it mentioned by one person, supposably from an Audi insider but the fact that it's one voice makes me doubt it being true. If the RS4 only comes in the form of an estate then it really isn't competing with an M3 because they shouldn't appeal to same people. As it stands it will be one of the most hardcore estate ever built.
B8 Audi RS 4 Project Could Be Dead Says Car & Driver Insider Car & Driver's resident German insider Jens Meiners has published his monthly report from the continent and we're concerned about one of his assertions. If Meiners' assertion is correct, the new B8 RS 4 program has been killed in the wake of Audi's decision to build a next-generation RS 6. It's assumed the RS 6 will be powered by a more potent version of the new 4.0 TFSI already seen in the S6. That engine is already tuned to greater levels in the S8 and the same is expected when it appears in the Bentley Continental on the Crewe's Geneva Motor Show stand this spring. But what of the RS 4? This is a major concern for Audi performance fans. Read below for our take. We're in a state of disbelief until we grill our own sources on the subject. Taking the stance that we believe the RS 4 Avant is still on isn't that much of a stretch. Why? Read on. At least two evolutions of RS 4 Avant test mules have been spied testing at Nurburgring. The one you see above had heavy camo because the shot was taken before the facelifted A4 was revealed. Earlier pre-facelift B8 RS 4s have also been seen testing though and with decidedly subtler appearance. Check out our gallery linked below to see our full collections of B8 RS 4 renders and spy photos. There's been a bit of confusion about the RS 4. Many assume a sedan will materialize though that was never in the cards. The RS 5 was always seen as a replacement to the sedan and largely because the USA is a big part of the business plan on the 4-door. The US went for the more performance car market friendly body style of the RS 5 and that left the RS 4 sedan in a bit of a dead end. Meiners' story also states "... the RS 5 has been deemed sufficient to take care of the RS 4's clientele", which makes us wonder if Meiners and his source at Audi didn't have a communication breakdown, the source talking about the sedan and Meiners assuming this meant RS 4 in general. Meiners is usually a reliable source but we know we've made similar incorrect assumptions with our own factory sources at times. It happens. Finally, we're falling back on what we've heard from our own sources albeit before the publishing of the C&D piece by Meiners on the 17th (linked below). Our sources have indicated the RS 4 Avant is still very much on for Europe. The viability of an RS 4 Avant for America was even discussed in front of us by senior Audi of America and quattro GmbH executives last year in Detroit. We know they've looked into it though the on-again-off-again status of the car appears to be off again for the States. Run away sales success of the RS 3 killed that car's chances in America and likely the only chance we'll see the RS 4 Avant come to America is if it doesn't sell as briskly. And in case there's any question, the B8 RS 4 Avant would not make use of the new 4.0 TFSI... even as much as enthusiasts would love to see this. A board level source told us back during the RS 5 gestation phase that there wasn't a business case for developing a separate powertrain between RS 4 and RS 5. Further, we'd later been told there wasn't a case for changing the powertrain in the mid-life product improvement applied to the A4 and A5 lineups. When the RS 4 comes, it will have the same 450-hp 4.2 FSI and S-tronic with crown gear setup as the RS 5. B8 Audi RS 4 Project Could Be Dead Says Car & Driver Insider - Blogs - Fourtitude.com
The last I heard was dealers were taking names of interested parties which suggest the car is very much on course for release later this year and the last time I spoke with the SM of the local dealer that was the exact words he said, but such is the fluid nature of the motoring world that until there is an official statement from the horse's mouth (manufacturer) any info needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Example being the R8v12TDi, a very reliable source from inside Audi stated it was coming right up to the point when the decision was taken to cancel it and in that case I do know that some clients had laid deposits in the hope.
^ Nothing wrong with either the power or the drivetrain, just the gearing. Audi should take lessons from BMW's M Division here.
[h=1]Next Audi RS4 to be Avant only[/h]Audi is turning back the clock for the next generation of RS-badged A4s by restricting the new RS4 to a five-door Avant bodystyle only. The reasons are threefold: hot Avant models have historically outsold saloon versions, the S5 Sportback offers a performance four-door alternative and the market is moving away from hot four-doors. “We will continue with the RS4 Avant, which has traditionally accounted for the majority of European sales,” says the boss of Audi’s quattro division, Stephan Riel, "but our research suggests the market for a saloon version is now rather limited." The decision also chimes with Audi’s heritage of hot estates. In three-generations only the last model included an RS4 saloon. Set for launch at Geneva, the new RS4 Avant uses the RS5’s 4.2-litre V8, developing 444bhp and 317lbft. The same engine powered the last-gen RS4, although it developed 28 fewer bhp. Also new to the RS4 is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, optional instead of the standard six-speed manual. The quattro four-wheel drive system is also the latest version with torque adjustable across the rear-axle. New ‘wave-style’ discs are added to the braking system. Eschewing conventional design, they feature small indents in the outer edges of the discs that together are claimed to reduce the weight at each corner by around 1.5 kg, reducing unsprung mass. Next Audi RS4 to be Avant only - Autocar.co.uk
Due to the engine choice (obvious reasons for that) I don't see this model having a long shelf life. Which brings me on to the next RS4, don't expect as long a wait. P.S. The discs must be something similar in design to those used on motorbikes, I can't recall anyone using this design before on a car which is odd given the benefits.
Because you say so??? RS models always come waaayy too late. If you make a statement like that it doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Do you not understand what I meant???? It's not because I said so just an observation and reading what has been said by Audi, RS model in future will arrive much earlier than ever before.
^It' been said over,and over. Could we also see the RS5 cab,RS6 Avant,and RS7 debut in Geneva as well? If so it would be similar to what they did in Frankfurt with many of their latest S models.
Sounds good and looks good, especially because IMO Audi Avants look better than Audi Sedans. Audi RS4 (B8) and Porsche Boxter S (981) would constitute a nice garage.
