A4/S4/RS4 [Official] 2013 Audi RS4 B8

[klier]

Something like this?

Very nice. Even darker would be even better though! And the logo in black.....

 

[ss5]

I am, because the RS5 turned out to be quite a pig. And I very much doubt an A4 Avant weighs less than an A5 coupe.

Pig or not, lots of people still tell me it is a lovely car.

 

[Guibo]

PistonHeads blog: Audi Calls a Truce

Friday 17th February

I've written more about Audis in the past two months than I have for the past five years. There's lots of new metal coming from the land of the four rings. This week we have a new RS4. Last week we had an uprated TT RS with red wheels. Ew.

Anyways, there we were thinking it might be canned when Audi sends everyone some photos and a spec sheet of a buxom looking small estate car called the RS4. On its own, this would be of little significance, but I have a feeling in my waters that the new, third-generation RS4 has unwittingly signalled the end of an era that we currently call the 'power war'.

In years to come, when people try and identify the moment car manufacturers were cured of the impulse to wave their genitals at each other, it might be Wednesday 15 February 2012 - the day of the embargo for all RS4 information.

I will now attempt to support this theory.

Audi has been at the forefront of the power race for over a decade now. Unable to match BMW M or even Mercedes AMG at the end of the 90s, it took the decision to enlist the help of Cosworth and boost its 2.7-litre bi-turbo V6 to 380bhp. I remember the B5 RS4 launch in Munich: we were told the cars had 155mph limiters and they all sailed into the 170s. Audi engineers used the word 'tolerance' and then sniggered.

The original B5 RS4 became a cult car because it was so fast, usable and tweakable. Owners didn't care that people like me crapped on about steering feel, it would take the kids and the dog and, after MTM had messed with it, cruise at 180mph to Geneva.

BMW never felt the need to respond to the RS4. Mercedes gave us the C32 AMG, which had nothing like the firepower on paper but was so much more violent than the claimed 349hp that the V8 362hp C55 which followed never felt quite as quick. But Audi remained the boss for power.

Further supported by the release of the first RS6 - complete mit 450hp twin-turbo V8, which pre-dated the 479hp E55 AMG Kompressor. Which didn't have anything less than 500hp according the German TuV organization. And so it went on.

Now look, I'm not going to list the increases and swings in power between ze Germans, or even what was going on in the US, but it was quite clear that Audi always felt it necessary to have the biggest trouser bulge. BMW had a 500hp M5, Audi produced a 580hp RS6. Whatever Audi's cars lacked in dynamic terms, they recouped through knuckle-size.

And now we have a 450hp RS4. No turbochargers, 30bhp more, and the same torque as the B7 RS4 - which was launched back in 2006. That last fact is eye-opening.The new RS4 is unlikely to weigh less than the B7 because it has a heavy dual-clutch gearbox and is physically bigger, so it is unlikely to feel any quicker than the car it replaces. Which is now seven years old.

Is this progress? I don't know, in fact I'm struggling to know how to respond to the specification of the new RS4. As someone who has whinged in and on several magazines/blogs/websites about the evils of ever-increasing outputs that help conceal the crazy mass of these vehicles, I now find myself sitting looking at the vitals of a car which, according to my mantra, should be applauded for detaching itself from the cycle-of-evil-horsepower and I feel what seasoned interwebbers refer to as 'meh'. 450hp: that all you got Audi? World class hypocrisy, I know.

Pathetic, isn't it? Perhaps it's the mechanical similarity to the B7 version that means the new car doesn't capture the imagination like the last two versions, maybe we expected something more - I don't know. Either way, the guts are disappointed.

But this is surely a milestone in one of two ways. The great power-aggressors of Ingolstadt have stood firm and called-away their heavy artillery. If this can be viewed as an end to hostilities in Germany, then that's probably a good thing because it will force them to compete for more sensible honours. Kerb weight would be a good place to begin.

Equally, this might just be a statement of intent from Quattro GmbH. It feels the RS brand is now established enough to no longer need a power figure that steals glances on the newsstand and on Google. If so, it's a brave decision at a time when Mercedes will sell you a C63 estate with 487hp and so much more torque that it is almost in different class to the RS4.

I just have this lingering feeling that the RS4 marks a tipping point in the evolution of the very fast car. When a brand that has defined itself by out-thrusting its rivals settles back and says 'enough', I think we can call that a significant event.

Next week, Audi will announce an 860hp RS6, and I will never utter another word on this subject.

I think Harris should wait to drive the car before being so worried about the stats. In a previous blog, he feels 163 hp/tonne feels about perfect:
PistonHeads Headlines - PH Blog: all you need

Surely, this RS4 should be comfortably over 200 hp/tonne and thus should be "more than adequate" and perhaps a careful choice of tires can overcome concerns about excessive grip.


That photoshop of the sedan looks great, but personally I like the wagon format, for its utility and the sheer mentalness of a high-performance wagon (with 7-speed dual clutch, high-revving naturally aspirated engine in an age of twin-turbo'ed BMWs, and available ceramics, no less). Styling-wise, I don't find the front fascia particularly offensive but merely something to get used to; bravo to them for trying something at least a little bit different. Love the bulging fender flares too, something that also lends an air of specialness about it. Brings to mind the RS6 wagon, but now in a more compact and manageable package.

 

[ss5]

There you go:

Thank you for this. Pretty much what I am aiming for. But will keep the splitter silver Now the rims......(which we cannot see here of course)......

 

[Deckhook]

I believe outputs his peaked with this RS4 because it's replacement will probably have less in not only output but number of cylinders and capacity of engine, but then weigh will significately drop too. This will still be a special car to drive as all RS Audis are compared to their lesser siblings but as Chris says it won't be a dramatic leap forward as with pass versions.

That said I would still pick this car every time over a C63T, when it comes to performance estates there is only one in my eyes and that's an RS estate.

 

[Tumbo]

He is so right though...
When RS4 B5 was presented, it was amazingly fast, keeping up with a 911 Turbo and crushing anything else on the road.
When RS4 B7 was presented, Jeremy Clarkson said that he was sitting 4 feet from the best engine ever made.

And now... what? What is so special about this RS4, to blow our socks off?

They should have gone for the 4.0T and give it 480-500hp. THAT is what the RS4 name deserves!

 

[Zafiro]

Everybody, take a look at this:

 

[Tumbo]

Everybody, take a look at this:

Man... Everytime I see the RS4 B7... I just go quiet... And I just stare. I got so much love for this car... Words cant explain.
My plan is to have the Q5 about a year more, and then my father wants to buy it from me. Then, I will hunt down a beautiful RS4 sedan and I will be happy ever after

 

[Tumbo]

Also, I have almost as much love for this:

I seriously would pick this over the new RS4 B8..

 

[donkeykong]

I believe outputs his peaked with this RS4 because it's replacement will probably have less in not only output but number of cylinders and capacity of engine, but then weigh will significately drop too. This will still be a special car to drive as all RS Audis are compared to their lesser siblings but as Chris says it won't be a dramatic leap forward as with pass versions.

That said I would still pick this car every time over a C63T, when it comes to performance estates there is only one in my eyes and that's an RS estate.

The 2.5 would make perfect candidate for the next RS4/5.

 

[Tumbo]

The 2.5 would make perfect candidate for the next RS4/5.

Nah, the engine would be a little to small, dont u think?
How much more does the 4.0T weigh, then the 4.2 V8? Or is it heavier? If lighter, WHY did they not use it??

 

[donkeykong]

Nah, the engine would be a little to small, dont u think?
How much more does the 4.0T weigh, then the 4.2 V8? Or is it heavier? If lighter, WHY did they not use it??

I for one would love to see the 2.5 be used it's light,compact,and has been tuned to produced incredible hp figures. This is of course wishful thinking on my part,and I have no idea what the plans are,but the next B9 range is supposed to be considerably lighter. That's were I feel the focus should be. Remember that prototype codenamed "The Beast", I'm hoping that is the glimpse for the next RS4,and 5 models.

I would imagine the 4.0t to be heavier don't know the exact figures off the top of my head. Audi wasn't about to give one B8 a 4.2 while the other got the newer engine. I think part sharing made better sense from a business standpoint.

 

[Deckhook]

^ The 2.5R5 has been mentioned as a possible choice for the next S/RS4 so I reckon it might be more than just wishful thinking.

 

[Tumbo]

I for one would love to see the 2.5 be used it's light,compact,and has been tuned to produced incredible hp figures. This is of course wishful thinking on my part,and I have no idea what the plans are,but the next B9 range is supposed to be considerably lighter. That's were I feel the focus should be. Remember that prototype codenamed "The Beast", I'm hoping that is the glimpse for the next RS4,and 5 models.

I would imagine the 4.0t to be heavier don't know the exact figures off the top of my head. Audi wasn't about to give one B8 a 4.2 while the other got the newer engine. I think part sharing made better sense from a business standpoint.

They switched from 4.2 to 3.0T in the S4, so even the 3.0T would fit better in the RS4. They would easy squeeze out 450hp from that one. The Q5 3.0T concept had 408hp, remember?

Meh.. Im just disapointed with the RS4... Those 3 letters that I always adored so much..

 

[donkeykong]

^ The 2.5R5 has been mentioned as a possible choice for the next S/RS4 so I reckon it might be more than just wishful thinking.

So you've heard news of that?

They switched from 4.2 to 3.0T in the S4, so even the 3.0T would fit better in the RS4. They would easy squeeze out 450hp from that one. The Q5 3.0T concept had 408hp, remember?

Meh.. Im just disapointed with the RS4... Those 3 letters that I always adored so much..

I know what you mean man the B7 RS4 is still one of my all time favorites not just Audi's,but cars in general. I loved it so much because it was a game changer that the new RS4 will never be. The 3.0t is a fantastic engine,and I hope it's not going discontinued like some have said.

 

[Tumbo]

To the mods... Why isnt the RS4 on the first page?

 

[AudiQuattro]

As down sizing is the thing right now I suspect the 4.0T will only be used for A6 upwards. Next RS4/5 will probably be a 6 cylinder engine of some sort. Hopefully the Quattro concept will come alive with the 2.5 5 cylinder

 

[Deckhook]

So you've heard news of that?

You know I couldn't say anything as bold as that.

I know what you mean man the B7 RS4 is still one of my all time favorites not just Audi's,but cars in general. I loved it so much because it was a game changer that the new RS4 will never be. The 3.0t is a fantastic engine,and I hope it's not going discontinued like some have said.

I am also a huge fan of the last RS4 and because of this fact and the basic ingredients are similar bar the gearbox so I still have very high hopes for a unique and utterly RS experience.

As for the wonderful supercharged v6 from the S4, I honestly wished this had been the engine choice for the new RS4 cause IMO this engine is one of the finest engines ever produced, it's delivery is so linear it's unreal and it's silky smooth.

P.S.
Watch this space regarding the RS4 cause the Porsche is due a change.

 

[Zafiro]

In about a year, the new RS4 will feel old and out of date when the new M3 arrive. This car should have come years ago. Compare to previous Rs4 , the new Rs4 feels just like a big yawn.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

In about a year, the new RS4 will feel old and out of date when the new M3 arrive. This car should have come years ago. Compare to previous Rs4 , the new Rs4 feels just like a big yawn.

As much as I like this RS4, and the fact that it's an Avant, no less, what Just_me said is pretty darn true. Quattro GmbH ought to have released this earlier because I doubt Audi's tactic in maintaining interest in the A/S4 via a delayed RS4 intro works that effectively. Granted, though, they did have the RS5 for a bit. I'm hoping for the post-B8 A4 they'll release an RS sooner into the product cycle rather than later.