The Audi RS4 Is Back. The king of the practical performance cars has returned to the road with the reveal of the new RS4 at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. Boasting a 2.9-litre V6 bi-turbo petrol engine making 450 Hp and 600 Nm (a 170 Nm jump on the old car) from 1900-5000 rpm, the RS4 will get to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.

The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission which send the power to both axles via quattro all-wheel drive; a rear ‘sport’ differential is available as a cost option. The new Audi RS 4 Avant weighs 1,790 kilograms, 80 kilograms less than previously.


The new RS4, thanks to its sport suspension, sits 7mm lower than the garden variety A4 on sport suspension. Equipment options include, RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes and RS-specific dynamic steering.

The designers took inspiration for the new RS4 from the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO. Compared to the Audi A4 Avant, the wheel arches are 30mm wider. At the rear end, the RS-specific diffuser insert, the oval tailpipes of the RS exhaust system and the RS roof edge spoiler make for a distinctive look. The exterior colour Nogaro blue, pearl effect available cost optionally from Audi exclusive harks back to the first generation of the high-performance Avant from 1999. The new Audi RS 4 Avant rides on 19-inch forged aluminum wheels as standard; 20-inch wheels are available as an option.


On the inside of the reveal car are RS sport seats with optional honeycomb pattern. The flat-bottomed RS leather multifunction sport steering wheel, shift gate and the illuminated door sill trims are all adorned with the RS emblem. In the Audi virtual cockpit and head-up display, RS-specific displays indicate the g-forces, tyre pressures and torque.

The all-new Audi RS 4 Avant will arrive in Australia in April 2018; pricing hasn’t been announced yet.