Audi RS4 Australian pricing and features revealed

Lovers of fast wagons will be able to add Audi’s 2018 RS4 Avant to their garage for $152,900.

On sale now, the fourth-generation RS4 Avant is a descendent of Audi’s most iconic fast wagon, the RS2, and brings the badge back to turbocharged V6 power after two generations of naturally-aspirated V8s.

Propelled by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6, the RS4 Avant sends 331kW and 600Nm to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro AWD system. Peak torque is available from 1900rpm all the way through to 5000rpm, and helps launch the wagon from standstill to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds.

2

Audi claims the ADR combined fuel consumption for the RS4 is 8.9L/100km.

An eight-speed automatic gearbox is the sole transmission on offer and torque is split 40:60 front to rear by default, though up to 85 percent can be sent to the rear axle during what Audi dubs ‘dynamic driving’.

The new RS4 is longer, wider, and lower than its predecessor, with subtly pumped bodywork drawing inspiration from the famous Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO race cars and giving it a wider stance than regular A4 wagons.

As standard the RS4 Avant rolls on 20-inch wheels which are offered in three different designs, with the exterior appearance packages available in gloss black, carbon, and matte aluminium.

A five-link suspension replaces the trapezoidal-link front end of the previous-gen car, with Dynamic Ride Control offered as standard. Ceramic brakes and an RS-specific steering tune are also available as cost options.

Inside, RS sport seats with honeycomb stitching and Nappa leather are standard, along with a flat-bottomed RS sport steering wheel. Audi’s virtual cockpit display replaces traditional analogue instruments, and in the RS4 features unique RS ‘pages’ and graphics which provide extra information on tyre pressure, torque distribution and g-forces, along with shift lights for when you’re driving hard in manual mode. A Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system is also installed from the factory.

The standard equipment list will also be slightly fatter for Australian RS4 buyers, with all locally-delivered cars to be equipped with the traction-enhancing quattro sport rear differential, a louder sports exhaust and adaptive dampers as standard.

The list of safety features will also be thick, with crash-avoiding technology like active lane assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, an exit warning system that prevents ‘dooring’ accidents, rear cross traffic assist, blind spot assist, front and rear collision detection and a 360 degree camera.

Five option packages will be offered, with four focusing on exterior and interior styling and one adding slightly more technology to the already feature-rich RS4.

The “Carbon and Matte Aluminium Styling Package”, “Carbon and Black Styling Package” and “Gloss Black Styling Package are all fairly self explanatory, dressing up trim pieces on the front spoiler, side sills, front grille, rear diffuser, mirror housings and roof rails in different material finishes. The RS Design Package spruces up the interior, bringing red contrast stitching and Alcantara/Nappa leather upholstery to the seats, steering wheel and door cards.

The Technik Package brings a colour head-up display for the driver, along with Audi’s adaptive Matrix LED headlamps and a wireless phone charging pad.

PRICING

The 2018 Audi RS4 is available now, with pricing as follows:

• Audi RS4 Avant - $152,900
• Carbon and Matte Aluminium Styling Package - $10,900
• Carbon and Black Styling Package - $11,900
• Gloss Black Styling Package - $1000
• RS Design Package - $ 3300
• Technik Package - $ 3900
• Carbon ceramic brakes - $11,900
• Dynamic Steering - $2210