Driven: Audi RS4 Avant (B8)

A first taste at the wheel of the new Audi RS4 Avant. 

Sportiness and refinement, usability and exclusivity, RS Audis enjoy remarkable success and the new RS4 Avant (B8) seems poised to be no exception to that rule. The RS4 is a kind of home coming since it is one of the first major new cars which Asphalte covered during the winter 2006, 6 months after its foundation. The B7 type RS4, in the more rare sedan version, had impressed us. A brilliant, high revving engine and a sporty balance, courtesy of the newly adopted 40/60 torque split in the Quattro transmission made for a compelling package.

Nearly 7 years later to the day, we find the same direct injected V8 with 4163 cm3 of displacement. Peak torque remains unchanged at 430 Nm, but is achieved  a useful 1500 rpm lower in the rev range. Peak power has climbed by 30hp to reach a handsome 450 PS at 8250 rpm. This powerplant will undoubtedly be the chorus note to seven wonderful years where large V8 were wedged under the hood of compact sedans. RS4, M3, C63, IS-F even, these models will remain in automotive history as monuments erected to celebrate the glory of the Octane Goddess, or depending on your point-of-view, dinosaurs on the brink of extinction, under eminent threat from the Downsizing meteor.

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A new car and limited time behind the wheel did not allow us to explore the peaks of the rev range, and giving an objective opinion on a fresh engine. We did not find the 4.2 liter FSI engine particularly muscular in the lower part of the rev range, a sensation confirmed by the study of the torque curve and its comparison with the 3.0L TFSI found in the S4 and S5 models. The torque deficit till 4000 rpm is clear: at 2000 rpm, the supercharged V6 has already reached 390 Nm while it will take the naturally aspirated V8 1000 rpm to achieve the same output. The gap gets even wider until the large V8 reaches its peak torque at 4000 rpm. We will wait for a more comprehensive test to articulate a more definitive opinion, but it seems unavoidable that the 4.2L will retain a more peakish delivery profile, requiring higher revs to pull the RS4 out of traffic or corners, a relative low light in the effortlessness one expects from this segment. Higher revs also have a consequence on gas mileage. We will only take the 16.1 L/100km (15.1 on the on board computer) as a vague indication, biased by the test conditions and internal frictions.

The Audi S-Tronic gearbox is generally up there among the very good double-clutch gearboxes, and this version mated to the 4.2 FSI V8 is no exception. The expected smooth and swift gearchanges are delivered, although I am not a fan of the hyperactive tendancies in Drive Select Dynamic mode, my preference going to the Comfort mode for peaceful conditions and the manual mode in sportier conditions. The S-Tronic system also adapts the level of rev matching on downshifts to the selected driving mode, going from discrete to glorious throttle blips in the Dynamic setting, highlighting the low inertia of the V8 and the rich note of the sports exhaust system. A 1530 CHF option which seems unavoidable, I could not quite fathom why one would want an RS4 without a proper soundtrack, furthermore as it strikes an excellent compromise between quality and quantity, staying clear of the ungainly excesses experienced on some italian productions. A velvety burble at low revs morphing into the typical V8 staccato, this is a proper sound experience for that kind of car. We have no doubts that the experience near the rev limiter must be exhilarating.

This aural refinement is one of the many ingredients that turn this RS4 B8 into a very desirable piece of automotive gear. Bulging fenders (+24mm in width), specific front and rear bumper designs, gorgeous 20 inch rims with satin finish over glossy branches, Wave Design brake rotors to lower unsuspended weight by 3kg, ride height lowered by 20mm, a honeycomb grille, the (fake) oval tailpipes, the visual presence is undeniable. Same favorable impression inside with Audi’s “technical chic”, starting with the beautiful spiked leather multi-function steering wheel. The flat rim which was a highlight of the RS4 B7 and RS3 interiors has not been reconducted. Unfashionable, we guess ? As on the RS5 coupe, your only choice for the instrument dash is piano black, but door and center console inserts allow to customize the interior to a certain extent. The optional RS bucket seats are still excellent, but their ubiquity and the fact that they have not changed since the RS4 B7, save for minor changes to the upholstery, is a bit disappointing. Their sharp edges could also prove tiresome to owners who have to get in and out of their car frequently.

The late 2011 facelift of the A4 & A5  ranges brought several changes in the driver interface, four out of eight buttons governing the main MMI functions have been removed and replaced by a menu on the screen. A questionable choice in ergonomic terms, as it makes the task of selecting main menus more distracting while they were easily found by your fingers prior. The Drive Select selection interface has also been simplified to become a single button, cycling through the Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual settings on the MMI screen or auxiliary screen in the instrument cluster. Here as well, the old solution with permanent display of the setting and two keys was far better in my opinion. Our test car was equipped with the optional Sport Plus Chassis (2970 CHF) which allows to adjust damping through the Drive Select interface. A welcome equipment as it broadens the abilities of the car between a comfort setting, supple but not floaty, and much firmer Dynamic setting.

Road handling of this new RS4 Avant is a very good surprise, the 4.72m wagon shrinking around its driver as pace increases. A partial explanation can be found in the relatively contained weight, 1835kg with a full tank of fuel on our corner scales, with a 56.5% front / 43.5% rear split. A value strikingly similar to the 1832 kg of our Audi S5 Sportback daily driver, but which translates into a very different feeling. The RS4 appears more rigid and agile, better planted also, and steering feel is somewhat better than the clinical detachment of the Sportback. In Dynamic mode, body roll appears extremely contained, body movements well controlled and grip levels are very encouraging. Pushed to the limits on wet tarmac, the ESP system appears prompt to contain any sideways tendancies but allows plenty of understeer when excessive torque is applied while powering out of a hairpin. We will have to confirm and refine these first impressions in conditions – temperatures in particular – better atuned to the operating range of the Pirelli PZeros.

This amounts to a very encouraging first drive. The ingredients are there to make this car a great Audi RS, mixing every day usability (wagon, Quattro, S-Tronic) with the thrills of a sports car with an enchanting exhaust note, a broad performance envelope and a high level of driving enjoyment when and where conditions allow. If all-wheel-drive is a must have in your selection criteria, then the only real competition would be the far cheaper S4 Avant. The semi-official Abt chip-tuning allows to reach 435 hp and a handsome 520 Nm, more than enough to bridge the absolute performance gap. The net result could turn out to be superior in terms of every day drivability but will struggle to eclipse the attractiveness and exclusive experience of the RS4 Avant.

Main available options

Test car configuration

Facing competition

* option ** 6 gear automatic gearbox no cost option

Our sincere thanks to the team at Garage Arénaz for the loan of this test car.

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