Photo: X-Tomi Design
Sooner than you expect? Maybe, but not as soon as it should be. Audi officials previously said that the all-new RS4 is close, but we’ve just learned that it will not be ready until late 2017. Boo and hiss!
The all-new Audi A4 is perhaps the most important car Audi has launched since 2010. Despite its compact class, it can do nearly everything the S-Class can. Everything that is, except to deliver performance. The S4 has been revealed this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It will take another two years for the letter R to be added.
According to the intel we received in Germany, the RS4 will be shown at the next IAA, the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show that is two years away. In addition, production could start as late as 2018.
As far as what’s under the bonnet, we were not surprised to learn that the engine is a turbocharged V6. Audi has already revealed a single-turbo 3.0 TFSI with 354 hp for the S4. A second turbocharger should help increase the total output to around 420-450 horsepower (development isn’t yet finished).
Linked to the Torsen differential will be a Tiptronic gearbox, meaning that Audi is likely to use the same 8-speed auto developed by ZF that you find in the RS6, RS7 and S8. It’s a good gearbox, but that doesn’t change the fact that BMW and Mercedes have twin-clutch units for some of their sportscars.
The pace at which new RS models are launched seems much slower than their AMG equivalents. For example, the time gap between the C-Class Coupe and the C63 is almost imperceivable.
Between 2015 and 2018, you won’t be able to buy an RS4 model, so Mercedes and BMW will run the market. In addition, Audi still won’t have as many body styles. The lack of a sedan could be compensated by an RS5 Sportback four-door coupe, but that won’t happen until later.
According to the intel we received in Germany, the RS4 will be shown at the next IAA, the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show that is two years away. In addition, production could start as late as 2018.
As far as what’s under the bonnet, we were not surprised to learn that the engine is a turbocharged V6. Audi has already revealed a single-turbo 3.0 TFSI with 354 hp for the S4. A second turbocharger should help increase the total output to around 420-450 horsepower (development isn’t yet finished).
Linked to the Torsen differential will be a Tiptronic gearbox, meaning that Audi is likely to use the same 8-speed auto developed by ZF that you find in the RS6, RS7 and S8. It’s a good gearbox, but that doesn’t change the fact that BMW and Mercedes have twin-clutch units for some of their sportscars.
The pace at which new RS models are launched seems much slower than their AMG equivalents. For example, the time gap between the C-Class Coupe and the C63 is almost imperceivable.
Between 2015 and 2018, you won’t be able to buy an RS4 model, so Mercedes and BMW will run the market. In addition, Audi still won’t have as many body styles. The lack of a sedan could be compensated by an RS5 Sportback four-door coupe, but that won’t happen until later.
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