2018 Audi RS4 Avant at the Nurburgring, Complete with Sound

Some sources suggest that Audi will incorporate an electric turbocharger that spins up rapidly and reduces turbo lag to a minimum. We've almost forgotten about the amazing technology found in the RS5 TDI concept and recently attached to a 2.5-liter engine as well. Either way, this new RS engine is going to be used by several models, perhaps even the R8. So reliability is paramount.

Either way, the output should be a little higher than the 4.2-liter that's being replaced. The top horsepower figure will also arrive at much lower revs. Unfortunately, you can say goodbye to a red line in the region of 8k, as turbos don't allow that unless there's a prancing horse somewhere on the car.

The main rival of the RS4 will remain the C63 AMG, which has also switched to its first turbocharged engine. Mind you, the Affalterbach people have used a powerful V8, so almost nobody is complaining. But the quattro all-wheel drive will remain an advantage as 4Matic is not available on the hot C-Class.

Thanks to two oval exhaust pipes and a wider body, we don't need to tell you that the car in the photos below is the next generation of the RS4 Avant. But it also has a few new features that we want to draw your attention to, and these include the much wider front grille and revised air intakes. It's almost as if the A4's face has been surgically altered by the new Audi designer.

The Nurburgring is a great place to find out if you've built the best estate car in the world. Unfortunately, this early prototype isn't going to set lap records. But once all the components prove reliable, we should see Audi taking back the title of fastest family car on a race track.