Audi’s fast wagon RS 4 Avant now sold in PHL
IT made its world debut in September 2017 as a 2018 model, and now, this fourth version of the Audi RS 4 Avant is available in the Philippines. Avant is Audi-speak for its wagon variants while RS designates the high-performance renditions of Audi models. The RS 4 identifies the model generations of the Audi A4 — including a sedan and a cabriolet — which were given the high-performance treatment.
While the two preceding RS 4s came with V8 engines, the latest model, like the original, is propelled by a V6. But this new 2.9-liter, twin-turbo TFSI engine is more powerful than any of the previous engines, outputting 450hp and 600Nm, with torque available from as low as 1,900rpm all the way up to 5,000rpm. These ratings, Audi said, are enough to send the car from a standstill to 100kph in 4.1 seconds, and to a top speed is 250kph. If this isn’t enough, an optional RS dynamic package is offered as an option, which bumps top speed up to 280kph.
As a high-performance Audi, the power is sent to the car maker’s proprietary Quattro permanent all-wheel drive train via a sport-tuned eight-speed automatic transmission. A rear sport differential is an option.
The standard RS sport suspension makes the RS 4 Avant sit seven millimeters lower than the basic model that’s already kitted with sport suspension. Numerous equipment upgrades like the RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control, ceramic brakes and RS-specific dynamic steering allow for individualized ride and handling tuning. The THOUGH performance-oriented, cabin of RS 4 Avant is subdued. Furniture include RS sport seats and a flatbottom, leather-wrapped sport steering wheel. car’s 19-inch forged aluminum wheels help in this regard, too. The optional 20-inch wheels offer an even more focused setup.
Roof edge spoiler creates distinctive rear end
Though capable of sports car levels of performance, the RS 4 Avant — like all its previous renditions — remains subtle, with clues about its capabilities supplied by wheel arches 39 millimeters wider than stock, air inlets with the RS honeycomb pattern, and the matte-black Singleframe grille. At the rear, an RS-specific diffuser insert, the oval tailpipes of the RS exhaust system, and the RS roof edge spoiler set the RS 4 Avant from the regular variant.
The car’s cabin, though performance-oriented, is just as subdued. Rendered mostly in black, the interior furniture includes RS sport seats with optional honeycomb pattern, a flat-bottom, leatherwrapped multifunction sport steering wheel, and RS decals on the shift gate and the illuminated doorsill trim. The car also gets Audi’s virtual cockpit and head-up display, but adds in RS-specific displays for g-force levels, tire pressure and torque output. Trim packages offer a choice of gloss black, carbon with aluminum attachments, and carbon with black attachments. Of course, there’s an enormous cargo space aft of the backseat — this is a wagon, remember?
Just a really fast one.