UK prices have just been finalised for the first ever Audi RS sun trap - the new RS 4 quattro Cabriolet - and also for the eagerly awaited Avant estate version with which it is currently sharing the limelight at the International Auto Show in Geneva. The RS 4 quattro Avant is now available to order for an OTR price of £51,780 OTR, and the RS 4 quattro Cabriolet becomes available on March 16th at £59,580 OTR. UK deliveries of both variants are set to begin in late summer.
Now at full strength, the first RS range in any segment in Audi history to offer a choice of three body styles is also notable for containing the world's fastest and most powerful compact executive saloon, medium-size four-seater cabriolet and medium-size estate car.
Specification for the new models is broadly similar to the RS 4 quattro Saloon that reaches its first UK customers this month, with the addition of matt aluminium roof rails for the Avant, and for the Cabriolet a 6 CD changer, DVD satellite navigation and a change from Valcona leather upholstery to Silk Nappa leather with contrast piping.
The naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine seen first in the RS 4 quattro Saloon provides the new Avant and Cabriolet versions with a maximum of 420PS at 7,800rpm and a torque peak of 430Nm at 5,500rpm, 90 per cent of which is available from 2,250rpm all the way to 7,600rpm.
Revving exceptionally freely to its 8,250rpm limit through the manual transmission's six ratios, this acclaimed unit gives all three versions breathtaking acceleration, the Avant and Cabriolet posting 0-62mph times just one tenth of a second down on the Saloon model at 4.9 seconds. All three versions are electronically limited to a 155mph maximum speed.
Throttle response can be maximised at the touch of a special Sports Button mounted within the steering wheel that adjusts the throttle control mapping when particularly sporting driving is required. At the same time, the Sports button also automatically inflates the driver's seat bolsters in Saloon and Avant models fitted with manually adjustable RS 4 bucket seats for optimum support.
The RS 4 quattro Cabriolet features electrically adjustable Recaro front sports seats in a more compact design that facilitates entry to the rear seats, helped by an 'easy entry function' that tilts the backrest and slides the base forward simultaneously for maximum accessibility. RS bucket seats with adaptive bolsters are available for the Cabriolet model as a no cost option.
Sitting 30mm lower than their standard A4 relatives, and with a wider front and rear track, the new RS 4 quattro models combine the latest generation quattro four-wheel-drive system featuring a torque split of 40:60 (front / rear) with a new lighter version of the Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) adaptive damping technology first seen in the RS 6 quattro. Together with exclusive RS sports suspension these systems permit exceptional handling precision and stability.
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