It loses the naturally-aspirated V8, but the new force-fed V6 still makes the latest RS4 a superb drive.
Photos Joel Tam
The new Audi RS4 makes you wanna drive and drive, and then drive some more. A true drivers car will make you want to do that. But this isn’t just any drivers car. This is a spacious and reasonably comfortable wagon-styled performance car.
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Any privileged petrolhead will tell you that while track-focused machines like a Porsche GT3 or a Lotus Exige are simply out-of-this-world to pilot, their lack of practicality just makes them useless as everyday cars.
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Not so the RS4. Sure, it’s not as sharp as a bare bones sports car, but it more than makes up for that in many other areas.
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Like all other Audis we’ve driven, the immaculate fit and finish of the new RS4 are perfect. Compared to its competitors (BMW and Mercedes), the Audi achieves quality - and the appearance of it - through a cleaner, more modern design.
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The monochromatic theme is only slightly disrupted by some red stitching on the seats and a few tiny bits of red RS badging littered across the interior panels.
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Start up the new car and you’ll notice that the deep throaty V8 is gone. Replaced with a slightly ‘thinner’ sounding V6, the 2.9-litre unit makes a very meaty 450 bhp and 600 Nm of pure pulling power.
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On a cold start, the exhaust growl and idea boom is capable of waking up the neighbours. So that’s good, in a sadistic, I-like-my-cars-loud sort of way. Plus it’s stock, so it’s perfectly legal too.
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Storm the RS4 through your favourite roads and you'll immediately notice that the new car feels lighter than the model it replaces. Light and nimble, the sharp-looking wagon exhibit pin-point handling characteristics too.
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This is largely helped by the Quattro system that never fails to inspire confidence, whether in sunny or wet conditions. Steering feel is not overly artificial and feels well-balanced, but it did come across as a tad bit light.
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But I personally have always preferred a heavier steering weight. Nonetheless, it remains accurate, and all these combine in making the RS4 a wholesome car to pilot.
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The new RS4 is supercar-quick. 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and a limited top speed of 250 km/h. This means covering road space is a ridiculously simple task. Floor the accelerator and the German estate will hurtle down the road with a stupendous amount of pace.
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The new car feels clearly lighter than the old one, which allows it to react nimbly in a quick succession of turns and inputs made to the steering wheel. But it can also be a highway cruiser when in comfort mode. With all the space and practicality of a wagon, the RS4 still tops the charts on being an all-round family sports car.
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Given a choice, I'd still prefer the previous V8 RS4. I'm constantly dreaming of procuring a used example. Another one high on the list is the RS6. Don't get me wrong, I really love the new RS4. But while it is still high on the desirability scale, it will still have to slot below the former two.
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