We
know it's wildly expensive for a small four-door sedan, but deep down inside, we can't help lusting after Audi's
awe-inspiring RS4. If you aren't yet convinced that this car is the best thing to happen to pavement so far this year,
Audi has produced a promotional film that might win you over.
Starring six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx
and his daughter Vanina (who is racing for Audi in the German DTM touring car series), the short film shows the duo
hot-lapping the Paul Ricard racetrack in France in a pair of RS4s. Even though the dialog is in French, the sound of
the RS4's V8 is all you really need to hear. You can watch the film at the Audi France website, here.
[Source: Audi via Le Blog Auto]
Video: Ickx père et fille thrash Audi's RS4
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Amir Sharifi @ Apr 20th 2006 7:21PM
The Audi RS4 is a car we'll be hearing more and more about. With its sporty interior, exterior and remarkable V8 420 bhp engine, it should have BMW's M3 breaking a little sweat.
TheRaven @ Apr 20th 2006 7:24PM
They were bouncing off the rev limiter an awful lot it sounded like. I do like the RS4 though, just way outside of the average enthusiasts price range.
Redman @ Apr 20th 2006 7:31PM
Sorry, but I'll keep my CTS-V. For the money the RS4 costs I could have bought my V, supercharged it (good for 550hp), and have enough money left over to buy a film crew to shoot a similar film but actually showing what racing looks like. I didn't even see or hear that car put to its limits.
Geoff @ Apr 20th 2006 7:47PM
Surely by CTS-V you are referring to some car that has not been released yet that you somehow have access to because you run an R&D lab for a large car manufacturer. This is the only explanation because there is no way you are talking about the Cadillac CTS-V.
Dave @ Apr 20th 2006 7:56PM
Nothing was really shown of the Audi's handling potential at all in there (unless you count the sound). The camera seemed much more intent on showing off the car's nose job than giving the viewer a reference point to really tell what the cars were *doing*. I have to agree with #3; the cars really weren't noticeably pushed. In fact, you could have had a couple senior citizens driving those around, adjusted the film speed and the soundtrack and the difference wouldn't be noticeable. If they had pushed the cars, added in a couple of corner drifts, countersteering, and perhaps some smoking tires, I'd be alot more impressed with the car. Stop the camera from panning for a few seconds so we can actually see the car enter and exit a corner, rather than just one or the other. *sigh* I'd go on, but I think I made my point (whether the point is valid or not... well....)
Mike O. @ Apr 20th 2006 8:13PM
#4
The CTS-V has been out for a while now. Perhaps you're thinking about the STS-V?
Redman @ Apr 20th 2006 8:19PM
Let's see:
Cadillac CTS-V versus Audi RS4
$50k vs. $75k
400hp vs. 420hp
395tq vs. 317tq
4.8s vs. 4.8s 0-60mph
16.0s vs. 16.6s 0-120mph
Of course the RS4 performance numbers are estimates from Audi because none of the magazines have gotten thier hands on one yet. Having been up close to the RS4 at the Frankfurt Motor Show I can tell you that the CTS-V has a much larger interior and trunk. Seems like a much greater value to me. Not sure where the $25k premium over the Audi S4 comes from?
Amir Sharifi @ Apr 20th 2006 8:28PM
I dont see the RS4 handling that great. After all it is a 3637 lb car. I see it more as a "go fast in a straight line" car. For a little cheaper, you can get a BMW M3 CSL, with this you have the ability to go fast and cut corners much faster than the RS4 would be able to. But after all, i havnt driven the RS4 or the M3 CSL so dont take my word for it. I owned a 3 Series at one time while my friend had a 2003 Audi S4 and it felt as if the BMW handled much better than the S4 seeing that it had a "boaty" feel to it.
LuboDuboLoL @ Apr 20th 2006 8:49PM
Dig the styling of the new RS4 but in terms of pricing, a CTS-V or G35 will do for me. The tail-lights ... almost copies of the new 4-door Civic 2006. Don't like em on the 06 Civic and don't like it on this one either.
chewy @ Apr 20th 2006 9:42PM
#7, the RS4 has been clocked by a European magazine at 0-62 mph (0-100 kph). As Car and Driver usually gets best times, I can see it go as fast as 4.2 seconds to 60. This is the video link for proof.
http://www.rs-quattro.de/forumupload/c55vsrs4.wmv. Watch the whole video even though it is in German. Plus the RS4 starts at 66 k, don't make up numbers. As you can see in the video the RS4 just blows right by the C55. And as you know the C55 is quicker than the CTSV. Proof.
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/8682/executive-adrenalators.html
(4.7 for C55 vs. 4.8 for CTSV)
Plus you get all wheel drive, exclusivity of only about couple of thousand sold in the US, and much better interior. You get what you pay for.
frank d @ Apr 20th 2006 9:44PM
So, lets look at both going against each other on the race track courtesy of top gear:
http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/hoons/top-gear-hoonage-cadillac-ctsv-vs-audi-s4-168654.php
chewy @ Apr 20th 2006 9:46PM
#9. The new A4/S4/RS4 came out before the new Civic did. There was even an Autoblog post about it a while back.
Chris @ Apr 20th 2006 10:18PM
Come on! The CTS-V is a great effort by GM, no doubt, but trying to do 0-60 in less than 5 with all that axle hop is quite challenging.
The RS4 is going to surprise a lot of people. It's a small volume, race-tuned road car that has done the Nurburgring is less than 8 minutes! Check the competition in that time range.
Not to mention it's civilized enough for a night on the town with your friends. Much more practical (and cheaper!) than a Cayman. Oh yeah, I forgot it also beat the Cayman around Top Gear's test track recently.
chewy @ Apr 20th 2006 10:24PM
Wow, the Top Gear video link was very funny. Ger-ma-ny. The CTSV does beat the S4, but we are talking about the RS4. It kept up pretty well with 340 hp, imagine how it will blow right by with 80 extra hp and less weight.
Redman @ Apr 20th 2006 10:31PM
#10, you're not going to see a $66k RS4 here in the states any time soon. I'd bet my house that most will be coming with the premium package. So my apologies, if you don't get the side airbags, it'll be $73.5k. While we are nickel and diming it, I paid $46k before sales tax for my V last year. That's a $27k difference.
Model code 8EC5X9 suggested retail $66,000
wsr/wxm premium package $4700
rear side airbags $350
gas guzzler tax $2100
destination $720
Although the C55 beat the V by 0.1 sec in 0-60, it did lose to the V in the quarter mile! Nevertheless, I don't doubt the RS4 will be faster than the V, I just don't think it'll be $25k faster. For that kind of money I'd rather save a little extra for the new M5 or E63.
Mike from Scarborough @ Apr 20th 2006 10:32PM
You have to be on Crack is your comparing anything from Cadilac to an Audi....
honestbob @ Apr 20th 2006 10:58PM
>16. You have to be on Crack is your comparing anything from Cadilac to an Audi....
Yeah, that extra $15 will get you a smaller car, similarly terrible depreciation, and extra constant electrical problems at no extra charge!
MNJ @ Apr 20th 2006 11:04PM
Redman, have you seen the Top Gear episode where Jeremy reviews the CTS? The car is rubbish. Americans cannot build cars like the Europeans and Japanese. You are crazy to compare it to the refinement and quality of an Audi. Not only is the RS4 superior, but I'd take a regular S4 for it in a heartbeat. Caddy interiors are still GM crap ... it still amuses me you buy a $50K Corvette and it comes with the same cheap GM steering wheel on the Cavalier (now Cobalt).
Bottom line ... horsepower and numbers do not a car make. It's the handling, the feel, the refinement ... the intangibles that American makers can't match.
"The corner is as strange to Americans as a small meal or a President who can spell. American cars run off and cry when they see one." — Richard Hammond, "Top Gear"
joe @ Apr 20th 2006 11:06PM
S4 and "boaty" feeling...! Never had a better handling car than that and been driving BMW, Infiniti, Acura and Honda, and the best quality build as well. This RS4 will be kicking serious butt...
chewy @ Apr 20th 2006 11:22PM
#17. The previous RS car in the US, the RS6 has held its value pretty well. Quick serch on Auto trader revealed this information:
We found 39 matches
2003 Audi RS6
$77,900 Highest price
$52,995 Lowest price
$66,570 Average price 16,130 drop from MSRP
Data for 2003 BMW M5:
$63,990 Highest price
$41,895 Lowest price
$53,867 Average price 16,533 drop from MSRP