Say it ain't so. One of our favorite cars in recent memory might be going out of production. Autocar UK is saying that Audi has pulled the plug on the sweet RS4 supersedan. According to them, the convertible and wagon versions are still being produced, but they don't know for how long. With the new RS6 and RS5 on the horizon, it's possible Audi has decided to cut RS4 production to gear up for those new models, but the RS4 has been pretty successful for automaker by all accounts and it seems surprising it would be cancelled altogether. Besides being one of the best driving vehicles on the planet, the V8 RS4 is also one of the best sounding vehicles made. Right up there with the Vantage and F430. The RS4 offers performance figures that are nearly the equal of those two sports cars as well, all while providing a back seat and proper trunk. The 414-hp RS4 sedan went on sale in the UK in October of 2005, and showed up in the States around summer 2006. That's a pretty short run for such a great car. With its rumored turbo V10, the RS6 will undoubtedly be awesome as well, but the RS4 will be sorely missed if this news is true.
[Source: Autocar]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Blake @ Jun 15th 2007 2:18PM
I think I'm going to cry. This is probably my favorite car right now...
ivan @ Aug 17th 2007 3:16AM
Me too, i really like that car, beats almost everyone. RS4 for ever, best sound ever.
robz4 @ Jun 15th 2007 2:34PM
Hmmm...The new M3 is coming soon and Audi is pulling the plug on the RS4. I was looking forward to the battle on the race track between those two.I hope is just that ..a rumor.
Atlanta Andy @ Jun 15th 2007 5:56PM
The M3 coupe is about to come out. There will be a delay before the four-door comes out. But I thought the States were about to receive the RS4 cabrio? Isn't this premature to kill of the current RS4--the best luxo-sport sedan in the world? I don't care for four doors, which is why I prefer the two-door ragtop. I'll have to settle (in Wonderland) on the S4.
nagmashot @ Jun 15th 2007 2:36PM
The B7 A4/S4/RS4 modle line is close to the end of its production life. The new A4 debut in atum this year at the IAA Frankfurt Motorshow. I am pretty sure they offer a new RS4 on the new chassie shared with the A5/S5/RS5...
ruggels @ Jun 15th 2007 2:54PM
You beat me to it, i agree 100%, moving the rs4 ro the s5 chasis will improve handling further and audi, i'm sure, will use the chance to eek a bit more out of the 4.2l mill, it was already spanking the last iteration of the i-6 powered m3s and I'd wager audi is preparing an increase in power and maybe decrease in weight ala the new tt's extensive use of aluminum to keep the crown
srivendel @ Jun 15th 2007 2:38PM
$70,000 is just too much money. At $55k, a car like this makes sense. But that extra fifteen grand puts it out of reach for many enthusiasts who might otherwise strive to reach for it. And those who can comfortably afford it are probably starting to look at Caymans and the like.
Ted @ Jun 15th 2007 2:55PM
srivendel,
Agreed on the price thing....better suspension and a V8 can not possibly justify the $30,000 premium over a more pedestrian A4.
-ted
kyler @ Jun 15th 2007 2:57PM
55k for a 414-hp Audi? You are dreaming...
mark davis @ Jun 16th 2007 11:10AM
I disagree... This car is quite the automobile and is superior to the BMW's in many regards ( and well worth the 70 grand). I have heard rumors they are starting from scratch because of the platform change and have a few unexpected changes in store for the new model. Audi rules!!!
srivendel @ Jun 15th 2007 3:06PM
Really? I can get a 300hp BMW for $41k. That's $137 per hp. So, if we're pricing purely based on hp figures, a 414hp BMW should cost $56,579. Why am I dreaming, again?
testa di cazzo @ Jun 15th 2007 3:11PM
Because the new M3 is going to cost as much as (if not more than) the RS4 also. You can't go for dollars per HP for car pricing, its just not how it works. Otherwise, the Bugatti Veyron wouldnt cost more than $100,000
srivendel @ Jun 15th 2007 3:17PM
Hey, I'm just using kyler's logic.
Mattlach @ Jun 15th 2007 3:33PM
What you are not considering in the price difference is the quantity of cars sold. What really drives up the cost is the R&D work.
On a mainstream car that sells in huge quantities this cost is spread out over all the cars sold. Even with relativley small changes (let alonge completely re-done suspension, engines, transmission etc.) R&D costs rise quickly. When you are only selling limited numbers of cars, the cost per vehicle goes up very fast.
I'd be willing to bet that the actual cost of making an RS4 over a regular A4 is on the order of roughly $10k per vehicle. The remaining $20k per vehicle is all R&D cost.
kyler @ Jun 15th 2007 3:38PM
I never said there was some magical logic/formula to figure out the price of the car... It's just seems to be a fact that you will not find an Audi with over 400hp for that price. At least not any time soon, on planet Earth. Sure, they could cut costs and use less premium materials to get down to 55k.... but then it would be more worthy of being badged a Lexus, in my opinion :)
BKadalur @ Jun 15th 2007 2:57PM
oh no....
say it ain't so........
RoadRunnerSTi @ Jun 15th 2007 3:12PM
Ted- you obviously have no clue at all what it takes to take an economy sedan and design it to handle all the extra weight, power, and twist that a V8 and it's supporting upgrades requires, along with designing it to survive the daily driving abuse the public will unlease on it. Or what it takes re-coupe R&D development costs on such a small volume car.
Your comment suggests all they did was shoe-horn a V8 in, slap a tighter suspension on it and called it a day.... what a joke...
There is a reason it is being recognized world wide as one of the best driving machines out there period. Don't hate just because you can't afford to play.
Ted @ Jun 15th 2007 7:15PM
What changes did they make to the chassis?
I was under the impression that the A4 unibody remained untouched....apart from the suspension and necessary modifications to hold the different driveline components.
That's the beauty of the car - the rigid and lightweight A4 chassis with a monster powerplant, and a suspension that controls the added body roll from the heavier V8 motor.
It's a great car.....I could afford a used one....but with a baby and saving for a bigger house, it wouldn't be the most responsible thing to do.
-ted
testa di cazzo @ Jun 15th 2007 3:14PM
RoadRunnerSTi is right on the mark
Torqued @ Jun 15th 2007 3:43PM
If the A4 is too pedestrian for you, but you're too poor to afford the exclusive RS4, Audi makes an S4 just for you.