Audi RS4 to get supercharged V6, R8 V10 to remain NA
CAR sat down with a "high-placed Audi source" at the European launch of the Q5 and was able to pry out a few details about the automaker's future products.
To begin with, the next RS4 will use a retuned version of the supercharged, 3.0-liter V6 due to be fitted on the next S4. Audi's unnamed engineering mole said that the decision to go with the supercharged six was primarily to provide higher torque at lower RPMs. With the base engine putting out 290 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, it's assumed that the tweaked version should crest the 350 hp mark and just under 400 lb.-ft. of torque. How that will play in the inevitable comparison test between the RS4's V8-powered competition remains to be seen.
The A1 is still set to debut in 2010, but despite its aim at MINI, Audi won't resort to retro styling. Based off the next Polo, the A1 will spawn several variants, including three- and five-door hatches, a convertible and an off-roader. While Audi has no plans to build anything smaller than the A1, it does plan to increase the size of the A3, along with offering a Q3 CUV inspired by the Cross Coupe Quattro concept.
And what of the R8? The V10 version is on its way this fall, but a turbocharged variant isn't in the cards, nor is the V12 TDI. And while Audi has continued to deny that it's working on an R4, CAR's source says that there's still room in the automaker's lineup for another R-badged vehicle.
[Source: CAR]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rick 10:09AM (7/15/2008)
The pic is of an A4. I'm still sadened that we won't get the A1.
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dieselman 9:30AM (7/15/2008)
Sorry, but the info is not quite right...you've added a letter..it is S4 with the 350HP V6 supercharged engine...RS4 should get at least 420HP, as the last model.
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Damon Lavrinc 9:33AM (7/15/2008)
No:
www.autoblog.com/2008/06/27/audi-officially-unveils-supercharged-direct-inject-3-0l-tfsi-v6/
RazorBack 9:37AM (7/15/2008)
The 290hp unit is what is going into the next A6. The 350 version is for the S4. There is no way that Audi would drop the hp from 420 to 350 for their RS model. No way.
mkM3 10:06AM (7/15/2008)
Agree the the 350hp version will almost surely be in the S4. RS4 might still get a SC'd 6, but it would be at least 400hp I'd think, and probably much more. Personally, I think they will end up with a turbo V8 or perhaps a new SC V8 - for both the RS4 and the upcoming RS5 as well.
dieselman 12:01PM (7/15/2008)
well, yes...the S4 gets the 3.0 TFSI with 333-340HP, the RS4 gets either a 450HP V8, 4.2l or there will be no RS4...same for S5, there is the rumor it will also get the supercharged V6 instead of the V8, leaving the upcoming RS5 alone with the 4.2l V8, good for ~450HP.
Why 450HP for RS? Because BMW cooks a CSL that is supposed to get 450HP...
Chase 12:28PM (7/15/2008)
Audi is shooting for a area-under-curve approach as opposed to peak power. This motor will probably be about as quick as the current V8s.
Speaking from my own experience, its kind of like how the 2.0T in my GTI is about as about as fast as the VQ in a lot of Nissans. That's despite the massive difference in peak power. The RS4's motor is ultra-peaky, and this one is ultra-torquey, so they will probably yield similar performance.
RazorBack 1:19PM (7/15/2008)
"Peaky" is not something I have heard the 4.2 from the RS4/R8 called before. The torque is a plateau from 3k-6k, I don't see how that can be construed as peaky.
http://www.automobilemag.com/features/0704_audi_r8_rs4_dyno_test/index.html
MikeW 11:23PM (7/15/2008)
The R8 is totally 'peaky' (but makes more than 414hp)
They took out the dual length intake manifold.
S5
http://gallery.audiworld.com/gallery/album302/S5070018_medium?full=1
http://gallery.audiworld.com/gallery/album234/R8060014_medium?full=1
http://gallery.audiworld.com/gallery/album119/RS4050023?full=1
styleguy 9:34AM (7/15/2008)
I'm disappointed that we won't see an A1 here, or a V8 RS4. First, both BMW and Mercedes shoved V8s in their compact sedans. And Audi does now! If they want to help CAFE, they should bring the small A1, which would of course see high 30's for its mpg.
And as for the Q3, no one would spend 30G for a little wagon with a lift kit.
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Richard 9:49AM (7/15/2008)
In the "avant" format - with no hyperformance variant of a Subaru wagon in the US, this could be very enticing. My history of commentary on the truffle-hunting nature of Audi on turn-in not withstanding.
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111222333444 10:10AM (7/15/2008)
....I just don't understand one thing here..
The new A4 has been lunch in the rest of the world for a lonf time now, Now even lunch RS4 soon, But we still can't buy the new A4?
Audi...come on..
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Torrent 10:32AM (7/15/2008)
Gosh this is a good looking car.
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Seoultrain 10:56AM (7/15/2008)
This source is all over the place. He says the S5 will stay with the V8, while its virtual twin S4 gets a V6t? And it's because the S5 is less sporting than the S4?
I'll wait for official word.
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KazO 11:47AM (7/15/2008)
"won't resort to retro styling"? What 'retro styling' does Audi have to use if they wanted to? The NSU Prinz?
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turbo-quattro 12:40PM (7/15/2008)
I declare shenanigans.
Despite the fact that they will get more torque from a blown engine, there is no chance in hell they are dropping RS4 horsepower from 420hp to 350hp, a mere 10hp more than the current and last gen S4. Even the original RS4 back in 2000 had 380hp.
And the twin turbo V10 from the RS6 will be in the R8. Not a N/A engine like that "mole" says. Even the S8's V10 only puts out 450 hp, a mere 30 more than the current V8 R8. They have the technology to use the TT V10, it only seems logical that it will be used in their range-topping supercar.
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Matt 2:41PM (7/15/2008)
Well, the B5 RS4 had a TT V6 with 375hp. It would be amazing for Audi to have one engine with three versions used in the B8 A4, S4 and RS4, but it seems unlikely. This 'source' not two months ago also said the B8 S4 would be turbocharged AND supercharged. We obviously found out that wasn't true.
With no immediate plans to change the V8 out of the S5, it's pretty silly to think that the next-gen RS4 would be powered by anything other than a V8.
Do we even know if there will be a B8 RS4? I thought Audi said their gmbH division would only develop one RS model at a time for the US market. with the RS6 already out, and coming here (so far as I know), and the RS5 rumors running even more rampant than these TFSI V6 engine applications, I think we'll have a while to wait for the next RS4 to hit these shores. I'm really quite satisfied with my B7 RS4.
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montoym 8:27PM (7/15/2008)
VWAG is well known for having multiple output versions of its engines, they have been doing it for quite a while now.
It's not difficult to asume that there may be 3 power levels for the 3.0TFSI V6 engine. A 290hp one for the A6, a 350ish HP one for the S4, and a 420ish HP one for the RS4.
It's been done before, as mention by others. The B5 S4 shared the 2.7T with the A6 and both had 250hp. Audi also built a B5 RS4 with the same 2.7T, but with 380hp.
VW/Audi's 1.8T went through numerous iterations as well. Just in the US market alone, we had 150hp, 170, 180, 190, and 225hp versions. The current 2.0T is similar. That's the beauty of a forced induction engine, it's output can be changed somewhat easily. This seems to be the direction Audi wishes to go.
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MikeW 11:59PM (7/15/2008)
I could see VAG getting 350hp from tuning a supercharged engine (say adding Audi valvelift, the new 2.0 has it on the exhaust...)
But to get 420hp, it seems like they would have to add two turbos (keep the supercharger, call it Tri-Charger)