Autoblog

Audi reveals full details and specs for 2013 RS4 Avant

Zach Bowman — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Europe, Audi, Luxury

Audi has finally gotten around to serving up details on the company's 2013 RS4 Avant. Buyers can look forward to plopping their money down on a wagon with a full 450 horsepower served up by a naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine. With 317 pound-feet of torque on hand, the German manufacturer says its new long roof can sprint to 60 mph in a mere 4.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 174 mph. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox handles shifting duty, while Quattro all-wheel drive dumps the grunt to the ground. A sport rear differential will also be available to those who plan on doing more than setting grocery run records.

In addition to the galactic levels of thrust on hand, engineers have graced the RS4 Avant with new wave-design disc brakes, though ceramic stoppers are also available at extra cost. Audi says the new electromechanical power steering system helps give the driver additional feedback, while a quick 16:4 steering rack, massive stabilizer bars and a ride height that's nearly an inch lower than the standard A4 Avant help the machine handle twists in the tarmac. Sounds fun to us. Audi says the 2013 RS4 Avant will land in Germany starting this fall with an MSRP of €76,600 - a wallet-thumping $96,000 USD - a sum that goes a ways toward explaining why we don't expect it in North America. Check out the full press blast for all the juicy details.

Continue reading Audi reveals full details and specs for 2013 RS4 Avant

Audi reveals full details and specs for 2013 RS4 Avant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Audi RS4 Avant is the latest behatched forbidden fruit

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Audi

Cadillac admits it only needs to sell a half dozen CTS-V Sport Wagons to cover its development costs. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the 2013 Audi RS4 Avant. Audi execs have made it clear that its hottest midsize Avant won't be coming to the States anytime soon, so if you're particularly sensitive to forbidden fruit, stop reading now.

Like the RS5, the RS4 Avant packs Audi's meticulously crafted 4.2-liter V8 putting out 450 horsepower at a stratospheric 8,250 RPM and 317 pound-feet of torque from 4,000 to 6,000 RPM. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox sends power to Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, including a beefed up version of the S4's torque vectoring rear differential. The run to 60 blows past in the high four-second range and while the "standard" top speed is limited to 155 miles per hour, grease the palms at the Audi service department and you'll max out at 174 mph.

The 14.4-inch front rotors are framed by standard 19-inch lightweight wheels, with optional 14.9-inch carbon ceramic discs barely obscured by 20-inch hoops. A customizable, active suspension is fitted at all four corners, dropping the RS4 by nearly an inch over its standard Avant counterpart.

Pricing hasn't been set, but sales are due to begin this fall in Germany. And if Audi can make the case in the States, we hear the next generation could be a global model.

2013 Audi RS4 Avant is the latest behatched forbidden fruit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2013 Audi RS4 Avant headed to Geneva

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Audi

Downsizing? What downsizing? While rivals may be replacing cylinders with turbochargers - heck, even Audi itself has done that with the twin-turbo V8 succeeding the V10 in the S8 and such - the new RS4 is reportedly on its way in full-fat 4.2-liter V8 FSI trim.

The report comes courtesy of AMAG, the importer for Audi in Switzerland, which has confirmed that the RS4 Avant (oft spied in prototype guise) is scheduled to debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this coming March. Along with it, we're told to expect a series of new TSFI engines and an upgraded TT-RS with 360 horses.

As for the RS4 Avant, we're looking at 450 horsepower with all-wheel drive and enough cargo capacity to make any luxury crossover buyer reconsider (much like the S4 Avant pictured above, only more so). That is, buyers in Europe, anyway, as we're not expecting the RS4 to make the trek across the Atlantic.

2013 Audi RS4 Avant headed to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments