Audi RS 4 — BrandWiki

Audi RS 4

Overview

First generation B5 (8D)

production	1999–2001‡R2R‡
assembly	Germany: Neckarsulm
predecessor	Audi RS2 Avant
successor	Audi B7 RS 4
body style	5-door Avant (estate/wagon)
platform	Volkswagen Group B5
engine	2.7 V6 biturbo
transmission

The Audi RS 4 is the high-performance variant of the Audi A4 range produced by Audi Sport GmbH for AUDI AG, a division of the Volkswagen Group. It sits above the Audi S4 as the fastest, most sports-focused car based on the A4's "B" automobile platform. The RS 4 was reintroduced in 2012, based on the A4 Avant instead of the sedan as did the original model.

The original B5 version was produced only as an Avant, Audi's name for an estate car/station wagon. The second version, the B7, was released initially as a four-door five-seat saloon/sedan, with the Avant following a short while later. A two-door four-seat Cabriolet version was subsequently added.

The "RS" initials are taken from the German RennSport—literally translated as "racing sport", and is the Audi marque's highest trim level, positioned above the "S" model specification of Audi's regular model line-up. Like other Audi "RS" cars, the RS 4 pioneers some of Audi's latest advanced technology. It is only available with Audi's Torsen-based "trademark" quattro permanent four-wheel drive system.

RS4 models have been produced for every generation of the A4 since 1999, with occasional gaps in production (2001-2006, 2008-2012 and 2015-2018)

Its main market competitors include the BMW M3

B8 (Typ 8K, 2012–2015)

The Audi RS 4 Avant quattro was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and was based on the B8 A4 Avant.[17] The RS 4 Avant uses the Volkswagen MLB platform, and shares the same powertrain as the RS 5 Coupé.

B8 bodywork and styling

Compared to the related B8 S4, the RS 4 features larger bumper air dams and features double exhaust tailpipes compared to the S4's double twin (quadruple) exhaust tailpipes. Wider arches allow for a wider axle and wheels. It also features a completely remodelled front bumper cover with honeycomb grill compared to the standard A4 and S4, as well as a remodelled rear bumper with honeycomb detailing and minor air diffuser. This generation also reverts to only being offered as an Avant.

The interior is largely the same but the flat-bottom steering wheel is covered entirely in perforated leather with RS badging on the steering wheel and gear stick. The interior dashboard and door liners are also detailed with carbon fibre inserts as standard although there were options to change this to aluminium or piano black.

SuperSport seats covered partly with leather part Alcantara were standard in the B8 RS 4 but as with the B7, there was a winged backed bucket seat option. It was also an option to order the seats covered entirely with leather.

B8 powertrain

The RS 4 is powered by a 4.2L FSI V8 engine producing 450 PS and 430 Nm, allowing the car to accelerate from 0 - 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The RS 4 Avant is available with a 7-speed dual-clutch S-Tronic transmission.

B8 brakes, wheels and tires

New for the B8 are 'wavy' vented and floating cast iron discs, 365 mm diameter and 345 mm thick, with 6-piston Brembo floating calipers, and at the rear 330 mm by 22 mm discs with a single-piston floating caliper.

The standard wheels were 19 inch with 235/40 R19 Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Optional 20" rotor design or 10 spoke alloy wheels were also available with 265/30ZR20 Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

Other B8 notable features

Amongst the options available for the B8 RS 4, are ceramic brakes, allowing the car to perform heavy braking without having brake fade.

A sports pack was available which included a Sports exhaust identifiable by black exhaust tips in the rear bumper, and Dynamic Ride Control suspension. The Sports pack also came with the 20" rotor design wheels as standard.

A total of 7000 units of the Audi B8 RS 4 were built.

RS4 Nogaro Selection Limited Edition

In February 2014, Audi announced a tribute to the original RS 2 Avant on its 20th anniversary by releasing a limited run of the Nogaro Selection Limited Edition. The changes were entirely cosmetic, with black trim and roof rails, red brake calipers, and blue Alcantara detailed interior (seats, door lining, blue carbon weave elements & blue stitching), as well as the limited edition Nogaro Blue exterior paint. It retailed at approximately 10% more than the standard model.

Some ~200 were manufactured, with approximately 39 in RHD being registered in the UK.

B7 powertrain

The 4163 cc 32v V8 engine of the B7 RS 4 is based on the previous 4163 cc all-alloy 40v V8 from the B6 S4, and shares many parts, and Fuel Stratified Injection, with the 4.2 FSI V8 engine in the Q7. The engine includes new cylinder block construction, and is a highly reworked, high-revving variant (redline at 8,000 rpm; rev limit of 8,250 rpm).[8]

The same engine base was used for the Audi R8 when Audi chose to build their first supercar. However, the camshaft drive system was moved to the front of the block for the mid-engine R8.

The engine has increased crankcase breathing, a low-pressure fuel return system and a baffled oil sump, to prevent engine lubricant cavitation at high engine speeds and high-G cornering. It has four valves per cylinder (instead of five on the earlier variant) and two overhead camshafts on each cylinder bank (making it "quad cam"), which are driven by roller chains with variable valve timing[11] for both inlet and exhaust camshafts,[7] along with a cast magnesium alloy fixed tract length intake manifold with adjustable tumble flaps (to improve low engine speed combustion). On 98 RON (93 AKI) Super-Unleaded petrol it produces 309 kW at 7,800 rpm,[7] giving it a specific power output of 74.2 kW per litre.[8] Based on a kerb weight of 1680 kg, this results in a power-to-weight ratio of 0.184 kW per kg. Exhaust gas escapes through two '4-into-2-into-1' fan-branch steel exhaust manifolds and four high-flow catalytic converters,[7] into twin oval tail pipes with dynamic silencer/muffler valves. The engine is controlled by two Bosch DI-Motronic[12] electronic engine control units (working as 'master' and 'slave', because of the high-revving nature of the engine). The ignition system uses eight individual single-spark coils using mapped direct ignition.[7] The saloon version produces 322-329 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g/km),[7] and the Avant starts from 324 g/km.

A 6-speed Getrag manual transmission[7][8] is the only transmission available. The gear ratios are 1st: 3.667, 2nd: 2.211, 3rd: 1.520, 4th: 1.133, 5th: 0.919, 6th: 0.778.[7]

The Audi B7 RS 4 was the only "RS" Audi powered by a naturally aspirated engine until the Audi RS5 was presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.