RS4 Avant
Said to have been inspired by the 90 quattro IMSA GTO that ruled the US IMSA GTO championship in 1989, the RS4 Avant also rates the sole Audi estate currently sold in South Africa, and like the model shown in Frankfurt, comes powered by a bi-turbocharged 2.9 TFSI V6 that produces 331kW/600Nm.
Tipping the scales at 80kg less than the previous V8 powered model, the RS4 will complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.1 seconds, and reach a limited top speed of 250km/h or 280km/h with the RS Dynamic Package added. Aside from the new engine, the RS4 drops the seven-speed S tronic gearbox for the eight-speed torque converter Tiptronic with drive again being routed to all four wheels via the brand’s quattro all-wheel drive system, albeit fitted with a mechanical centre differential can send as much as 60% of the available torque to the rear wheels.
Sitting 30mm closer to the ground than a regular A4 Avant, the RS4 comes fitted as standard with the multi-mode Audi Drive Select Dynamic system and RS exhaust system, but can optionally be specified with carbon ceramic brakes, the RS Sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control and RS Dynamic Steering.
Riding on forged 20-inch alloy wheels and further fitted with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Display instrument cluster as standard albeit with RS graphics, standard features includes RS Sport seats trimmed in Fine Nappa leather with diamond stitching, stainless pedals, MMI Navigation Plus, a black headliner, Park Assist with a reverse camera, a flat-bottom RS Sport steering wheel and a 3D Bang & Olufsen sound system.
RS5 Sportback
With the coupe having been on sale locally since 2017, the Sportback, which debuted in March last year at the New York Auto Show, mirrors its two-door sibling outside with the obvious expectation of the added doors, with aesthetics fixtures being made of the matt RS specific Singleframe honeycomb grille, a black lip spoiler with quattro badging, gloss black detailing, blistered wheel arches, oval exhaust outlets, an RS diffuser and 20-inch forged alloy wheels.
Inside, the Sportback comes with the RS Virtual Cockpit Display instrument cluster as standard, along with the Fine Nappa leather trimmed RS Sport seats, the flat-bottom RS multi-function steering wheel, black headliner, stainless pedals, the MMI Navigation Plus system and the 3D Bang & Olufsen sound system.
Like the coupe and RS4, power for the Sportback comes from the aforementioned twin-blown 2.9 TFSI V6 that makes an identical 331kW/600Nm. Teamed to the eight-speed Tiptronic ‘box and the same quattro all-wheel drive system, the Sportback will blitz the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 250km/h or 280km/h when specified with the RS Dynamic Package.
Standard on both models is a five year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan with the RS4 Avant retailing form R1 211 500 and the RS5 Sportback from R1 312 000.
