New Audi RS4 Avant prices and specs

Audi has announced pricing details for the superfast RS4 Avant estate car, which is available to order from UK dealers now.

Launched at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the RS4 is the fastest version of the Audi A4, and its wild appearance doesn't hide its power. A riot of bulges, chiselled air intakes and swollen wheelarches, the RS4's bodywork leaves you in little doubt of the car's performance potential.

These athletic looks are warranted, because the RS4 has a 2.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V6 at its heart. It produces 444bhp, enough for a 0-62mph sprint of just 4.1 seconds. As a bonus, this engine represents a substantial weight saving over the previous 4.2-litre V8, with promised improvements in fuel economy and agility on a twisty road.

It has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph top speed, or 174mph if you pay £1,450 to have the restriction loosened. Of course, you'll need somewhere safe and legal to reach such speed, but if you do a set of large disc brakes framed by 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels will help you to help scrub off excess velocity.

These can be optionally upgraded to a ceramic brake setup, and other performance enhancements available includes an RS Sport suspension system with dynamic ride control, a sports exhaust system and dynamic steering. As with the previous RS4, Audi's quattro four-wheel drive system is used to maximise traction in greasy road conditions.

Prices start at £61,625, with an even more distinctive RS 4 Carbon Edition priced at £71,625.

To read Carbuyer's full review of the new Audi RS4, click here.

Audi RS4 Avant design

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Audi says it was influenced by its own sporting heritage when designing the RS4 Avant and the flat-topped flares over the rear wheels are clearly reminiscent of the iconic Quattro rally cars from the 1980s. Despite touches like these, the latest RS4 is very much a modern Audi rather than an exercise in retro styling, with the prominent ‘single frame’ front grille filled with the honeycomb mesh already seen on other recent Audi RS models

Matrix LED headlamps will be available for the RS4, with dark-tinted bezels to match the finish of the grilles. The headlamps are neighboured by additional intakes that penetrate the flared front wheelarches, which are fairly subtle compared to those at the rear. The wheelarch blisters make the RS4 60mm wider overall than a standard A4 Avant, and the 19-inch forged alloy wheels (20-inch items will be optional) fill the arches with little room to spare.

From the rear, the new RS4 is easily identified by a unique diffuser insert in the lower bumper, which is sculpted to accommodate big oval exhaust outlets, while a rear spoiler hangs above the rear screen. Matching the headlamps, the LED rear lights are flanked by vents leading from those swollen rear wheelarches. The show car is finished in pearl-effect Nogaro Blue – a colour that was available on the first-generation of RS4. It'll be an option when the new model hits the showroom.

Engine and performance

Although a big V8 engine added to the appeal of the outgoing car, the latest RS4's transition to V6 power shouldn't leave performance enthusiasts feeling short-changed. Audi claims that power and economy are both significantly boosted by the new engine.

The 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged engine produces 444bhp and means the RS4 Avant has the power to back up its athletic looks – its 4.1-second 0-62mph acceleration time is far quicker than its V8-powered predecessor's. This engine has already been seen in the Audi RS5 Coupe, where it stunned with a 3.9-second 0-62mph time; for the bulkier RS4 to come close to that is no mean feat.

Although the car is electronically limited to 155mph, an optional RS dynamic package offers a recalibrated 174mph speed limiter. You can also add a 'sport' rear differential for the permanent quattro four-wheel-drive system. An eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox is standard and Audi says the shift points have been optimised for the RS4. It may be less exciting than the business of going quickly, but a fuel-economy figure of 32.1mpg represents a big improvement over the outgoing car and the 199g/km CO2 emissions figure beats the previous V8's by 17%.

An 80kg weight reduction helps this – and bodes well for how the new RS4 will drive, too. The car sits on suspension 7mm lower than the standard sports suspension of other A4 models and Audi's 'drive select' system is fitted, enabling you to personalise steering and throttle response. There are also dynamic ride control settings if you choose the optional RS sports suspension. Ceramic brakes will be optional, too.

Interior and equipment

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The new RS4's interior is finished in black, with the honeycomb pattern of the exterior grilles reflected by an optional upholstery pattern. The driver sits behind a flat-bottomed steering wheel adorned with the RS emblem – also seen on the gearshift gate and illuminated door sill trims. Audi's 'virtual cockpit' is standard and includes extra RS-specific displays. These include g-forces, torque and tire pressures.

Three interior trim packages will be available – gloss-black, carbon and black or carbon with aluminium, while Audi's 'exclusive' personalisation program offers further scope for customisation.

Price and on-sale date

UK Audi dealers are now ready to take your RS4 order, with prices starting at £61,625. The distinctive Audi RS4 Carbon Edition is £10,000 more, at £71,625.