The New RS4 Avant is the Aggressive Family Car We Need
We always seem to want what we can't have and the case of this new Audi RS4 is no exception... unless you live in Europe or beyond.
A Family Car with an Attitude
When you think about a family car, usually something like Volvo XC90, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Chevy Tahoe, or Honda Pilot comes to mind. I wouldn't have included the Audi RS4 Avant as part of the conversation. Why? Because it's too damn angry and doesn't obviously scream soccer, baseball, or carpool transport. But there it is, sitting among the best possible choices if you are looking for a car in which to chauffeur your family. This new offering from Ingolstadt will start popping up in European showrooms in early 2018 and it's no pushover when it comes to speed and power.
>>Join the conversation about the Audi RS4 Avant right here in Audiworld.com.
A Workhorse that will get you there in a Flash
The new RS4 Avant carries the same a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 that is already found in the RS5 Coupe and it grinds out 443 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. For those days you are running late to that regional soccer tournament in Norco, CA, you can hit the ground running from 0-62 mph in a 4.1-second dash. It can also reach a top speed of 155 mph, but the RS dynamic pack will push you up to 174 mph, a speed that would impress even Barry Allen on a fast day.
>>Join the conversation about the Audi RS4 Avant right here in Audiworld.com.
Drives like a dream
All of this power and your family and their sports gear is carried on an all-wheel drive system regulated by an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic. You can also opt for an Audi quattro sports rear differential which actively splits the torque between the wheels of the rear axle and enables your car to steer even more spontaneously and directly into bends, and produces a far more robust directional stability.
>>Join the conversation about the Audi RS4 Avant right here in Audiworld.com.
Extras extras read all about 'em
The RS4 standard package offers a sports suspension which makes it 7mm lower than a regular A4 Avant and Audi's renowned Drive Select driving mode system, which integrates the technical components that determine the quality of the driving experience, the engine, transmission, steering (optional), shock absorbers (optional) and the sport differential if you've opted to add it. Additional add-ons include Dynamic Ride Control, ceramic brakes, and sportier steering.
>>Join the conversation about the Audi RS4 Avant right here in Audiworld.com.
One mean look after another
Audi has suggested that it found design inspiration in the 710 hp 90 Quattro IMSA GTO which explains the large air inlets and carbon fiber effect sills at the front end. The wheel arches are wider and, at the rear, the huge diffuser set into the bumper is accompanied by hefty oval tailpipes and a roof spoiler—enhancements you won't expect to find on a Honda Odyssey or Nissan Altima.
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An illegal import
Despite the power and the looks, this is family car with a great deal of rear space in the back. The interior gives you that RS feeling with beefy sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, and can be trimmed in carbon fiber and aluminum if you want to pay a little extra. The Virtual Cockpit is standard and the display features Audi Sport graphics. This Audi family car will set you back €79,800, which is the equivalent of a little over $95,000 in U.S. dollars, but even doing the math would be utterly pointless since—surprise, surprise—this beauty won't be setting its wheels down on American soil anytime soon.
>>Join the conversation about the Audi RS4 Avant right here in Audiworld.com.
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