Audi RS4
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The Audi RS4 is the highest performance version of the company's A4, sitting above the S4 in the lineup.
B5 RS4 (2000–2002)
Audi introduced the first generation RS4 in 2000 as the successor to the fabled Porsche developed/RS2. The vehicle, like its predecessor, was available only as an Estate/Avant (station wagon), and was built on an existing platform, in this case the "B5" generation A4/S4. Base price was around 103,584 Deutsche Mark, and was available only to European customers.
Power came from a modified version of the B5 S4's 2.7 L, twin-turbocharged V6 engine tuned by Cosworth Technologies, featuring enlarged intake/exhaust ports on the cylinder heads,turbochargers and intercoolers, new induction and exhaust systems and a re-calibrated engine management system; a six-speed manual transmission and Audi's Quattro all wheel drive system were part of the package. The modifications were enough to bump the engine's power output from the 265 PS (195 kW/261 hp) and 350 Nm (257 ft·lbf) of the S4 to 380 PS (280 kW/375 hp) and 440 Nm (325 ft·lbf).
Even with a curb weight of 1620 kg (3568 lb), the RS4's powerful engine gave it the performance of a sports car. The 100 km/h (62 mph) mark could be reached in only 4.7 seconds and the 160 km/h (100 mph) could be achieved in just 11.6. Brakes were also developed in house by Audi/Cosworth Technolgies not by Porsche as with the RS2. It now has 360 mm (14.2 inches) rotors at the front and 312 mm (12.2 inches) at the rear gave the RS4 braking to match, needing less than 50 m (155 ft) to come to a full stop from a speed of 110 km/h (69 mph).
RS4 production stopped in 2001, although the last several units sold were registered as 2002 models.
B7 RS4 (2005—)
After a long hiatus, the second generation RS4, now built on Audi's "B7" A4 platform, became available to European customers in the Summer of 2005. Price is roughly 66,629€ in Europe. It was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January and will arrive in August 2006 in North America with a base price of $66,000.
The B7 RS4 is an almost complete departure from previous RS cars, as it will debut as a sedan, with an Avant and Convertible version coming later; only the RS6 has gone this route before, the previous RS4 and RS2 were available exclusively as Avants. In addition, power comes from an FSI equipped, naturally aspirated 4.2 L V8, whereas all previous RS cars have been turbocharged. Nonetheless, this engine is very powerful, producing a total output of 420 PS (309 kW/414 hp), over 100 PS/litre. The engine also produced 317 ft·lbf (430 N·m) of torque.
Audi factory numbers indicate that the vehicle will be able to go 0-100 km (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds. Since Audi's factory times tend to be conservative, most experts seem to agree that a time under 4.5 seconds is a likely possibility.
BMW's upcoming, V8 powered M3 will be the RS4's primary competitor based on its pricepoint and it being the only other vehicle in the class with as much emphasis on sporty driving as the RS4. Mercedes Benz's AMG variant of the C-Class (currently the C 55 AMG) also provides some secondary competition.
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