Audi RS4 goes up against BMW M3

Retrospection: here's what Bulgaria wrote 20 years ag magazin de piese auto online.

Audi RS4 goes up against BMW M3

The term "high-speed concept" sounds like technology from the realm of washing machines or juicers... But it's not.

In this case, it is the principle followed by the creators of the engine of the new Audi RS4 in search of maximum power. Considering the capabilities of the unit, quite appropriate names for the principle in question would also be “permanent victory system” or “automatic pole position”. The engine technology is practically identical to that used in the units of the sheet metal cars with which Audi won Le Mans and a bunch of other trophies around the world, and its technical characteristics significantly exceed the capabilities of the RS4’s direct competitors. The 4.2-liter V8 of the Ingolstadt athlete develops a maximum power of 420 hp – significantly more than what the BMW M3 and Mercedes C 55 AMG offer. The torque of 430 Newton meters is also good, since even a proven athlete like the Porsche Carrera S has “only” 400 Nm. Even more telling are the dynamic performance figures of the RS4, which ranks among the extremely few sedans that accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 5 seconds. What’s more, the value of 4.8 seconds puts it directly in the company of Lamborghini and Ferrari (Gallardo – 4.2 seconds, F360 Spider – 4.6 seconds).

FSI-arpream does not hesitate to cross the 8000 rpm mark

This is where the advantages of the aforementioned “high-revving concept” come into play. The eight-cylinder engine reaches its maximum power at 7,800 rpm, but the FSI engine does not hesitate and boldly crosses the 8,000 rpm mark in serious situations where every last tenth of a second must be squeezed out. In this case, the FSI system (Fuel Stratified Injection) is not so much aimed at reducing consumption as at improving the charging of the unusually long-stroke RS engine and the resulting increase in power and torque at low revs.

In practice, this means that the super sports A4 starts its smooth and powerful drive from idle, picks up speed assertively and with a thick sound, urging the driver to change to the next gear with a hiss. Combined with (unlike the “civilian” A4) extremely “short” gear ratios of the transmission, sprints never last too long. The pleasure of the dialogue with the gearbox is somewhat spoiled only by the not very precise guidance of the gear lever. In any case, the gallop ends when the usual limit of 250 km/h is reached, although according to the creators of the RS4, the tires used allow for a higher speed.

The suspension resources of the Ingolstadt road car also do not seem to be exhausted, although the rather serious (for a model with sporting ambitions) weight of 1.6 tons is clearly felt in the behavior of the front axle. However, the tight setting and measures to reduce body vibrations in corners and during sudden braking and starting ensure stable and precise behavior.

It's just a shame that Audi has applied the "high-revving concept" to pricing as well - in Germany the new RS4 will be available for no less than 70,000 euros...

Car parts AutoPower
Car parts AutoPower

The term "high-speed concept" sounds like technology from the realm of washing machines or juicers

In this case, it is the principle followed by the creators of the engine of the new Audi RS4 in search of maximum power