Audi RS4: Road test

AudiWorld has a road test with the Audi RS4.

Twenty-five point seven meters per second. This number kept bouncing around in my head as I playfully blipped the throttle of Audi’s new B7 RS 4. Twenty-five point seven meters per second is precisely the average speed of the RS 4’s 8 pistons as it’s humming along at a stratospheric 8250 RPM. That’s faster than any offering from BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, or Honda. In fact, no other production car has a higher mean piston speed. It even matches the world champion 19,000 RPM Renault RS25 F1 in terms of reciprocating velocity. This engine is no joke and exists solely to prove Audi can build a naturally aspirated engine among the world’s best.

It all started on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Germany’s Hockenheimring during Audi and quattro GmbH’s RS Driver’s Challenge. This world class event is held for owners of Audi’s RS cars to improve driving skills and car control within the confined environment of a Grand Prix racetrack. An RS owner in spirit (but not in reality), I was at Hockenheimring specifically to cover the RS Driver’s Challenge. Much to my delight, Audi elected to bring more than half a dozen new B7 RS 4’s to the event. After seeing an Imola Yellow RS 4 with Audi plates at my hotel the night before, I knew I was going to be spending much of the next day trying to talk my way into the driver’s seat.

I spent the next morning and early afternoon watching B5 RS 4’s, RS6’s, and a small handful of B7 RS 4’s circle around the track. It was very interesting to see the vastly different cars on the track all at the same time. Also entertaining were the B7 RS 4 safety/pace cars which led the first few laps of each session. These were the same specially prepared RS 4’s which I had seen earlier in the year at Le Mans – complete with modified exhaust systems, lowered suspensions and the requisite assortment of flashing lights, stickers, and safety equipment. The baritone bark of the safety cars made the standard production RS 4’s sound almost tame in comparison. As pace cars they are a worthy advertisement for Audi and really show off the beast that lies within. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the safety cars at 8,000+ RPM’s weren’t some of the sexiest V-8 noises I’ve ever heard.