(QQ, Summer 2006) — The automotive market offers a plethora of choices. If you have the money, there is the car. Even if you do not have the money, witness the popularity of leasing vehicles, which lets you drive twice the car you can afford. All of the premium segment brands have offerings to suit almost any automotive taste. There are far more offerings than buyers as witnessed by how tough the competition is for the manufacturers, competing with each other for the buyer dollar. This competition is delivering to us some special cars.    

How to stand above the crowd and deliver a superb vehicle? Create a formula of outstanding performance in many parameters, well balanced across the spectrum of drivers' needs, set in a practical everyday ackage, built with the finest materials and craftsmanship, and featuring the most cutting edge of technological breakthroughs in many of the areas needed to push the envelope. This is the formula for the RS4.

Built by the perfectionists of quattro GmbH in Germany, this exceptional sedan requires twenty additional hours of hand labor to finish then its normal production-line brother, the S4.

Workers chosen to assemble the RS models are a select few, and consider it quite an honor to be among those allowed this work.

This new RS4 follows up on a legacy that started with the legendary Porsche-developed B4 RS2 Avant from 1995. That five-cylinder turbocharged 312 hp all-wheel-drive rocket ship is still a sought after cult car. With only 2,881 units sold worldwide, it was a rare sight on European roads, and alas, not for North America.

Quattro GmbH, founded in 1983, took on the project of creating a successor, the B5 based RS4 Avant. With a 380 hp, V6 twin turbo, and superb looks and handling, sold 6030 units, the B5 RS4 again was not for North America. In Europe, the resale value of B5 RS4s is holding its own and the cars still are highly prized (especially by car thieves).

Fortunately for us, Len Hunt, champion of the Audi brand, made the decision to import the outstanding RS6 sedan. Worldwide, over 8,081 RS6 models were built, with 85 percent sold as Avants and 15 percent as sedans.

According to the folks at Audi, quattro GmbH has already 4,500 units of the RS4 on the order books, with over 2,500 units produced to date. It is expected that there will be over 12,000 units built.

Unfortunately, due to the substantial costs to homologate a new model for North America, we will most likely not see the RS4 Avant and RS4 Cabriolet. 

What makes the RS4 so special? Well for one, most of the sheet metal is not shared with other B7 cars. The hood and widely flared fenders are of aluminum. The trunk lid incorporates a spoiler. The front bumper cap and spoiler are totally different, with a signature honeycomb grille.

The interior has many pieces of carbon-fiber trim. Metal brake, gas, footrest and clutch pedals add a racecar feel to the cabin.

The Recaro seats are special, upholstered with a colored welt on the outer seams and embossed with the RS4 logo on the seatbacks. .  The European model has thinner and more race-oriented front seats, and has a different steering wheel. According to Audi, these items were to expensive to homologate, as they would have required additional crash testing.

Mechanically, DRC (Dynamic Ride Control) suspension, first used on the RS6, is utilized here, with spectacular results. This system, licensed from Yamaha, ties the diagonal corners of the cars suspension struts to a reservoir of fluid that can equalize the hydraulic pressure to the struts on a real-time basis. The result is uncannily flat handling with almost no body roll.

The ESP system is specific for this model and can be disabled by the driver in two different and progressive stages. There is an “S” switch on the center console that changes the intake and throttle sensitivity and the baffles in the muffler. When engaged, the result is a lightening fast throttle response, and an exhaust tone that borders on the erotic. 

An oil temperature gauge is also standard, displaying the facts in the color MFI display. In fact, the entire instrument cluster is different and specific to the RS4. As a side note, the engine red line is lowered until the oil temperature reaches the normal operating point.

Brakes are RS4 specific, with 14.4 in. front ventilated and floating discs, clamped by an eight-piston four-pad Brembo alloy caliper, with the rear featuring 12.8 in. ventilated discs and the standard Audi rear caliper. An electronic brake force distribution system (EBD) is used as well. Eighteen-inch wheels are the minimum to clear these monster brakes, but we are fortunate to have 19 in. wheels fitted as standard here in North America.

Inside of the 255 cubic inch (4.2L) 420 hp small block FSI V8 are forged pistons and crankshaft, and sintered-metal connecting rods. Most of the other internal parts are also specific to this high-revving 8,250 rpm redlined engine. It was built to be as reliable as a normal V8, but with the driving capability of a race-bred car. Each of these engines is run-in and tested like no other Audi production-line motor. 

The first time I saw an RS4 on the streets in Germany was this past March. Of course as anAudi fan, I made sure to do a thorough “check it out.” I knew that someday I would have some seat time in one, and the intention was set to do just that. Well, as fate would have it, Audi decided to launch this car in my backyard and I was invited. 

Angeles Crest is our local windy mountain road, famous in motorcycle lore as well as funeral parlors. Each weekend the local sheriff’s department and highway patrol peel off the mountain sides the corpses  of riders and the hulks of vehicles that tried to defy thelaws of physics. Fortunately, between my motorcycles and my cars, I am quite familiar with these roads, as are other members of the Southern California chapter of ACNA, which has an annual drive up and over the Angeles Crest. Angeles Crest was also the favorite of my parents for their Sunday drives with the entire family. My fears are the locale constabulary and their speed-monitoring zeal, and errant drivers in their SUVs and Winnebagos. Audi prescribed that we test the RS4 cars on this marvelous road as part of a longer drive.

After a light breakfast, I teamed up with another scribe and chose the least likely to be noticed Avus Silver RS4 and headed out to the highway. I did not want to attract attention withan Imola Yellow or Misano Red car. Stealth was better for fast driving. Taking the car through the Pasadena city streets, I immediately felt comfortable. I was amazed at the compliance of the suspension, and how well the 19 inch wheels handled the potholes, expansion seams, and the myriad of road-surface irregularities. 

Also readily noticeable, was the reserve of torque, of which 90 percent is available from 2,250 to 7,000 rpm. One of my favorite tests for useable torque is to shift 1-3-5 or 2-4-6 instead of going through each gear. This engine was tractable all the time.

Heading up the 210 Freeway west to the Angeles Crest exit, we were able to wind out the engine and get a feel for the things to come. This puppy just loves to scream. Up onto the crest, and through each turn, we were able to explore the limits and push increasingly harder. Late braking into the turns let us sense the power of the clampers. These brakes are terrific. So too are the Pirelli P Zero tires. They produce fairly little noise and are very sticky and comfortable.

I am a believer in DRC—it works. This car handles so flat that it was a bit of a shock to eturn to my B7 Avant with the stock sport suspension. The price difference between an RS4 and an S4 is about $20,000. The DRC is worth a goodly portion of that difference. Like the B7 S4, the center differential is biased 40 percent front and 60 percent rear. This greatly reduces the understeer that is typical of Audi quattro cars.

Between the wonderful suspension, stunning brakes, and great tires, we found ourselves driving well over any normal stride. This RS4 just inspires total confidence. By the time we arrived at our destination, the Willow Springs race track, the grin on our faces could not be wiped off by any means. Fortunately for us, the highway patrol did not try.

After a brief discussion of the track with the crew of instructors, we were given the chance to drive a set of RS4 cars around the track, either following one of the instructors or running solo (our choice). I chose to follow one of them, and he was in an S4. He led the charge of four laps with each of them faster than the last. What a great chance to wring out this car.

By the second lap I was able to hit 130 mph before braking for turn one. All around the track, I could not get this car to misbehave. Quick transitions between turns were handled without any fuss. You really can drive this car from the showroom onto the track. What fun that was.

After a lunch, we made our way back via a different route. We crossed the mountains and did some canyon carving between Palmdale and Valencia. From Santa Clarita, we took the lesser traveled though equally appealing Little Tujunga Canyon to the 210 Freeway East, and back to Pasadena.

The RS4 was boundless fun. It was really hard to give up the keys that night.

Reflecting on the experience of the RS4 and the competition it faces, it seems that Audi and quattro GmbH have done a superb job of combining poise and performance in a useful and daily driver package.

This is a practical car and can shuttle the family to a picnic, and yet like the RS4 predecessor before, it can be driven like athoroughbred race car when required. I fantasized that if I had an RS4, I could ask my wife to do her shopping via Willow Springs each day, or add this track into my commute. Maybe just Angeles Crest would suffice.

The RS4 is loaded with goodies such as Sirius satellite radio, DVD navigation, sunroof, memory seats, etc. With the optional Premium package, the price is projected to be about $72k. This makes the RS4 about $20,000 less than a new BMW M5, but roughly equals the price  of a Porsche 911 C2. The new BMW V8 M3 is priced about the same as is the new AMG C63, and it, like the M3, is only rear drive. You can buy many models of cars for this kind of money. However, could you find such a practical and outstanding package offering all-weather performance for this price? Not from Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, or Mercedes.

Audi of North America will sell every one it imports. I strongly suggest you arrange for a test drive as soon as possible.