New V8 Audi RS 4 Avant: Super station wagon!

Whether you call it a station wagon, an estate or a shooting brake, the fact remains that it is a car body type that tends to be more practical than sexy. But the new Audi RS 4 Avant with V8 power, the famous quattro all-wheel-drive system and plenty of toys looks better and probably plays much harder than the usual Labrador limo.

The naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 offers 444bhp and 317lb-ft of torque, does 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and it has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph which can be increased to 174mph. All this is mated to a seven-speed S tronic transmission. Combined fuel economy is 26.4mpg.

Power is split between the wheels at 40:60 but up to 70% of power can be channelled to the front and up to 85% to the rear wheels if need be. Traction control comes with a Sport mode and this can be fully deactivated for track use. Driver modes are Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual, all selected at the touch of a button.

Standard equipment includes DVD-based satellite navigation, Bluetooth mobile phone preparation, cruise control and Audi Music Interface iPod connection. Options include Dynamic Ride Control and dynamic steering and a sports exhaust. Polished 19-inch, 10-spoke wheels are home to internally ventilated disc brakes, or as an option, carbon fibre-ceramic disc brakes.

The optional sports package, at a cost of £2,250, offers 20-inch wheels with a rotor design in aluminium or titanium-look alloy, sports exhaust, Dynamic Ride Control and dynamic steering. It would cost £2,915 to add these extras individually.

The new V8 Audi RS 4 Avant is priced from £54,925 and deliveries are expected in autumn.











By Georgia Lewis

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