Audi RS4 test drive since 2005 sedan

The blow on the spot

Four leading wheels, four chairs and eight Audi RS4 cylinders can make you think about the advisability of acquiring Porsche
In 2000, Guy Richie shot a large Kush action movie, where Brad Pitt played one of the leading roles of Gypsy Mickey. Rebel and arrogant Mickey once stuck into history. Instead of keeping his emotions on the castle, Mickey stood on a fight with a magnificent George Verzila from the world of illegal fights. Looking at him, it is easy to imagine how quickly they had to make a chop from Mickey. But the fact is that this thin guy nicknamed the master of one blow that he confirmed this time. One blow and smashed George in the hospital with a head injury. I remembered Mickey because I had just swept in his four -wheeled double Audi RS4. A car that looks almost like an ordinary Audi A4, but knocks down almost like Porsche 911.
 
Starting with history. In 1994, the first Audi car appeared with the RS designation. The Audi 80 station wagon, created for respectable European families, implanted 2.2- a liter turbo engine with a capacity of 315 hp, a 6-speed manual man transmission, all-wheel drive Quattro and steep brakes with a stigma Porsche. Something has changed in appearance and salon, but the most important thing is dynamics. Acceleration to the first hundred occupied 5.4 with even by current standards the result of impressive. In 1999, Audi produces another RS4 signal universal. Conceptually, he was a copy of the RS2, but due to greater power and excellent technologies, he rode more abruptly than another Porsche. The secret of his stunning dynamics is a 380-horsepower biturboatotor, which dispersed the car to 100 km/h for 4.9 s. Tuning versions were like a solid leather sofa with a jet engine, but the RS4 lacked a little quickness in corners. Due to the heavy engine located in front of the front axle and a full-wheel drive transmission with a symmetrical distribution of torque, the RS4 controllability became a stumbling block in a dispute with the BMW M3. Therefore, the development of a new RS4 was conducted under the control of a nutritionist. But before, in 2002, the Audi RS6 replenishment happened in the RS series. The first RS with a body sedan and automatic transmission. There is a station wagon, but the sedan was perceived by the target audience with enthusiasm. In terms of energy supply, he put on the shoulder blades even seemingly invincible BMW M5. Motor 4.2 V8 with two turbines issued 450 hp. And 560 nm, so accelerating from a place to 100 km/h faster than 5 s for RS6 is not a problem. A full-wheel drive system helped on a wet road, and the machine and suspension with the Magnetic Ride shock absorbers provided the car in the comfort of the business class. However, the turns became even more insidious, and the increase in fuel prices questioned the idea with turbines. Nevertheless, the news of the change of motor concept for the new RS4 turned out to be a sensation. Farewell, turbines, long live the atmospheric engine! Once this was said in BMW, but we did not expect such a step from Audi, whose sports traditions go back to the turbocharged Quattro. Does fuel consumption really matter for the real Drivers Car? Today it is, but there is another opinion about the radical change in the concept of engineering.
 
Designation 4.2 V8 seems familiar, numbers 420 hp. And 430 Nm also hint at the RS family, but take a look at the characterization of the power set: the maximum return is reached at 7800 rpm, and the revolutionary restriction is 8250 rpm! In the civil sense, these are prohibitive speeds of the crankshaft of the 8-cylinder engine. Honda does something similar for Type-R versions, but it seems that the Japanese are better to stand on the sidelines with their 2-liter four. The only 5.0 V10 competitor from the BMW M. It has the same liter power and is spinning to the same high revolutions, but there are nuances that make the Audi engine talk to an excellent degree. About them a little later, but for now you can summarize the first results.
 
So, why was an atmospheric motor chosen for the new RS4? Firstly, because the current Audi technologies (we are not only talking about the direct fuel of FSI fuel) make it possible to achieve high power without the use of a complex, bulky and heavy turbocharging system. Secondly, here we must pay tribute to the FSI, the RS engine has unprecedented for V8 fuel efficiency. Thirdly, this 4.2 V8 is more compact and easier than the previous 2.7 V6 Biturbo! So now the RS concept implies not only power and drives, but also high technologies. And it doesn't look like a gypsy Mickey
 
Appearance, as before, hides the true agility of the car. You look at RS4 and think: here is the Audi A4, only something in it is wrong. As if an excellent student, who always avoided physical education lessons, pulled on one hand ten times after the summer holidays. No, perhaps, all twenty. At the same time, his appearance almost did not change, but his strength increased significantly. So the Audi RS4 was built in the same body as the A4, but the wings were heard in width, which made the thresholds and bumers. A barely noticeable spoiler appeared on the lid of the trunk, and two large performing pipe systems peek out from under the spoiler of the rear bumper. But, of course, the main thing in the appearance of 19-inch wheels with a dimension of 255/40 ZR19. Sports brakes are visible through the discs: 8-piston calipers in front and 4-piston from behind. It looks impressive. It works even better.
 
From the car interior for 130 thousand dollars, we have the right to expect something special. Especially when it comes to Audi. But, looking at the front panel, it becomes clear that such money is asked not for fashionable trinkets in the cabin. Do not think anything bad: as before, the Audi interior enhances the feeling of presence in an expensive car. There is a soft vinyl, proper ergonomics, the smell of quality skin. But there are few sports attributes: the steering wheel of the S-Line series, a convenient leather-aluminum ball of the KP selector and decorative finish by carbon. The instrument panel is also original, with a speedometer marking up to 310 km/h and a color display of the on -board computer. But the first and most importantly that you celebrate, settling in the place of the driver or passenger, a chair. Grimila George would not have crawled into such a thing or could not get out of him. The profile with severe lateral support immediately makes it clear: you are sitting in a steep car. And if there is not enough thrill, the side rollers can be pressed using electroregulation. The machine itself can squeeze you in a vice if you press the S button. The same button exposes the nerve endings of the gas distribution system and makes the sound of the release even more threatening. After the engine start button, button S is the best in RS4!
 
The engine starts with such a sound, as if his grandfather was a loud rude 5.7 V8 from Corvette. He begins to grumble from idle, and if you throw the arrow up to 5000 rpm, then the crows fall from the heart attack. But when an echo from low -frequency grumbling 4.2 V8 will subside, you will already be far away. Up to 100 km/h RS4 accelerates 4.8 C as quickly as the supercar Porsche 997 Carrera S. Start from the revolutions when the voice of the V8 fights birds and you will get the coveted darkening in the eyes. Full -wheel drive drives power into asphalt with such force that the slipping is extinguished in the bud, so acceleration develops frighteningly. The first gear ends soon, on the second you manage to notice that the motor is spinning quickly and it is time to push the third, then you look at the speedometer: 160 km/h came 16.6 after the start! But the mind has already sold to feelings, and the leg stubbornly tramples the gas pedal. The idea of \u200b\u200bthe maximum 250 km/h flashes in my head, but RS4 already hangs on an electronic collar of 250 km/h as a reality as suddenly as those 160 km/h. Reading these lines, you probably think that the RS4 is really very fast, but you are unlikely to imagine how much!
 
Now let's reduce the pace to check how this high -speed V8 will pull on the bottoms. Audi claims that 90% of the maximum 430 nm are available in the range from 2800 to 7600 rpm. We will drop to 2000 rpm, turn on the III program and we again rush as scalded, and the tachometer arrow is again selected to 8000 rpm! The same story on IV, V and even VI programs. It is difficult to believe in this, but the motor, which beats in ecstasy after 6000 rpm, also powerfully picks up at low speeds. The new creation of Audi engineers makes us talk about itself to an excellent degree, because in addition to a violent power set, this engine has a relatively modest appetite. And he also sounds like the god of all V8. At first he snorts displeasedly, then growls menacingly and finally roars like a distraught lion. If you turn on the S, V8 mode will become even louder.
 
The brakes are worthy of a separate story. But I don’t want to talk about them for a long time. Just because they work exactly as you expect. Powerful, effective, tired. But controllability has become a real revelation.
 
The sedan (as well as the station wagon and convertible) D with the V8 engine and all -wheel drive cannot turn with ease inherent in light hatchbacks or compartment. If I could, it would be like a focus, because a large motor in front of the front axle always prevented the quick passage of turns. But the Audi RS4 turns as easily and quickly as Golf GTI! Maybe it's about the correct diet of the suspension and engine or in redistribution of torque along the axes. Instead of the previous ratio of 50:50, the new RS4 has a priority on the rear axle 40:60. Add to this a light, responsive steering with organic effort, a suspension with shock absorbers Magnetic Ride, and it will become clear why the essence of the RS4 knocks down as a lightning speed as a master of one blow. From the first minutes, this car captures feelings and mind, and then does not continue to surprise. Crazy acceleration, adequate controllability and good comfort display RS4 to the leaders of hyperedans (as well as hyperuniversal and convertibles). This yellow gun hits right in the heart, so we are struck. On the spot.
Technical characteristics Audi RS4
Dimensions, mm 4586x1816x1415
Base, mm 2651
Type of engine gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 4163
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 420/7800
Max. moment, nm/rpm 430/5500
Mechanical transmission 6-speed
Max. Speed, km/h 250
Tires 255/40 R18*
Acceleration time 0-100 km, with 4.8
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km 13.4
Tank volume, l 63
* In the basic version.
 
Stanislav Goncharenko
Photo by the author
 
 

 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine