Audi RS4 test drive since 2005 sedan
Cubger of energy
420 forces and four leading wheels in a compact body - today the Audi RS4 is out of competition, it simply has no rivals in its class.
Although what classes can be discussed when the price tag is for $ 100,000, and under the hood - the aforementioned horse number. Such a car is a direct road to the cramped world of conquerors of the highest speeds, supercars. To where vehicles are evaluated by what they can do on the road. If I was asked what the appearance of the RS4 first captivates, I would not hesitate to answer: with dilated rear wings. The majestic arches and the 19-inch wheels deeply planted in them on spectacular double knitting needles look very exciting and, in my opinion, more clearly of other external data, indicate the strength and power of this devil in a yellow uniform.
How A4 has become buried, turning into a modification of RS! How solid was his tread! What a formidable purposeful expression his face was due to an aggressive bumper! And this song performs the engine when you play the gas pedal mmm ... to go crazy!
Many dream of such a car. But only a few decide to make this dream by their own. $ 112,000 is a large amount in itself, and to give so much for the converted A4 - such waste can afford only a notorious car gourmet, of which there are few in our country (and all over the world).
In the subpoor space of the RS4 - the latest development of motor skills of the Ingolstadt company, the V8 FSI, which is also installed on the new sports car of the company, R8. Turboidology of the previous generation RS has sunk into oblivion. Funny, this happened at the moment when competitors from BMW changed the atmospheric approach to the design of charged car cars for a turbocharged. The companies seemed to have changed places! Maybe it's a conspiracy? It is too early to think about the M3, but the result of the work of four rings suggests that the BMW will have to very well try so that their car is no worse than RS4. And RS4, meanwhile, came close to the M5. But back to the motor. The specific power of the 4.2-liter unit is 100 hp. for a liter of working volume. This means that the engine has a truly racing character, the motor must be twisted to go. But this is not hysterical V8 Ferrari, which simply requires promotion. The Germans remained true to themselves - 90% of the moment due to the variable phases falls on the range from 2250 to 7600 rpm. Therefore, if today you are not in the mood, you can safely stick the sixth and feel sick in your right row. But if there is a mood
I think about all this, sitting in a dense hug of a racing bucket. S6 and S8 can only dream of such chairs! Severe side support of the hips and trunk, shoulder support, leather upholstery and cool synthetic material. Plus, all the necessary electro -regulations and the ability to change the degree of lateral support.
On the central panel there is a button with Litera S. Click it and prepare for the exit to another dimension. The car carefully squeezes the side rollers of the chairs to your body by another 30% will make the accelerator pedal more acutely, hold the shock absorbers and open the additional shutters in the release system. Meanwhile, the hand nervously strokes the ball of a magnificent six -a -a.m., and the leg tries the clutch pedal. It's time to test these 4.8 seconds to hundreds and 16.6 seconds to 200 km/h. Are you ready to fly? By the way, it is not worth it to turn off the stabilization system yet, because it is tuned in a racing way. To begin with, we will send a rest to a rest of the ASR anti -watering system - so as not to strangle the engine in quick turns. Reade set Go! I twist the motor and try to smoothly, but quickly release the clutch pedal. It wasn’t there - the sedan twitches nervously, the engine for a moment falls out, the start should be recognized not just unsuccessful, but shameful! Well, we will try to figure out what is the matter.
Several times I slowly release the clutch pedal and find that the free move is large, and the disk closes only in the last third of the course. And he does it sharply enough. Great, try again. Now I choose a free move in advance, promote the motor and abruptly throw the clutch. An instantly a furious car cries on the rear wheels and, like a stone from a sling, breaks forward. The arrow soars along the scale of the tachometer, I enthusiastically watch how it approaches the limiter.
After 3,000 revolutions, the motor gives a confident traction, which turns into a rapid acceleration closer to 6500 turns and the existing acceleration insanity in the range from 6500 to 8250 rpm. Next, a short clutch pedal is followed - just on the mentioned third of its move. The amazingly clear gearbox mechanism allows you to stick the second without delay, and the car rushes forward more frantically! Having twisted the motor in the fourth gear, I sincerely regretted that I was not on the airfield of the airfield - it was time to slow down.
RS4 has amazing brake dynamics. Giant front perforated pancakes with a dead grip squeeze 8-piston calipers. Therefore, the car slows down. It is still necessary to learn how to fully use this potential - even when passing long -known turns, it is very difficult to force yourself to start slowing down a few meters later. But having mastered the art of braking on RS4, you can have fun, scaring passengers. Even if they are prevented, the effect in the form of an average shock is ensured. By the way, you can dose slowdown with micron. For such accuracy, gratitude is made by informative pedal. By the way, neither the S6 nor S8 here reaches their younger (or still the older, but less growth?) Brother. The RS4 has a system of active shock absorbers with a variable stiffness of Dynamic Ride Control. In a standard position, the car has acceptable comfort, but the rigidity and short -term suspension is obvious. However, large wheels easily roll along small flaws, without transmitting unnecessary information to the body. But on the waves, albeit small, the car elasticly throws the riders.
The rolls are small, even if the suspension is dissolved, the answers to the actions of the steering wheel are fast and very clear. Having clamped the suspension, the driver, of course, is in comfort, but it’s worth it - the RS4 habits acquire complete sports severity and deliver even more pleasure.
And how will the car behave in the maximum turn? Mindful of the slowness of the S-series models (including the S4 Avant, which we tested last year), I was waiting for a miracle from the latest RS4. After all, this is a car for a sophisticated driver, so it is not scary if her habits are dangerous if she will excite the blood in the turn, and not to swim to the nose, warning sitting at the wheel that he had recovered and went over at speed. It seems that Audi engineers thought in the same way - they endowed the Supercar sedan gambling. Of course, the settings of the chassis, the steering, the angles of the wheel installation do their own work when moving along the arc. But the merits of the full -wheel drive Quattro with asymmetric division of the moment into the axes should be recognized.
The rear axle accounts for 60% traction. This share allows the car with confidence to roll into turns of any steepness. Insufficient rotation is minimized. The help of the rear axle, which runs the nose in the turn, is obvious. On RS4 to provoke a drift is easier. You can do this with a banal handbrake, or counter -schedule, or adding a gas with a ruff of the steering wheel. The car willingly stands sideways into a controlled sliding.
RS4 is an honest sports projectile, especially if you turn off the stabilization system completely. But, as already mentioned, even in a semi -active state, it does not prevent an experienced driver from sliding, reminding itself of light brake impulses, when the situation is close to critical. Surprisingly, the hard suspension, the minimum passages of shock absorbers and wide wheels do not lead to the loss of course stability on the highway, even if it is broken and has rut. The machine holds the trajectory, requiring minimal operation of the steering wheel. The hydraulic wrap is competently configured - it does not bite the bagel in the bend, the feedback is consistent with the speed, it is determined into the direct near -alloy position unmistakably.
Three days of continuous burning of gasoline and oil were akin to the car so much that I began to think about joint escape abroad and the search for political asylum somewhere in the Nurburgring area. Fortunately, the power of attorney expired only in a dozen hours, and during this time to fly to RS4 to the border is a trifle business. However, common sense has prevailed. Yes, I fell in love, but love is not an eternal thing, I want to wait for the performance of his competitors. And also evaluate the magnificent V8 at work on the Audi R8. So the escape is postponed.
Audi RS4 prices and configurations
The list of standard equipment includes the ESP course stability system (unites ABS, EBV, ASR, EDS), Brems Assistent emergency braking system, sports suspension with a variable degree of damping, front and rear brake discs with perforation, airbags for a driver and front passenger with a two -stage passenger Activation system, aluminum casting wheels R18, sports leather steering wheel and front seats, carbon inserts in the decoration of the salon, finishing the ceiling with a black cloth, a radio with a CD player, an on-board computer, separate climate control, bixenon headlights, tire pressure sensor. The cost of the machine in the standard version is $ 119 089. Additionally, you can choose the wheel wheels R19, the color of the body and the cabin, as well as the decor elements.
Source: Motor magazine [November 2006]
