April launch for Audi’s new RS4 Avant

AUDI Australia is eyeing an April launch for its hot mid-size RS4 Avant wagon that is expected to land in local showrooms with similar pricing and specification to its RS5 coupe sibling that goes on sale this week.

Speaking to GoAuto at the Australian introduction of the new-generation RS5, Audi Australia product planning manager Peter Strudwicke confirmed that “pricing (of the RS4) will be kind of in the ballpark (of RS5)”, which starts at $156,600 before-on road costs.

With the previous-generation RS4 sitting $6216 below the equivalent $157,226 RS5 in 2015, Audi’s new wicked wagon has a strong chance of wearing a pricetag south of the $150,000 mark – the first time since 2014 it would do so.

The new RS4 Avant will share the same drivetrain as the RS5, powered by a 2.9-litre biturbo V6 engine that produces 331kW of power and 600Nm of torque – matching the 331kW developed from its 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8-powered predecessor and increasing torque by 170Nm.

Although the RS4 is likely to be the more affordable option of the two mid-sizers, Mr Strudwicke said the RS5 would likely remain the customer favourite, based on historic sales.

“If you look at when they were both on sale, RS5 had a little bit higher mix than RS4, and I suspect that might stay pretty similar,” he said. “But they’re both good products for us.”

With power sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, the RS4’s 0-100km/h dash time is 0.2 seconds slower than the RS5 but it also tips the scales at about 125kg heavier.

Like the new RS5, expect the RS4 Avant to arrive in local showrooms with a suite of advanced driver assist and safety systems including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alert.

Heated sports seats, 8.3-inch infotainment display with satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, RS sports exhaust and Audi’s drive model select are also expected to be included as standard.

When asked whether the sedan body style could return to the RS4 nameplate – which was offered on the second-generation version between 2006 and 2008 – Mr Strudwicke did not rule out the possibility and said the four-door “did really well in Australia”.

“We can’t confirm or deny any future body styles,” he said. “Avant is the traditional, iconic RS model and so that is something we really focus on.

“Avants are stronger in Europe compared to sedans, so they like to focus on that for their markets as well.”

Mr Strudwicke said high-performance wagons have been closely linked to Audi since the introduction of the RS2 Avant – the brand’s first RS model – and have been offered in each of the four generations of RS4 and its larger RS6 sibling since.

“It’s an Audi thing – it does very well for us – it’s very recognisable as an Audi performance car if you have a high-performance wagon,” he said.

“Others are obviously doing that as well but we were the ones that, I guess, started it with the Audi RS2.”

Although compatriot rival BMW do not offer its M3 hero in a more practical wagon shape, tuning-company Alpina sells the uprated B3 S Touring for $149,900.

Mercedes-Benz on the other hand, has offered big-booted, AMG-fettled versions of its mid-size C-Class since 2002 and the introduction of the C32 AMG, followed by the 2008 C63 AMG and its successor.