Audi RS4 1:18 Black Lights Tuning Xenon 2008 Audi RS4 vs. 2009 Lexus IS-F
The Audi RS4 quattro is the top Tier and fastest performing version of the Audi A4 range (above the Audi S4) of cars. It is a sports-focused compact executive car produced by quattro GmbH, in limited numbers, for German car manufacturer - Audi AG, part of the larger Volkswagen Group. It slots above the Audi S4 as the fastest, most sports-focused model based on the A4's "B" chassis.
The original (B5) version was only produced as an "Avant", Audi's name for a estate car/station wagon. The second (B7) version was released initially as a saloon/sedan, with the Avant following a short while later. A Cabriolet version was subsequently added.
The "RS" initials stand for RennSport (German), and is Audi's highest trim level, positioned above the "S" model specification of Audi's regular model line-up. Like all Audi RS cars, the RS4 pioneers some of Audi's latest advanced technology, and could therefore be described as a halo vehicle. Furthermore, it is only available with Audi's Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel drive system.
Its main market competitors include the Cadillac CTS-V,BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.
The original B5 Audi RS4 Avant quattro (Typ 8D) was introduced by Audi in late 1999, for main production and sale from 2000, as the successor to the Porsche/quattro GmbH developed Audi RS2 Avant. The vehicle, like its RS2 predecessor, was available only as an Avant (estate/wagon), and was built on an existing platform, in this case the Volkswagen B5 platform shared with the A4 and S4. Retail price was around Deutsche Mark 103,584. The RS4 was available for sale in most of Europe, parts of Asia and in some Latin American countries.
Audi produced 6030 units between 1999 and 2001.
B5 Bodywork and styling
Although related to the B5 S4, many of the outer body panels are altered, with wider front and rear wheel arches, to allow for the wider track on the RS4. With unique front and rear bumpers, and side sills, the aerodynamic modifications achieve a drag co-efficient of Cd 0.34. Although the B5 S4 came in a saloon, the B5 Rs 4 was only available in the Avant version.
Luggage space is 390 L (13.8 cu ft) with the rear seats in the upright position, and 1,250 L (44.1 cu ft) with the seats folded flat.
B5 Powertrain
Power came from a modified version of the B5 S4's 2671 cc, 30V bi-turbo 90° V6 engine (early version: code ASJ, EU2 compliant, and later version: code AZR, to EU3 standard). This was tuned by Cosworth Technologies, and featuring enlarged intake/exhaust ports on the cylinder heads, two parallel turbochargers, and two side-mounted intercoolers, together with new induction and exhaust systems, and a re-calibrated engine management system. The modifications were enough to bump the engine's power output from the 265 PS (195 kW/261 bhp) and 400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) of the S4 - to 380 PS (279 kW/375 bhp) at 7000 rpm and 440 N·m (325 ft·lbf) at 6000 rpm. Engine management is controlled via a Bosch Motronic ME 7.1 engine control unit, utilising a drive by wire throttle. Fuel is delivered via multipoint sequential fuel injection, fueling rate assisted by air mass metering. Ignition uses six individual spark coils, utilising mapped direct ignition. The engine must only be lubricated with a low-viscosity fully-synthetic oil (meeting VW standard 503.01), as oil temperatures can reach 135 °C (275.0 °F). Oil temperature is managed by a dual oil:water cooler, and an oil:air cooler.
A six-speed 01E manual transmission (code FDP) (gear ratios - 1st: 3.500, 2nd: 1.889, 3rd: 1.320, 4th: 1.034, 5th: 0.806, 6th: 0.684), cooled by a NACA duct in the engine undertray, and Audi's Torsen T-2 quattro permanent four-wheel drive system were part of the package. Final drive ratio is 4.111.
Even with a kerb (curb) weight of 1,620 kg (3,571 lb), the RS4's powerful engine gave it the performance of a sports car. The 100 km/h (62 mph) dash could be reached in just 4.9 seconds, 160 km/h (99 mph) could be achieved in just 11.3, and 200 km/h (124 mph) could be reached in just 17.0. Top speed was electronically governed to 250 km/h (155 mph).
B5 Brakes, Wheels & Tyres
Brakes were also developed jointly in house by Audi and Cosworth Technologies, not by Porsche as with the RS2. It has 360 mm (14.17 in) x 32 mm (1.260 in) radially vented and floating iron discs at the front, with double-piston floating brake calipers, and 312 mm (12.28 in) x 22 mm (0.866 in) and a single-piston floating caliper at the rear, giving the RS4 braking to match, needing less than 50 m (164 ft) to come to a full stop from a speed of 110 km/h (68 mph).
Standard wheels are 18 inch alloys (8½ x18" "9-spoke"), with 255/35 ZR18 high performance tyres. Optional "winter" alloy wheels were also available, at 18 inch (7½Jx18"), with 225/40 R18 92V tyres.
Other B5 notable features
- "Sideguard", Audi's curtain airbag system.
- Xenon HID headlamps.
B7 (Typ 8E, 2006-2008)
After a long hiatus, the second Audi RS4 quattro (Typ 8E), built on Audi's "B7" A4 platform, by quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm, Germany (a wholly owned private subsidiary of Audi AG), was unveiled in February 2005 at Audi's 'quattro Night' celebration at the company headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany. The RS4 came down a replica of a ski jump then spun several times on an ice rink before coming to rest in the center of the ice. After several minutes to allow the assembled media and guests to examine the car, the RS4 climbed the ski jump and parked near the top. The ski jump was an homage to an audi commercial from 1986 where an Audi climbed a ski jump in Finland to showcase its superior traction due to the quattro drivetrain. The RS4 became available to European customers in mid 2006. It was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January, and arrived in June 2006 North America. There was no RS4 built on the Audi "B6" platform which served as the basis for the Audi A4 between 2001 and 2005.
The B7 RS4 is an almost complete departure from previous RS cars, as it was initially available as a saloon/sedan; with an Avant (estate/wagon), and Cabriolet (convertible) versions arriving later. Only the RS6 had taken this similar route (saloon and Avant) before; the previous RS4 and RS2 were available exclusively as Avants. The production run of the B7 RS4 was 2006 to 2008 inclusive, although only 2007 and 2008 model year were sold in the USA.
The B7 RS4 Cabriolet, available in Europe from late 2006, was made available as a model year 2008 vehicle in the USA.
Audi factory numbers indicate that the B7 RS4 saloon can accelerate from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds, and arrive at 200 km/h (125 mph) in 16.6 seconds. Many independent tests have shown that the stock B7 RS4 can readily achieve 0-60 mph times around 4.0 seconds. This is consistent with the pattern of conservatism that is usually found in Audi's official performance numbers. To date, approximately 10,000 B7 RS4s have been built of which around 1,700 are in the USA.
In the saloon, luggage space is 460 L (16.2 cu ft) with the rear seats in the upright position, and 833 L (29.4 cu ft) with the seats folded flat. Kerb (curb) weight of the saloon variant starts at 1,680 kg (3,704 lb) (dependent on specification). This results in a power-to-weight ratio of just 3.93 kilos per bhp.
B7 Powertrain
Power comes from a 4163 cc, V8 32-valve Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) petrol engine (code BNS). This is a highly reworked high-revving variant from the existing 4.2 L V8, having cylinder-direct fuel injection, and 4 valves per cylinder, instead of 5. It has two chain-driven double overhead camshafts (DOHC) per cylinder bank. It produces a total output of 420 PS (309 kW/414 bhp), over 100 PS (99 hp/74 kW) per litre. The engine also produces 430 N·m (317 ft·lbf) of torque, 90 percent of the total torque being available between 2,250 and 7,600 rpm. The engine breathes through four hi-flow sports catalytic converters, and exits via twin oval tail pipes with integral dynamic silencer/muffler valves. Engine management is controlled via a Bosch Motronic MED 9.1 engine control unit, utilising "Bosch E-Gas", a drive by wire throttle. Ignition uses eight individual spark coils, utilising mapped direct ignition, with triple-electrode spark plugs. Ignition timing is monitored with the aid of four knock sensors.
A six-speed Getrag manual gearbox (code JHM) is the only transmission available (gear ratios - 1st: 3.667, 2nd: 2.211, 3rd: 1.520, 4th: 1.133, 5th: 0.919, 6th: 0.778).
Another focus of the B7 RS4 was on the quattro permanent four-wheel drive, with the 'third generation' asymmetric/dynamic Torsen T-3 centre differential, featuring a 40:60 front-to-rear torque split under normal conditions. Audi stressed that this would result in a more neutral response in corners, and a more dynamic driving experience. Also more aggressive Torque Bias Ratio (TBR) was used and set to 4:1, as opposed to 2:1 on standard A4.[citation needed] That means that one side of the differential can handle up to 80% while the other side would have to only handle 20% of applied torque.
Front and rear axle differentials are conventional "open" types, 233with "Electronic Differential Lock" (EDL), with a final drive ratio of 4.111.
B7 Suspension & Steering
The B7 RS4 also incorporates Audi's "Dynamic Ride Control" (DRC) sports suspension mechanism, where a fluid mechanical linkage between diagonally opposing front and rear suspension dampers is used to counteract vehicle pitch and roll.
Speed sensitive "servotronic" variable electro-hydraulic power assisted steering is controlled from a compact flat-bottomed steering wheel, finished in perforated leather with mock-aluminium trim.
B7 Brakes, Wheels & Tyres
Standard brakes on the RS4 consist of cross-drilled, radially ventilated and floating 365 mm (14.37 in) iron front brake discs, with Brembo eight-piston calipers. These, along with the transmission, are supplied with a cooling airflow from NACA ducts mounted in the front undertray. A lighter "Audi Ceramic" drilled, vented and floating 380 mm (14.96 in) x 38 mm (1.496 in) Carbon/Ceramic composite front discs, with Brembo six-piston monobloc aluminium calipers were an option from 2007 model year onwards (and only with 19 inch wheels). These reduce unsprung weight, and improve steering response and handling as a result. Rear brakes are drilled, vented and floating 320 mm (12.60 in) x 22 mm (0.866 in) iron discs, with single piston floating caliper.
Standard wheels are 19 inch alloy wheels (9Jx19" ET29 "7-arm double spoke") with 255/35 ZR19 96Y ExtraLoad (XL) high performance tyres. A no-cost option of 18 inch alloy wheels (8½Jx18" "5-spoke design") with 255/40 ZR18 Y XL tyres was also available.
Other B7 notable features
- Lightweight aluminum front wings and bonnet.
- A BOSE 10-speaker sound system, with 190 Watt output and automatic dynamic noise compensation.
- A three-stage sports-biased Bosch ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme - standard full protection mode, increased slip mode, ESP fully off.
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
- "Xenon Plus" high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, with daytime running lamps.
- Engine starter button on centre console.
Other notable features to be found on cars for the European, South African and Australia/New Zealand markets, are the smaller, flat bottomed steering wheel (complete with "Sport" button), and the body-hugging Recaro shell-type race bucket seats, complete with electrically inflatable upper and lower side bolsters. These specific features are not available in North America.
Awards
In 2007, the Audi RS4 was the winner in the "World Performance Car" category of the International World Car of the Year (WCOTY). It beat illustrious rivals, including its larger sibling, the Audi S6, the Porsche 911 Turbo, Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari 599 GTB, and Jaguar XKR.
Speed World Challenge
The RS4 was planned to replace the RS6 in the Speed World Challenge, but Champion only made a Demo RS4 for exhibition purposes.
DTM
Also with the RS4 being a part of the A4 lineup the chassis is raced in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft racing series with a Honda derived V8 engine (MF308), with Neil Brown Engineering building the engines and Audisport doing the tuning.
British Superbikes
An RS4 was used in the British Superbike Championship for a number of years as the safety car, until it's replacement in 2008 by Audi's flagship sports car, the R8.
Italian Superstar Series
Audi RS4 quattro driver Gianni Morbidelli won 2008 Italian championship.
See also
External links
- Audi.com official corporate website
- "Sinister Beauty" an official Audi UK microsite site
- B7 RS4 forum B7 RS4 discussion forums at AudiWorld.com International Community
- RS forums at RS246.com - Dedicated to Audi S and RS Models
- RS4 forum at RS6.com International Community
- B7 RS4 Test Drive and Review at AudiWorld.com
- B7 RS4 world debut at quattro Night B7 RS4 world introduction at 'quattro Night' coverage by AudiWorld.com
- RS Forums Tyresmoke.Net RS Forums
