A4 gets brutal

Audi will put fire in the belly of the A4 compact executive this autumn with the new 414bhp RS4.

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Audi will put fire in the belly of the A4 compact executive this autumn with the new 414bhp RS4.

Likely to cost from around £50,000, the RS4 uses a 4.2-litre V8 engine to provide 34bhp more than its predecessor and a whopping 68bhp more than its BMW rival, the M3. The RS4 is nearly half a second quicker to 60mph than the M3 with a sprint time of 4.8sec. Top speed is, like the M3’s, restricted to 155mph.

Unlike the previous version, the new RS4 is not turbocharged. Instead it revs to a heady 8250rpm.

Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive is standard, but it sends more of its power than ever to the rear wheels. This, combined with heavily modified suspension, should make the RS4 the sharpest handling A4 yet built.

The RS4 is 30mm lower than a standard model. It has a wider track both front and rear, a more aggressive front bumper with added air intakes, and extra-large exhausts.

Expect a top level of specification to include electric leather seats, climate control, electric windows, parking sensors and a top-quality sound system.

One button will fire the engine up and another on the steering wheel will select a sportier driving mode with a sharper throttle response. Other buttons on the bucket seats inflate and deflate air-filled bolsters to occupants’ tastes.

• The new RS4 outpowers the current M3 by a significant margin but expect the next-generation version of the BMW, due in 2007, to close the gap with a similar V8 engine.