Is Audi RS going soft?

[nial335]

I've been reading this week's emailed newsletter from Autocar. Apart from reporting on the Geneva motorshow, they've written about some first drives in some new models. One of them was the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake, which is Jaguar's high performance estate. Apparently, Jaguar reckon on 0-60 in 4.6 seconds which, although quick, is not as quick as you might expect from a surpercharged 5 litre V8 pushing out 542 bhp. An RS6 would probably leave it for dead.

As it is the estate version, there was the inevitable comparison with the Audi RS Avants. This is what they said "Unlike the increasingly refined and limo like - if still devastatingly fast- Audis, this XFR-S is much more demonic". This post is not meant to be a dig at those who drive the current RS4 or RS6 but that is the last thing that I would have wanted to read about an Audi RS. I have always thought of Jaguars as old men's cars but it seems that Autocar are saying that a Jaguar is now more exciting than an Audi RS. I get the impression that Audi might be losing its way so far as RS models are concerned. Perhaps RS stands for Refined Speed rather than Raw Speed.

[HYFR]

Since when were RS cars ever exciting?!
They have always been subtle yet menacing and quattro is always safety first.

The XFR-S sport brake is RWD hence the 4.6secs.

Its a halo product to reinvigorate the Sport brake and Jaguar image, that of a younger and more sporty car....which does very well.

iMO, a Jag Sport brake S with Black pack is the best looking estate on the market

[nial335]

If RS cars weren't exciting the Audi RS forum probably wouldn't exist! I haven't seen an XFR-S but someone in my village has an XF estate and it looks like a dead boring Jaguar, and a very long one at that. A sporty one could be at risk of looking like mutton dressed up as lamb! Leaving that aside, the concern is that, if an RS was exciting, it is less exciting now.

[neilparf]

Sorry, Jaguar musters up tweed jackets, Golf, old blokes swigging ale and Arthur Daley. Even with the current crop of models, they still have a fair way to go to shed that image in my books.

Besides, what do TATA know about fast cars...

[Mr V10]

All TATA did was inject money into JLR. The latest JLR products are fantastic, and even diesel XF estates with the sporty bits looks great. The V8's sound great, too. My friend took my RS6 into JLR as was checking the wheel balancing for me, he gave it a few revs on request of people working there, so the tech working on the XF next to him (sure it was an XF, something with a big V8 anyway) did the same, and he said it blew my car away in the sound department, and that's a standard exhaust vs my Milltek.

Anyway, who cares what image/stereotype the brand may have associated with it, JLR products are uber cool IMO.

This certainly doesn't look like old man's car. And if this doesn't convince you, hit YouTube and listen to the noise the F Type R makes.

[nial335]

To me that looks like mutton dressed as lamb. Old man's car made to look like a boy racer. Just does not look right, colour, wheels, rear spoiler. Reminds me of a Monaro.

[Mr V10]

The reputation that RS Audi models have always had is. Safe, fast, built well, understeer a lot, sensible with a sort of bad edge. It's M/AMG products that are the tail out, smoke up the tyres hooligan type of motors that most would describe as 'exciting'. It's business as usual for quattro GmbH. Autocar know nothing anyway. Get an Evo subscription. Anyway, off to bed. G'night.

[neilparf]

To me that looks like mutton dressed as lamb. Old man's car made to look like a boy racer. Just does not look right, colour, wheels, rear spoiler. Reminds me of a Monaro.

+1 Either you like Jag or you don't period. Agreed - that just does not like right...

[neilparf]

All TATA did was inject money into JLR.

TATA purchased JLR in 2008, the Jaguar Land Rover company was established when Tata Motors acquired the Jaguar and Land Rover businesses from Ford...

[HYFR]

Well done, you get a blue peter badge

[adsgreen]

Problem with the jag (after driving both) is that the merc amg's are a better car all round.
Had a play against one in the rs4 on bendy roads and comfortably pulled away.

[hlbeckley]

F type coupe R FTW......same price as a specced RS5 in SA

[Nickyboy]

F type coupe R FTW......same price as a specced RS5 in SA

+1.

[HYFR]

The XF is a generation behind the current German crop.

New one next year.

[neilparf]

Well done, you get a blue peter badge

Cheers - love a badge...