One more view on new RS4

[GrigoriRS]

IMHO could be fake.

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv? ... e=08557755

[SimonS4MTM]

Only a body kit nothing special, although it does appear to have an intercooler and a 3.0 badge on the back.

[JJRS4]

Hopefully it won't look like that. My guess its the S4 on test.

[chrisa1]

If this is a genuine photo, they can stick it where the sun dont shine.

[img]images/graemlins/flamethrower.gif[/img]

[s4dreamer]

I reckon there's a strong possibility that it's a fake.

Although it looks like it may have an intercooler, there's nothing else to indicate anything speshal about the car. In fact, why would they bother with those big wheels on it and _not_ bother with a full body kit too?

Okay, they may just be testing the engine out for durability etc, but you would think they'd need to test it is something like the body it'll be in.

Oh, and why not test it in an S4 shell rather than a 3.0 ? At least then the brakes and suspension will be reasonably well sorted rather than the sloppy things (relatively speaking) they put on the 3.0 ?

[Dippy]

I've not seen the pic (can't get thru our firewall), but don't forget that the first test vehicle for the B6 S4 was done by Cosworth crow-barring the V8 into the B5 body. Since it certainly is early days for B6 RS4 development, if all they're doing is what Cosworth did, then there is every reason to believe that this is a real test car.

[SimonS4MTM]

If they are only testsing the driveline components then there is no need for the car to look like an RS4.

Audi would simply pull one of the many test cars that they have in R&D and fit the necessary components for the test, namely the engine. They probably need to have the bumper fitted to help cooling but would not need anything else

[Conti]

On the one handside I'm happy that there are news from a new RS4. On the otherside I really hope it's only a S4 testdrive.
Ìf this car has 420bhp....<FORM METHOD=POST ACTION="http://forums.rs246.com/forums/dopoll.php"><INPUT TYPE=HIDDEN NAME="pollname" VALUE="1058372126Conti">
<p>Would u buy this car?
<input type="radio" name="option" value="1" />Yes, I would buy one!
<input type="radio" name="option" value="2" />Oh please, God make this car look better! BTW: No
<INPUT TYPE=Submit NAME=Submit VALUE="Abstimmen" class="buttons"></form>

[Reno]

i'd hoped audi would stick to A4 avant, which apparantely isn't the case [img]images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]
I've heard it's only coming with a tiptronic automatic gearbox as well[img]images/graemlins/033102bad_1_prv.gif[/img]

[Dippy]

Well I've seen the car now and it is obviously just an A4 test car. You can make no conclusions about what the RS4 would look like from this.

As to the engine, there has been plenty of information to suggest that Audi have prepared a 3.0 V6 biturbo. Originally there were rumours that this would be the engine for the B6 S4. I think that there is still a stong possibility that the engine could be chosen for the RS4, with somewhere over 400 bhp, because clearly it will easily fit! However I also have no doubt that Audi are also experimenting with a V8 biturbo for the RS4 too.

What I strongly doubt is that the RS4 will reach the US in 2004.

[Conti]

Oh please Audi, don't make Tiptronic or sth. else for the new RS4.
But if this is only a test what should it be good for than?
I don't see any reason for this. Very complicated:
Audi builds an RS4 (like the one on the photo). (380-400bhp)
And later Audi builds an SS4 (Super Sport) 420-470bhp!
But I really can't see any reason for this.
If we would ask Audi to answer all these they just would say: Sorry, no comments!
What about asking Oliver we could pump him for information more easy! [img]images/graemlins/062802beat_prv.gif[/img]

Cheers
Conti

[kante3]

My view is that it could be true (although the car in the picture would be very unlikely to be 'real' thing.

My knoweldge suggests that the RS6 will NOT (initially at least) be part of the new A6 line-up expected at the beginning of 2004 and therefore with an RS3 some way off this could potentially leave Audi without an "RS" car in their range. The A4 is now a tried and tested design so why the hell not - however its unlikely to geab headlines unless it comes with more than, say 420 bhp.

On the styling, well the RS6 hardly shouts its virtues, and I would expect a similarly subtle RS4 - BUT if this is what it was going to look like then I suspect they might at least use some disguise so I suspect its just being used to test the running gear.

At the end of the day I don't care what it looks like so long as it goes - I want one and I want one now!

[Riz_RS4]

I dont think that a 3.2 V6 bi-turbo unit is really adequate really considering that the rumoured RS3 will have a 3.2 V6 bi-turbo engine.

I would say its got to be a all new 3.5 or 4.0 V6 unit..... or more likely the RS6 V8 engine.

I think anything less than 500bhp is a waste. [img]images/graemlins/tung2.gif[/img]

[Carps]

Looks like waffle to me. A set of regular RS4 style wheels on a regular A4 3.0. The car doesn't even have body coloured lower panels (an option on the A4 B6), silver mirrors, let alone RS badging or wide body work.

If that is an RS4, they have let the badge down very badly.

[LittleSkull]

I read all the German, French, Italian, English and American car magazines and there is no talk of release of an RS4 at least until 2005 (basically there is no talk at all of a new RS4) and if Audi was planning to make it the German car mags would have definetly said something, but they don't so............what car after the [img]images/graemlins/rs4-button.jpg[/img] ???