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Audi has today confirmed that its new RS 4 Cabriolet will go on sale in
Australia, completing the company’s ultimate supercar family.
The RS 4 Cabriolet will now join the RS 4 sedan, launched locally in May, and
the RS 4 Avant which will arrive in October this year.
The most powerful open-top car from Audi will be an exclusive limited edition
model for Australia. Just 25 units will be sold, priced at $187,500. The
vehicles are expected to arrive around January 2007.
Already, around 15 orders have been snapped up by keen customers.
The RS 4 Cabriolet puts Audi at the forefront of the four-seater convertible
segment. Never before has Audi built such a powerful cabriolet, combining motor
sport technology with the exhilaration of open-top driving.
Along with the highest level of sports performance, the RS 4 Cabriolet treats
its passengers to an unmistakeable acoustic experience. The throaty sound of the
4.2 FSI V8 engine will set pulses racing, and with the roof down, the hearty,
burbling engine note will reach the occupants' ears unfiltered for maximum
effect.
The electro-hydraulic hood can be opened entirely automatically in 21 seconds
and can be operated up to speeds of 30 km/h. The acoustic hood, a standard
feature of the RS 4 Cabriolet, sets new standards for soft tops. New fabrics of
a higher material density and an additional cushioned mat around the C-post keep
the noise level inside the car with the hood up virtually on a par with the
saloon.
The Audi RS 4 Cabriolet incorporates countless new features, many of them
with their origins in the world of motor sport. Most notably, there is the V8
engine with an output of 309 kW. The 420 bhp engine has a displacement of 4,163
cm3 and breaks through the magic barrier of 100 bhp per litre of swept volume.
The highly compact power unit reaches its peak torque of 430 Nm at 5,500 rpm.
90 percent of the total torque is available between 2,250 and 7,600 rpm. The
result is excellent pulling power at all times, enabling the driver to drive in
a relaxed style without frequent gear changes.
Even though the RS 4 Cabriolet's weight has been rigorously trimmed down to
maintain its excellent power-to-weight ratio, in common with all other RS 4
models, no corners have been cut with either its equipment or standards of
safety.
The improved crash strength of the latest A4 Cabriolet generation has
likewise benefited the open-top RS 4. The front and side airbags are standard
features, as are the rollover bars that extend behind the rear seats in the
event of the car overturning.
The standard specification of the new Cabriolet is the same as the highly
equipped Sedan and Avant models, however this very special vehicles also
features:
- Sports seats with electric adjustment and memory function for
- the driver. Also includes easy entry function for the rear.
- Silk Nappa leather with a choice of black or silver with contrasting
- piping.
- S4-style exterior mirrors in RS matt aluminium finish with automatic
- dimming and memory functions
- Front seat heating.
- Wind deflector
Each vehicle will also be identified with a limited edition ID plate.
Exterior Design
An RS 4 constitutes racing technology in civilian
garb. Visually, there is much that is reminiscent of the corresponding models in
the Audi A4 car line. But the RS 4 models are more than just faster versions of
Audi's successful midsize category. Both the technology beneath its bodywork and
countless details of its exterior design drive this fact home.
The diamond-pattern radiator grille, the additional air inlets in the front
end as well as wheels developed specifically for the RS 4 clearly differentiate
the car from a standard Audi A4. Flared sills and lower door trims coordinated
with the sills are other differentiating features.
The ride height has been lowered by 30 millimetres. The developers have also
widened the front and rear track, resulting in a widening of the vehicle body,
with correspondingly flared wheel arches.
The car not only sits more unwaveringly on the road as a result, but also
handles better.
The interior
Inside, the RS 4 combines the functionality of a
sports car with the
luxurious ambience so typical of all Audi models.
Leather, aluminium, and carbon fibre are the predominant materials. But at the
same time the RS 4 comes with all the additional qualities typical of a genuine
sports car.
This becomes clear as soon as you sit in it and is where the RS 4 Cabriolet
differs from its Avant and saloon counterparts. The Cabriolet comes with Sports
seats as standard, though the inflating RS bucket seats can be ordered as an
option at no extra cost. What all versions have in common is the flat-bottomed
RS sports steering wheel and the engine start button on the centre console.
These, too, provide echoes of motor sport, as do the aluminium pedals.
The Sport button on the steering wheel delivers even more dynamic performance
when required. The accelerator characteristic changes progressively, so the
engine is perceived to respond sooner.
The RS 4 represents the first time that a manufacturer has combined petrol
direct injection with a high-revving concept. Engine speeds of up to 8,250 rpm
are possible. Another highlight is the suspension with the latest generation of
quattro permanent four-wheel drive with asymmetric/dynamic torque split and
Dynamic Ride Control.
The new RS 4 Cabriolet will take its place at the top of the top-down market
in Australia, following its introduction in early 2007.
Pricing for Australia
Audi RS 4 sedan $164,500
Audi RS 4 Avant
$168,100
Audi RS 4 Cabriolet $ 187,500
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