2008 Audi RS4 Has The Power
Monday, December 3rd, 2007
The new 2008 Audi RS4 is not the usual Audi luxury sedan that we are used to seeing. Not only does the RS4 have a more edgy and powerful look to it – but it also has a much more powerful V8 engine that sports 420 horsepower. For a compact luxury sedan we are pretty curious as to how well this vehicle can drive.
Audi has chosen to change things up for the New Year due to the increasing competition from BMW and Mercedes. Audi may have a hard time selling the new sedan though because of the high price that is attached to it.
The 2008 Audi RS 4 is a compact ultra-performance car based on the Audi A4, and it’s available in sedan and convertible body styles. Standard features include 19-inch wheels with 255/35 high-performance tires, Dynamic Ride Control suspension, xenon headlights, Recaro sport seats with power adjustment and front seat heaters. Silk napa leather upholstery, carbon-fiber cabin trim, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker audio system with six-disc CD changer, a sunroof and rear park assist are also standard.
A 4.2-liter V8 engine powers the RS 4. Equipped with direct fuel injection and sporting a 12.5:1 compression ratio, this powerhouse makes 420 hp and 317 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox (the only transmission offered) sends the power to all four wheels through Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system, which has a 40/60 front-to-rear power split in this application. During instrumented testing, an RS 4 sedan shot to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 13 seconds at 107 mph.
The navigation system isn’t the most user-friendly design, though. As a serious performance car, the S4 sedan has been given standard Recaro front seats, which feature aggressive bolstering to hold one in place when zipping around corners. Although the rear seat is fine for small children, adults seated back there will likely complain about a shortage of legroom. Of course, it’s a welcome amount of space compared to sports cars that offer similar performance.
With more than 400 hp and the grip of all-wheel drive, the 2008 Audi RS 4 has no problem driving in and out of tight spaces. With a broad torque spread, there’s always power on tap. Apart from the incredible acceleration, the RS 4 makes a strong showing in the braking and handling departments. Through the curves, the RS 4 is a composed master despite its hefty curb weight.
For those of you who don’t prefer a sedan you can always choose the convertible model. The interior of the convertible will be slightly different as will the chassis (though not dramatically changed) – but the power will be the same.
Tags: 2008 audi, 2008 rs4, audi rs4, rs4
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