Audi Unveils Power Boost: RS4 Avant Edition, Exclusive for European Market

May 28, 2024 06:11 AM EDT

BLUE AUDI SEDAN PARKED NEAR FOREST — (Photo : PEXELS/MIKE BIRD)

Audi marks 25 years of the RS4 Avant with a special limited-edition release. The initial RS 4 generation debuted in 2001 as the RS 4 Sport.

Exclusive: RS4 Avant Edition for Europe

Inspired by the iconic vehicle's design, Audi produced the RS4 Avant Edition 25 Years. Motor1.com reported that the RS division has enhanced the twin-turbo V-6 engine in the Audi RS4 Avant, boosting power to 464 hp.

Audi equips the commemorative RS4 Avant with an RS sports exhaust featuring matte black oval tips for an enhanced auditory experience. It reaches a top speed of 186 mph, surpassing the Competition model by 6 mph and outpacing BMW's non-US model, which is electronically limited to 174 mph. The standard ceramic brakes offer excellent stopping power when needed.

In contrast to the standard RS4 model, the special edition sits 0.4 inches lower to the ground due to a more rigid suspension configuration. Drivers have the option to manually reduce the car's height by an additional 0.4 inches for improved maneuverability.

Audi has refined the software of the eight-speed automatic transmission to enable faster gear changes exclusively for this variant. Additionally, this version features firmer control arms and a two-degree increment in negative camber on the front axle to enhance traction.

Audi is selling the RS4 Avant edition 25 years exclusively in Europe where just 250 cars will be available to order from June. If Imola Yellow is not your cup of tea, the Four Rings can alternatively paint the car in Nardo Gray or Mythos Black. The desirable wagon costs €142,905, which works out to about $155,400 at current exchange rates.

What More to Expect

According to Autoevolution, the larger and more powerful V8-equipped Audi RS 6 Avant in the US is priced substantially less than the Audi RS 4 Avant edition 25 years special edition in the UK. But it's important to remember that Audi views the RS 4 Avant edition 25 years as a collector's edition, with only 50 made available in Europe for the UK market.

With a distinctive design and commemorative features, this release honors the RS 4 Avant's 25-year career. Furthermore, serving as the new pinnacle of performance in the lineup, this exclusive edition boasts improved driving dynamics along with distinctive interior and exterior accents, offered in Audi's iconic Imola Yellow hue.

Additionally, the power output of the 2.9-liter TFSI twin-turbo V6 engine has been boosted to 470 PS or 464 horsepower - although still lower than the BMW M3 Touring's output of 503 hp in its Competition variant with xDrive.

Audi also emphasizes its role in defining the concept of a luxury performance station wagon back in the 1990s with models like the Audi Avant RS2 and Audi S6 plus. The brand progressed to introduce its first RS model from quattro GmbH (now Audi Sport GmbH) in 1999, giving rise to the B5-generation RS4 Avant (during 1999 and 2001, RS models such as RS4 were styled without a space).

The new standard offerings include the RS sports suspension pro, Pirelli P Zero Corsa high-performance tires mounted on 20-inch machined alloy wheels in matt palladium, and an extra set of P Zero Trofeo RS semi-slick tires equipped with sensors and the Pirelli Track Adrenaline system.

Autoevolution advised caution as the latter tires are specifically fitted on distinctive 20-inch alloy wheels finished in matte black. Customers have the option to choose from exterior color options like Nardo Grey, Mythos Black, and the Audi Exclusive Imola Yellow, with varying prices of £116,555 and £119,180 for the latter two colors, respectively.