Audi RS4 2018 pricing and spec confirmed

The all-new Audi RS 4 Avant 2018 model has arrived on sale in Australia, with the high-performance station wagon hitting showrooms with a lengthy standard equipment list and a ramped up go-fast drivetrain.

The new-generation model is powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine producing 331kW of power and 600Nm of torque, with all models using an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. Fuel use is rated at 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres. 

The new twin-turbo V6 model is priced at $152,900 plus on-road costs, which represents a slight hike over its V8-powered predecessor, but Audi claims to have added $22,000 of extra equipment. 

Standard inclusions offered in the RS 4 consist of 20-inch alloy wheels, red RS brake calipers, an adjustable sports exhaust system, Audi’s sport differential, adaptive sports suspension, LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, adaptive rear LED indicators and tinted rear windows with acoustic front glass.

Standard interior kit includes Audi’s Virtual Cockpit 12.3-inch driver info screen with configurable RS display mode, an 8.0-inch tablet media screen with sat nav, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring, DAB+ digital radio, and a stonking 19-speaker Bang&Olufsen stereo system.

The new twin-turbo V6 model is priced at 2,900 plus on-road costs.

The front sports seats with Nappa leather trim and honeycomb quilting (which apparently mirrors the design of the grille mesh) also feature bolster adjustment, massage function, memory settings for the driver’s seat and electric adjustment and heating for both sides. There is an ambient lighting system with 30 different colour options, too. 

A panoramic sunroof is fitted as standard, but for hot areas of the country it can be deleted if the buyer so chooses. Smart key entry and push-button start is standard, and there’s an auto tailgate with gesture control.

The standard safety equipment list includes Audi’s pre-sense front system with auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection (which works up to 85km/h), plus a 360-degree camera with reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors. Plus the traffic jam assist system, which debuted in 2015 on the Q7, uses two radars to read the road ahead - even scanning in front of the car directly in front.

Standard interior kit includes Audi’s Virtual Cockpit 12.3-inch driver info screen with configurable RS display mode as well as an 8.0-inch tablet media screen with sat nav.

There’s active lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, turn assist (which will stop you from driving through an intersection if the car doesn’t think you’ll make it), auto high-beam lights, rear cross-traffic alert (with audible, visual and physical notification - it can jolt the brakes if you aren’t paying attention), multi-collision braking (which will stop the car if you have an accident to prevent further mishap). 

There’s also Audi’s clever “exit warning system” that will flash the ambient lights if an occupant is about to open their door into the path of oncoming cars or cyclists. 

Audi claims to have already taken 100 pre-orders on the new-generation Audi RS 4, which would indicate the model is well on its way to being the best-selling Avant version of the RS 4 since the model first went on sale in 2000.

The best sales result for the Avant to date is the previous-generation ‘B8’ RS 4, which accounted for 243 sales.

Would you buy a sporty station wagon over a performance SUV? Tell us what you think in the comments below.