Zero to 62mph in 4.7 secs

The 2013 Audi RS 4 Avant Berlin - Arabstoday If you, like me, are disturbingly infatuated with AWD, V8 powered station wagons which will out-handle almost any sports coupe on the market, then today is a good day to be alive. And that’s because Audi have just pulled the covers off the 2013 RS 4 Avant, a car which is motivated by a 450 horsepower 4.2 litre V8, allowing it to accelerate from zero to sixty-two mph in just 4.7 seconds, and continue on to a 155 mph electronically limited top speed. At the same time it’ll happily bring home the paraphernalia for your next doomed project from the DIY store.The 2013 Audi RS 4 Avant feature the same naturally aspirated V8 engine used in the RS 5 Coupe. This hand-built unit develops 450 horsepower @ 8,250 rpm, and 430 Nm of torque from 4,000 rpm – 6,000 rpm. Unlimited, this powerplant will allow the RS 4 Avant to hit 174 mph. At the same time it manages to return 25.7 mpg in the combined cycle test.The RS 4 Avant’s transmission is handled by a seven-speed S tronic unit which can be switched between automatic and manual modes. For off-the-line explosive acceleration the launch control system can be activated. This manages the engagement of the clutch to achieve an optimum starting speed with minimal wheel spin.The permanent quattro AWD system can vary the distribution of power between the front and rear axles rapidly, smoothly and over a wide range, with up to 70 per cent flowing to the front or as much as 85 per cent to the rear. The sport differential, which is available as an option, is the same as that used in the S4 quattro and the RS 5.The RS 4 Avant sits 2o mm lower to the ground than a normal A4 Avant, and the extended wheel arches are filled as standard with 19-inch wheels. 20-inch five-V-spoke design wheels with 265/30-series tires, or 5-arm rotor design wheels with two different finishes, can be specified as an option.Mounted behind the large wheels are internally vented wave disc brakes with high gloss black-painted callipers. The front callipers with their eight pistons and prominent RS logos measure 365 millimetres in diameter.To set the car apart from the normal A4 Avant, Audi have fitted the car with a few aero bits to enhance both the look and the performance. Up front, the now trademark hexagonal single-frame grille is set in a matte aluminium-look frame, while the honeycomb insert is finished in high-gloss anthracite. Larger lower air inlets and a lip spoiler complete the front bumper modifications.When viewed from the side, the sill extensions and flared wheel arches give the car a more sporting appearance. The side mirror housings and trim strips have a matte aluminium-look finish, and a discreet roof spoiler provides some extra downforce.The distinctive bumpers and the two oval tailpipes of the dual exhaust system dominate the rear end and are integrated into an upturned diffuser. A sports exhaust system is available as an extra cost option, and where this is fitted the exhaust pipes feature matte black covers.