The RS4 Avant is only coming in this estate form this time (last generation also included a saloon and a convertible), ostensibly because Audi doesn't see the point when the RS5 Coupe/convertible deal with the kind of issues that those customers might face. It gets a single-frame front grille, the shiny new headlights from the recent facelift, bumper tweaks front and back, side skirts and rather lovely squarish-squircle arches so beloved of Audi RS fans. It's subtle like it should be, but tough. Got some punch too: it may be a practical estate, but it's a practical estate with a naturally-aspirated V8 that revs to 8,500rpm, hits 62mph in 4.7 and 155 or 174mph top end depending on which limiter you pay for. As you might have guessed the RS4 is more of the same from the RS brand, so you get all-wheel drive with a basic 40/60 torque split front to rear. Get slip from either end and up to 85-percent of the shove can be shovelled to the rear wheels, or up to 70-percent to the front. There's also a sport differential that allows torque-vectoring across the rear axle - which also operates when you come off the throttle - so you get a measure of self-steering dynamics if you're on a surface with varying grip levels. It works. Grip is huge - especially in steady-state, long corners, and you can make it oversteer if you so wish. Well, a bit. It's a bit understeery if you just lob it too-fast into a corner, but hey-ho - you expected that, right?
The cost
Price: £54,925
The numbers
4,163cc V8, 450bhp@ 8,250rpm, 430Nm@4-6,000rpm, 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, 155/174mph top speed (limited/higher limiter), 26.4mpg (combined), 249g/km, weight: 1,795kg
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