Let’s be honest; enthusiasts in the United States pine for performance wagons, but overall we don’t actually buy them. Either that or there just isn’t enough of us out there to make an impact. Or, we aren’t rich enough. Either way, the numbers just don’t usually work out. Cadillac did with the CTS-V Wagon because the investment was so minimal, and the return in positive press and “cool factor” was worth it.
Look at the sales numbers, though, and you’ll see that it is a rare vehicle. So, if you want to know why Audi isn’t bringing over the RS4 Avant (which it first introduced 12 years ago), that is why. It doesn’t mean we won’t report on it for you to drool over anyway, though.
The four-ringed brand has given us the full specifications and pricing list for the 2013 RS4 Avant. As always, serious hardware is on board. While the S5 has switched over to turbocharged six-cylinder power, the RS4 models stick with Audi’s wonderful 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V-8. That sonorous engine makes 450 horsepower and 317-pound feet of torque routed to the pavement through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. That is enough to haul you and the kiddies (it is a wagon, after all) from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds.
The RS4 rides an inch lower than the standard Avant, and it hits a top speed of 174 mph. Handling is aided by stiffer suspension components, thicker stabilizer bars, and a newly-developed electromechanical rack that offers increased feedback. Underneath, most of the “track-controlled” suspension components are made from aluminum to save weight. Stopping power comes from new eight-piston calipers up front and internally-vented discs with a unique “wave” design. You can order carbon-ceramic brakes up front for an additional charge. Audi calls the RS4 Avant “a sports car for everyday use,” and indeed, it is priced like one. The RS4 Avant goes on sale in Germany, costing about $96,664 (76,600 euros) at current exchange rates. Ouch.
