AUDI's RS4 Super Sedan debuts in Melbourne and Geneva simultaneously

The all-new 2006 Audi RS 4 super car will make is worldwide public debut at Geneva Motor Show on March 1 and the Melbourne Motor Show on March 3, 2005. The all new RS 4 is the top-of-the-range model in the A4 series, with its 4163 cc V8 developing 420 bhp, exceeding the 100 bhp per litre mark to produce a luxury, thoroughbred saloon to rival BMW's M3 super sedan, with the company's all wheel drive Quattro system an added drawcard.

The smaller brother to the awesome RS6 and the successor to the RS4 Avant of 2001, the RS4 is a thoroughbred sports saloon with everyday driving qualities in the premium segment.

Numerous technical achievements, many directly derived from the company's motorsport activities give the new Audi RS 4 its unique class and character. These features include the high engine speed concept now being introduced for the first time in a production Audi, innovative FSI technology, as well as the latest generation of quattro drive with asymmetric/dynamic distribution of torque.

Developing a maximum output of 420 bhp, the V8 revs up to a speed of 8250 rpm. With its displacement of 4163 cc, this outstanding engine exceeds the magical barrier of 100 bhp per litre. Maximum torque of 430 Nm comes at 5500 rpm in this very compact engine, with 90 per cent of the engine's torque consistently available between 2250 and 7600 rpm. The result is excellent muscle and pulling force at all times, enabling the car to be driven in a relaxed style without frequent gear changes.

Audi has chosen its trendsetting and groundbreaking FSI technology for the RS 4 saloon, direct gasoline injection ensuring even more effective combustion of the fuel/air mixture and, as a result, an even better power yield. This is matched by the highly responsive development of power, the RS 4 accelerating to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reaching 200 km/h in 16.6 seconds. Top speed is cut off electronically at 250 km/h.

Audi's FSI technology has already proven its qualities impressively in Audi's four-time Le Mans winner, the Audi R8.

A further essential point in the brief given to Audi's development engineers was to optimise the car's power-to-weight ratio, avoiding superfluous weight. Accordingly, virtually every component was checked and cross-checked for minimum weight. The front wheel arches and the engine compartment lid are therefore made of aluminium, just like most components on the chassis and suspension. The specially designed RS bucket seats, in turn, are not only very light, but also offer extremely good body support in every situation.

The result is a power-to-weight ratio of just 3.93 kilos per bhp - a figure truly reminiscent of a thoroughbred sports car, which would not even have been conceivable just a few years ago in a midrange saloon. New generation of quattro drive

The challenge, of course, is to get all this power on to the road with optimum handling and after a quarter of a century of Quattro permanent four-wheel drive cars, it's no surprise the super sedan features the latest generation of Audi's permanent four-wheel drive with asymmetric/dynamic torque distribution and a self-locking Torsen centre differential. And in this case quattro drive is further enhanced by Audi's DRC Dynamic Ride Control, significantly reducing both body roll and dive.

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