Skip advert
Advertisement

Limited-run Audi RS4 Competition priced from £84,600

The new Competition package brings more focus to the Audi RS4 Avant, with suspension and chassis tweaks, new wheels and more

It’s fair to say that from the highs of the B7 and B8 Audi RS4 (and their naturally aspirated V8s), the current generation RS4 hasn’t received quite the same level of adoration. There’s good reason for this, of course: its rivals have become harder, faster and more involving, while Audi Sport took the path of making the RS4 smoother and more GT-like. Well, that’s about to change, as Audi Sport has revealed a new Competition package for the RS4 Avant that it’s hoping will add some much needed pizzazz to the driving experience. Just 75 units will be sold in the UK with prices starting from £84,600 – order books open in September.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The upgrades start with a new coilover suspension set-up. As standard, the RS4 features adaptive dampers on coil springs, with an optional Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) system that hydraulically cross-links the dampers to improve lateral stability under load without making the damping over-firm. For the Competition versions, however, both systems have been pushed aside and replaced with a new set of three-way adjustable coilovers. These units have a higher spring rate than those of the standard RS models, and are paired with new calibrations for the dampers and stiffer anti-roll bars. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

> Audi RS3 review – has the five-pot hot hatch finally found its feet?

The new coilovers also sit the body 10mm lower from the factory, while a further 10mm drop can be dialled in manually. The upgraded suspension is paired with new forged and milled 20-inch Y-spoke wheels and standard-fit carbon-ceramic brakes. 

Along with the new hardware, Audi Sport has been working on the calibration of the existing dynamic components, with a revised set-up for the Dynamic Steering system, which now has a ratio locked in at 1:13.1, plus updated parameters for the Sport Differential mounted on the rear axle, enabling it to lock faster and offer more aggressive torque vectoring.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The engine itself is unchanged – the twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 still producing 444bhp and 442lb ft of torque – but some of the peripheral elements have received attention, including software tweaks for the eight-speed automatic transmission to shorten shift times and create a greater distinction in shift feel between transmission modes. This small change on its own helps yield a subtle 0.2sec drop in the 0-62mph time, now 3.9sec.

Also upping the ‘sportiness’, as the Germans might say, is a more vocal RS sports exhaust system and the removal of some of the interior’s sound deadening around the engine bay and dashboard, which will hopefully give the cars a bit of more aural character – this tweak also drops kerb weight by 8kg as an added benefit.

The Audi RS4 Avant Competition doesn't come cheap, with its £84,600 starting price almost £15,000 above the ordinary car. The standard fitment of carbon-ceramic brakes and those new coilovers does help justify the price hike though, with a limited run of 75 UK cars boosting its desirability.

While the notion of a more expensive Competition version with no extra grunt may initially disappoint, it’s the chassis that has the most to gain from a technical update. However, it remains a big ask for the RS4 to compete with the new BMW M3 or Alfa Romeo’s Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake (X218, 2012 - 2017): review, history and buying guide
Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake
Features

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake (X218, 2012 - 2017): review, history and buying guide

A leftfield Mercedes with oodles of AMG appeal, the CLS 63 Shooting Brake is an attractive used buy in 2024
12 Mar 2024
2024 BMW M5 Touring teased ahead of reveal – V8 hybrid estate eyes Audi RS6
BMW M5 Touring
News

2024 BMW M5 Touring teased ahead of reveal – V8 hybrid estate eyes Audi RS6

The next-generation M5 will spawn a Touring estate version for the first time since the E61 model from 2007. Here's everything we know so far
7 Mar 2024
Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake (2014 - 2015): review, specs and buying guide
Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Features

Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake (2014 - 2015): review, specs and buying guide

The handsome XF Sportbrake estate with Jaguar's most potent, 542bhp supercharged V8 and Nürburgring-developed chassis upgrades. What's not to like?
13 Feb 2024
BMW i5 and 5-series Touring revealed – here’s what to expect from the M5 estate
BMW 5-series Touring – front
News

BMW i5 and 5-series Touring revealed – here’s what to expect from the M5 estate

BMW's new 5-series Touring will spawn an M5 estate later this year – this is what we know so far
6 Feb 2024
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The Nissan GT-R has been updated yet again for 2025
Nissan GT-R 2025 – front
News

The Nissan GT-R has been updated yet again for 2025

The R35 Nissan GT-R refuses to die – this latest version gets engine enhancements and subtle cosmetic tweaks
15 Mar 2024
MST Mk1 2024 review – £174,000 Ford Escort recreation driven
MST Mk1 Ford Escort
Reviews

MST Mk1 2024 review – £174,000 Ford Escort recreation driven

The MST Mk1 is a brand new, 50-year-old, road-going rally car. It looks the business, but does it deliver? Strap yourself in…
15 Mar 2024
Aston Martin DBX707 v Ferrari Purosangue – flagship super SUVs go head-to-head
Aston Martin DBX707 v Ferrari Purosangue
Features

Aston Martin DBX707 v Ferrari Purosangue – flagship super SUVs go head-to-head

Everything about them is supersize, from their kerb weights to their power outputs. But they’re also hugely enjoyable – and quite different in charact…
16 Mar 2024