[Aika Auto Bike Test Original]
"Punctual, not drinking, dressed like a human, then he must drive an Audi." Jeremy Clarkson said. Although I was reluctant, it was hard to deny that I was the Buyer of Buddhism in Clarkson's mouth, at least on the surface. Walking in the bustling traffic, I hope that driving will not become a burden – the easier the better, the more insensitive the better.
As the road became clear, I realized that I had a devil hidden in my heart. When the excitement overwhelms the sanity, who cares about the pretentious Sven? At this point, hormones are all there is to it. Half angels, half devils, the ordinary "four circles" apparently can't satisfy the most discerning buyers. Why not try the Audi RS 4 Avant? Rational and crazy, it sounds like a little lover who understands your mind.
In the coldest season in Beijing, I got this streamer blue Audi RS 4 Avant. In the face of cold winds and dead willows, I instinctively want RS 4 to be cloaked in a warmer coat, such as tango red or Sonoma green. However, after some testing, I felt that the streamer blue perfectly interpreted the inner character of the RS 4 Avant. Blue originally symbolized calmness, but peeling off the "camouflage" of high saturation, it can be so outstanding.
The test model is the 2021 Audi RS 4 Avant Obsidian Edition (referred to as "RS 4 Avant" or "RS 4" in the text), with a suggested retail price of 812,800 yuan. After thorough testing of the X-TEST Vehicle Evaluation and Evaluation System, the RS 4 Avant achieved a total score of 73.6 out of 100 points, with a recommendation index of four and a half stars.
"What you don't get is always in turmoil", the rarer the car, the more charming. With a low-key exterior livery, the RS 4 can be perfectly hidden in the traffic in front of red lights without attracting the attention of passers-by. When the green light is lit and the exhaust sound breaks through the street corner, people look at it with curiosity. You see, the sense of accomplishment comes as simple as that.
Appearance | Avant × RS = sense of accomplishment
In terms of appearance, the RS 4 Avant has a hint of arrogance, blending avant elegance with the dynamics of RS. A little regrettably, the carriage is still typical of the Audi style: rigorous and rational, lacking sensory stimulation. When I got inside the car, the burning emotion just now disappeared, leaving only the German stereotype. It may not be a first-glance beauty, but it is very attractive and the ease of use is quite good.
The RS 4 Avant's ride was in line with expectations and the overall performance was similar to that of the A4 Avant and A4 allroad. RS 4 doesn't let you "lie down" in the back row, but it doesn't make the space cramped. As mentioned earlier, the MLB evo body proportions are not extremely slender, but the more advanced powertrain arrangement is conducive to the front space. The width of the main/passenger foot pit is impressive, and it is hardly affected by the (longitudinal) transmission. In contrast, the foot pit width of the two rear-drive competitors is much lower.
In terms of storage space, the performance of the RS 4 Avant is somewhat split. Just by looking at the amount of storage space, the RS 4 is quite outstanding, with multiple storage compartments integrated into the front floor. However, the storage space is not spacious everywhere, and it is difficult to find a place for the phone in the front row. In addition, the front cup holder obscures the buttons at the bottom of the center console (driving mode, parking radar, etc.), and there is room for improvement in practicality.
◆ Body score table
The static part, I thought audi RS 4 would get a good score, but the final result was a big surprise. Overall, the RS 4 Avant has a solid foundation, good seat comfort and excellent process quality. Unfortunately, the space performance of this car is flat, and the basic configuration is low, which lowers the body score. Don't worry, dynamic performance is the home of RS 4.
Built-in | German Pragmatism
Talking about performance, cylinder count and exhaust volume is an eternal topic. As the Audi RS 4 entered the B9 generation, the V8 naturally inhaled and regretted the curtain, replaced by a V6 supercharged engine with a reduced displacement of 30% - EA839. Within the Volkswagen Group, the EA839 series is undoubtedly the mainstay, covering almost all MLB evo models (lamborghini Urus is the exception). From Bentley Bentayga to the Audi S4, you can see the EA839.
The EA839 series features a Hot-V design, with two exhaust cylinders arranged at a 90-degree angle and a turbocharger mounted in a "valley" in the middle. Specifically, the EA839 series has two branches: 3.0T and 2.9T. Mo is misled by displacement, 2.9T is the spokesperson for high performance. As the flagship of the "4" family, the RS 4 is equipped with a more powerful and stable EA839 2.9T engine as scheduled.
The EA839 3.0T and EA839 2.9T have exactly the same bore, but the piston strokes are different, so the displacement is slightly different. The diameter of the 2.9T piston pin has been increased by 2mm, and a DLC diamond coating has been added to reduce mechanical friction and enhance running vitality. The 3.0T is air-cooled and comes with only one turbocharger. The 2.9T replaces the 3.0T's larger turbo with two smaller turbines, further reducing turbine lag and more agile power response. In addition, the 2.9T is equipped with a water-cooled cooling system to meet the needs of high-intensity driving.
Dual-clutch transmissions are Audi's specialty, but in high-torque models, hydraulic automatic transmissions are the mainstream choice. The RS 4 Avant is equipped with a ZF 8AT transmission, which incorporates a quattro full-time 4WD module. The gearbox is the second generation of ZF's 8HP series and has a tight gear ratio of 7.8.
Unlike the AMG and M competitors, the RS 4 Avant starts in 1 gear by default, even in Comfort mode. With the help of the torque converter, low-speed smoothness is not a hassle-free, and the shift impact is very rounded. Frequent walk-stop in traffic flow, excellent 2.9T+8AT smoothness, smooth positive and negative torque switching. Even if the oil is suddenly collected, the power system will not have continuous jerks. You know, this is the nightmare of some old adversaries.
Probably because of my age, I was no longer keen on the sense of fighting, but instead fell in love with Zhang's relaxed personality. When traffic jams are blocked in the morning and evening rush hours, I want the car to be as quiet as possible, to stretch the brow, and to relax the eardrums. When driving on weekends, the exhaust voice should be sexy enough to give a touch of flavor to the joy of the whole family. Depending on the driving mode, the RS 4 automatically adjusts the exhaust valve opening to create different sound lines and volumes. Cruising at a constant speed in Comfort Mode, the RS 4 is as quiet and delicate as a normal V6 model, and the exhaust system will never "explode" to the brain.
So far, the RS 4 seems to be a "complete A4", completely without the appearance of racing Sport. Want to switch personalities? RS 4 helps you get it done in one click. Switching the driving mode to dynamic, there is a crisp "click" from the rear of the car - it is the action of the exhaust valve. The exhaust sound becomes muffled and powerful, and an uplifting movement is played. In my opinion, the RS sports exhaust system is a good blend of surging and refined, and the emotional expression is very three-dimensional.
The Audi RS 4 is equipped with a performance shift strategy and is a good helper for intense driving. In the face of a rapid pedal (throttle/brake) input, the gearbox will maintain as low a gear as possible, leaving the engine in a state of excitement. Even with comfort/auto mode, the RS 4 temporarily locks the gear after a rebrand, providing the driver with full power.
At the Level of the Audi RS, drivability is naturally at a very high level, but I still find some unsatisfactory. In any driving mode, the throttle response is not 100% agile, and there is a moment delay in power delivery. It feels like there's some kind of estrangement between the throttle and the valve, and the connection isn't hardcore enough. When brushing the circle of the track, open the oil a little earlier to make the corner become smooth.
◆ Accelerate testing
The Audi RS 4 certainly has an excellent daily driving experience, but the testing ground is the stage where it really is. Pressing both pedals to the bottom at the same time, waiting for the turbine to fully build pressure, then releasing the brakes, the RS 4 rushed out like an arrow off the string. The starting efficiency is very good, the strong torque is instantly turned into kinetic energy, and the speed exceeds 100km/h after 3.87 seconds. During the acceleration process, the peak acceleration reached 1.246g, and the body sensation was more violent than that of free fall. If you taste the "forbidden fruit" for the first time, you may feel the blood flowing to the back of your head, followed by a sour numbness in your scalp...
The RS 4 doesn't necessarily take advantage of aggressive high-performance electric vehicles, but that doesn't stop it from bringing strong subjective satisfaction. With each shift, the engine repeats the charge-release process, with a great sense of rhythm and fully rendering the driver's mood.
In the re-acceleration test, RS 4 delivered a satisfactory transcript. Specifically, the acceleration time of 40-80km/h is 1.86 seconds, and the acceleration time of 80-120km/h is 2.57 seconds. At a speed of 100 km/h, the RS 4 can still provide an acceleration of about 0.5 g. When it comes to mid- and late-stage power, the performance of fuel vehicles is still dominant.
◆ Fuel consumption test
The Audi RS 4 does not offer economy mode, and the energy-saving configuration only has automatic start-stop and coasting functions. During the fuel consumption test, we use Comfort Mode throughout the process and keep the automatic start-stop on and off. In the end, the RS 4 ran an average fuel consumption of 12.1L/100km. Taking into account the lower average speed (29 km/h), the above results exceeded expectations. Compared with the 4.2L V8 of the past, today's 2.9T V6 is completely worthy of thrift.
◆ Powertrain/cost of use score table
In the power section, the Audi RS 4 Avant performs comprehensively, taking into account both everyday use and driving pleasure. The 2.9T V6 engine is powerful and the running quality is worthy of the status of a six-cylinder, but the throttle response is not perfect. With the addition of the performance shift strategy, the 8AT transmission became quite smart and was able to accurately read the driver's intentions. Fuel consumption scores pull down cost scores, but for RS 4 owners, it's not a problem at all.
Power | 3.87 seconds away from the surface
Straight Line King, Bend Dead? The Audi RS 4 refuses to tuck the hat indiscriminately. When old rivals are gently recruited, Audi is more aggressive than ever, and knows how to please driving enthusiasts more. In response to the high front axle loads, the MLB evo platform features front-five-link suspension and rear-five-link suspension, which helps to precisely guide the wheel trajectory for better dynamic performance.
The RS 4 comes standard with RS sport suspension and the test vehicles are equipped with an optional DRC dynamic driving control system, which is an active electronically controlled shock absorber. The DRC regulates the damping of the shock absorber in real time through the solenoid valve, providing three modes of comfort, balance and movement. The RS 4 base model uses a normal steering machine with a steering ratio of 15.9:1. The test vehicle is equipped with a dynamic steering system (optional) that actively adjusts the steering ratio with the help of planetary gears on the steering column and auxiliary motors. Depending on the speed, steering angle and driving mode, the steering ratio varies by up to 100%.
Driving on paved roads, the shock absorber allows for slight undulations in the body and gentle body movement. Driving the Audi RS 4 daily commute, you will not feel that the chassis is too tight, but will be surprised by the calm breathing. The good news is that good everyday comfort doesn't come at the expense of high-speed stability. As the speed of the car increases, the body tightly sucks on the ground, neither flattering road sense feedback nor appears disjointed. It's not hard to imagine that on top of autobahn (Germany's unlimited speed motorway), the RS 4 is able to fully unleash its nature.
Slowing down, the RS 4 reveals its tough nature. In the face of such a violent impact as the speed reduction belt, the overall feeling of the chassis does not have to worry much, but the jacking and pulling down are somewhat abrupt, giving people a feeling of hardness. Overall, the front axle impact flexibility is not bad, but the back axle performance is too "straight man", do not understand the soft kegang. Considering the positioning of RS 4, the above regrets are harmless, and I believe that potential car owners have done enough psychological construction.
I thought the RS 4 had an "Audi Van" turn feel, but it turned out that I only guessed half right. In general, Audi has a light and smooth steering feel, but it is not very good at providing a sense of the road. The first time you get started, you can smell the taste of luxury, but unfortunately the steering machine isolates too much information, and the sense of communication between people and cars cannot be talked about. However, in the new generation of RS models, Audi Sport is determined to break the bottleneck and catch up with the opponent's strong projects. Whether it's daily commuting or intense driving, the RS 4's steering system is "sensorless" – not deliberately heavy, but with ample feedback. In my opinion, this is a very high realm.
The central zone (±10 degrees) response is not hardcore. When the steering was just played, the front movement retained a hint of warmth, taking care of the daily driving needs. Even if you drive a performance car for the first time, you won't feel that the RS 4 steering is too "thief", and the friendliness can be a high score. Correspondingly, the steering center area feels lighter. With a little force, you can cross the less responsive central area, giving the impression that the front of the car is easy to move.
After crossing a small angle, the chassis response becomes noticeably faster, and the steering feel is synchronously tightened. Try to speed up the pace of attack and bending, the hands can clearly feel the change in lateral grip, and the state of the front wheel is clear. As much force as the hand makes, the response will increase as much as possible, so unhappy! The faster the cornering, the clearer the feeling of holding the front wheel in your hand. When you're about to reach your limit, the steering wheel will be slightly lighter, allowing you to subconsciously restrain your emotions. In terms of steering feel, the Audi RS 4 and Huracán STO (Test Drive Review) are like twin brothers: the steering force is overall light, but there is a good hand-response match, and the sense of extreme prompting is also quite good.
Most of the time, the dynamic steering machine is conscientious, but it is not perfect at low speeds. With the increase of the steering angle, the steering ratio shows a decreasing trend, and it only takes about 360 + 30 degrees (about 1.1 laps) to play on one side in situ, and the flexibility is satisfactory. At low speeds, the steering torque is slightly flattened with angle gain, and with the influence of the variable steering ratio, it is easy to hit multiple steering wheels at intersection turns. When travelling to narrow sections, motorists need to pay attention to the distance between the rear wheels and the shoulders of the road to prevent scratching. After the speed is increased, the steering hand force is properly matched with the steering response, and the above problems do not exist.
◆ Noise test
In the dynamic part, the Audi RS 4 brings many surprises, if the steering is in the first place, then the NVH will be second. In the noise test, the RS 4 Avant delivered an excellent report card. Specifically, the measured noise of idle speed, 60km/h, 80km/h and 120km/h is lower than the recommended value of Aika. Subjective noise perception is also satisfactory, wind noise, road noise climb progressively, will not suddenly increase at a certain speed point. During cruising, the sound insulation and noise reduction performance of the RS 4 is not fundamentally different from that of the ordinary A4. If you urge the throttle, the V6 tenor will immediately wake up and brush a wave of presence in front of all the passengers.
◆ Brake test
The Audi RS 4 offers two braking systems: steel discs (standard) and ceramic discs (optional). The test vehicle was equipped with front/rear steel ventilated discs, as well as front six/rear single brake calipers. After 10 consecutive sets of 100-0km/h brake tests, the final result of the Audi RS 4 was 32.42m, and the braking efficiency was amazing. Counting all the models tested by Aika cars at the site, the brakes exceeded the Audi RS 4 and only the Porsche 911.
The test was in winter and the outdoor temperature was around -5 °C. In the first few tests, the braking distance of 100-0km/h hovered in the 35-36m range. As the tire temperature increased, the RS 4 was getting better and achieved its best result in the fifth test. In the following tests, the braking distance was stabilized in the range of 33-34m, and there was no significant thermal attenuation. For everyday walking, this standard braking system is perfectly suited to demand.
◆ Winding pile test
The Audi RS 4 Avant has a curb weight of 1840kg, which is a "heavy" figure for the performance car. The moment the steering wheel hits the pile close to the limit, there is a moment of hesitation in the front of the car's response - the delay is short, but it is in the perceptible range. When you first enter the pile, you need to give the front wheel a little time to wait for the grip to be fully established. Adapting to the small response delay, the winding of the pile becomes smooth and easy to grasp.
Audi is all "railcar"? Please remove tinted glasses. The RS 4 is equipped with a quattro full-time four-wheel drive system, which is based on the coronal gear to achieve power distribution, and the drive characteristics are slightly biased towards the rear drive. By default, the front/rear axle torque ratio is 40:60 and the maximum variation range is 70:30-15:85. With the help of the quattro, the RS 4 has quite good playability, and the rear dynamics and throttle opening establish a clear correspondence.
The station wagon has a heavier rear than a sedan and doesn't sound perfect. But in fact, a little extra weight on the tail adds to the fun. On top of the RS 4 Avant, the rear of the car acts like a flexible pendulum that helps the driver adjust the front pointing if necessary. Stable or fun? RS 4 can help you achieve it.
◆ Driving and riding score table
Driving with the ride part, the Audi RS 4 Avant performs well. As a performance car, it's comfortable enough. As a scooter, it's fun enough. Audi Sport engineers found a dessert tuned to the chassis, which will be lively in rigor and fun in life. Hardcore car fans may feel disdainful, but for those users who need to take care of their families but are not willing to grievance themselves, RS 4 is a model room.
◆ Score summary table
Editor's Comments:
"If you don't do it, your chances are gone." Petrolheads are always infinitely tangled. That being said, there are many obstacles in reality, and there are only a few who put them into action. Open cool is not practical, practical is not hot enough, are good to buy ... Just wait, wait?
Unfortunately, the "Waiting Party" could not wait for victory, only for an ultimatum. Starting from 2026, Audi's newly launched global models will all be driven by pure electric power, completely bidding farewell to the traditional internal combustion engine. This means that the A4/S4/RS4 will run out of life, leaving only the B10 with a mixture of gasoline smell and electric sound (expected to be released in 2022 or 2023). But B10 is destined not to get a brand new platform, more like an extension of B9. The same theory applies to conventional models of other brands. If wallets aren't a problem, it's time to cash out your wish list.
Some people say that Audi performance cars are too rational and lack a touching and profound character. However, it is precisely audi sport's "reservations" that make the RS 4 Avant take into account multiple scenarios, bringing angels and devils together. You can easily find a more hardcore car, a more comfortable car than it, but it is difficult to find such a balanced hexagonal warrior. Punctual, not drinking, dressed like a human? That's all right, but I also love to drive fast.
Chassis | When honest people learn to be spoiled