RS4 Saloon out of production?

[blue8]

Autocar:
Audi clearly thinks you can have too much of a good thing: the sensational RS4 saloon is now out of production.

The 414bhp V8-powered RS4 was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in 2005, and went on sale in the UK in October of that year.

It has been a big success for Audi – not least with us here at Autocar, who have fallen for its supercar pace and agility.

The saloon was joined in summer 2006 by the RS4 Avant and cabriolet, both of which remain in production for the moment.

Though Audi hasn't admitted as much, RS4 production is being phased out to make way for the forthcoming new RS6.

The RS6 is already in advanced testing. It's believed to use a turbocharged 5.0-litre V10, and is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

^What?!? I don't see how the RS4 would, in any way, interfere with the RS6.

[dutchmasterflex]

Cause the new 420HP V8 M3 will embarrass the RS4 in sales, they are cutting production early so that they wont have tons of unsold RS4s once the M3 goes on sale

:lol:

[TopGearNL]

^^ LOL! :lol:

But this is very stupid, I see a drop in customers for Audi bigtime, I mean who will say ''Oh I might as well have the RS6 then if the RS4 is not available'', everyone would want that but almost nobody can pay that, and they will go for the M3 or other rivals instead..

Not a wise decision by Audi...!

[gangajas]

This is ridiculous. :?

[TopGearNL]

This is ridiculous. :?
Absolutely!!!! I must have one but I need a couple years to financially prepare. now you are telling me I will never get a new one???!! BALLS!!!!

Same here Wackary, just plain ridiculous this!

[Z3uS]

They are opening more room for the new M3... :?

[novass]

I want the RS4 Avant anyway, so as long as they keep making that, I am happy. I don't really think this is true though, probably just some propaganda spread by BMW fanatics.

[TopGearNL]

Maybe they want to UP the sales of the Avant and Cabrio even more..

[nthfinity]

but MORE importantly...there is an RS5 on the way....and THAT car is gonna absolutely kick ass from what i know

Too bad the 5 is so ugly :(

[666fast]

I want the RS4 Avant anyway, so as long as they keep making that, I am happy. I don't really think this is true though, probably just some propaganda spread by BMW fanatics.

Same here, Avant > Sedan anyday of the week. Too bad they'll never sell the RS model Avants here. :cry:

[ferrarif1fan89]

but MORE importantly...there is an RS5 on the way....and THAT car is gonna absolutely kick ass from what i know

Too bad the 5 is so ugly :(

i find it to be beautiful actually...

you would.

[Schwalbe]

The B7 RS4 is a complete success on the level of the sales. Those people who have ordered an RS4 had to wait 8 months to 1 years to have their new car, in more, in many place around the world they were all sold out like the R8 in just few days after their launch. THOSES REASONS are exactly what everso said. The new Audi B8 A4 is at our door and Audi Quattro GmbH wants that this car remains exclusive not like the common M3 which has a terrible depreciation price on resale. :wink:

[novass]

I want the RS4 Avant anyway, so as long as they keep making that, I am happy. I don't really think this is true though, probably just some propaganda spread by BMW fanatics.

Same here, Avant > Sedan anyday of the week. Too bad they'll never sell the RS model Avants here. :cry:

I guess we will both have to settle with the S4 Avant and put MTM superchargers on them :mrgreen:

[TopGearNL]

but MORE importantly...there is an RS5 on the way....and THAT car is gonna absolutely kick ass from what i know

Too bad the 5 is so ugly :(

i find it to be beautiful actually...

you would.

:lol:

Anyway I don't like it either, Ill have the RS4 Saloon over the RS5 thank you

[gangajas]

Here in Spain most of the RS4 sold have around 360cv instead of the declared 420 cv. It seems that Audi limited the power and torque of the engine due to reliability problems.

[martin100]

WTF didn´t expect Audi to shutdown the RS4 production so early :shock: Not very wise to be honest since the new M3 won´t really have any competitors except for the new C63 AMG.

By the way, i´ve been at the A5 premiere today, and the car looks absolutely gorgeous in person :o Especially with the front LED lights turned on. And brilliant build quality as on all Audis. Definitely a dream car for me :drool:

[Z3uS]

but MORE importantly...there is an RS5 on the way....and THAT car is gonna absolutely kick ass from what i know

Too bad the 5 is so ugly :(
True... :(

[dutchmasterflex]

everso's got it right.. the car is expensive, and is a limited version car, just like other RS models.

[TopGearNL]

everso's got it right.. the car is expensive, and is a limited version car, just like other RS models.

Yeah that can and must be the only reason..

[gobs3z]

I've always had this question. The B5 and B6 S4's in America competed with the M3, now why is the RS4 competing with the M3. Are they going to up the ante with the S4 to compete with the M3 in America?

[Svensson]

IMO this is bullshit and I don't believe anything about this...
Stop producing the RS4 because the new RS6 is coming?? Yeah makes perfect sense :lol:

[Svensson]

I still find it highly unlikely Dani. And I can't see what's so special about the RS4 that it's a Limited Edition. I mean surely it's a great car, but it's not an ultra-lightweight track focused car like a CSL or anything. Plus I just read that official Audi-sources in the Netherlands are also confirming the story about stopping the RS4-production is nonsense... Let's wait and see.

[blue8]

Winding Road:
In direct contrast to recent news stemming from an Autocar report earlier this week that stated Audi’s RS4 sedan has gone out of production, WINDING ROAD has learned that rumors of the sport sedan’s passing have been greatly exaggerated.

Patrick Hespen, Audi’s Media Relations and Motorsport Specialist informs us:

Chris Bokich, my new boss and former A3/A4/A5/RS4 product manager for the US says this is completely untrue. There will be a full build of the 2008 model year RS4 sedan, and production is still continuing. We have stated before that the RS 4 will have a 2-yr model run, 2008 being that second year.

As such, there will be no 2009 model year RS4. Hespen added that RS models have always been exclusive, and that there has never been any overlap between models. This, of course, has us wondering if the much rumored/photographed hot version of the R8 will be called something other than “RS8.” Hespen indicates that “With our growing model lineup, there is the possibility this could change down the road, but that’s the S.O.P. for right now.”

[Svensson]

Ok even if you campare it to the CSL, I can't really see Audi's logic. From Audi's point of view I would much rather make more money on the RS4 than to keep it "exclusive". Look at it this way... The RS4 is selling like hot cakes and soon BMW and Mercedes will join the scene with their new M3 and C63 AMG. With the RS4 out of business, what car will Audi have to stand up against the competition? The S4? Definately not up to the job...

So IMO I can't see why Audi would be stupid enough to pull the plug out of the RS4 production line. Limited run or not :wink:

[blue8]

From my post above, Audi has denied that the RS4 sedan production will halt this year.

[Svensson]

From my post above, Audi has denied that the RS4 sedan production will halt this year.
Yep I read it... I was just brainstorming :P

[Svensson]

^ Yep, would be nice to see the RS4 Avant battling it out with the M3 Touring and the C63 Combi 8)

And I'm still a big M3 fan so I'll always be biased to say M3 for the win :P

[dutchmasterflex]

Still, the RS4 is nearly twice as much as the M3.

The RS4 should be competing with another limited run M3 (ala CSL) if you want to be fair.

[TopGearNL]

Has anybody got the laptime of the E46 M3 CSL? For comparision.

[Svensson]

Still, the RS4 is nearly twice as much as the M3.


Wow... is the RS4 that much more expensive in the US? Here in the NL the RS4 is about 8% more expensive than the new M3. Still very high prices here though, €100k for the M3 and €108k for the RS4 :?

@ TGNL: Official E46 M3 CSL Nordschleife time is 7:50min.

[nthfinity]

Still, the RS4 is nearly twice as much as the M3.


Wow... is the RS4 that much more expensive in the US? Here in the NL the RS4 is about 8% more expensive than the new M3. Still very high prices here though, €100k for the M3 and €108k for the RS4 :?

@ TGNL: Official E46 M3 CSL Nordschleife time is 7:50min.

no...it's not twice as much....

a new M3 can be had for the low $50k range...the new one will probably be in the high $50k to low $60k range....an RS4 for about $72k or so...

Apparently the news is all wrong... and the RS4 will continue through 2008 model year after all :) even with the looming RS6, Audi are confident they aren't going to compete vs. each other.

[dutchmasterflex]

I said nearly twice the price ;) Thinking that RS4's usually go for near 80k and M3's go for around 50k.

[TopGearNL]

@ TGNL: Official E46 M3 CSL Nordschleife time is 7:50min.

Cheers Svensson! Im expecting a really good time then for the new M3 CSL! :shock: :D

[blue8]

Audi’s RS4 sedan holds a magical quality for its fans. A unique balance of price, performance, and luxury, the RS4 manages to carve out a unique niche in the tightly competitive luxury performance marketplace. Considering it’s based on a seven year old platform, the RS4 is a very impressive machine, however it has to make way for the new model based on Audi’s advanced MLP platform.

This isn’t the first time that we’ve heard rumors of RS4 production ending, however our friends at Autoblog.nl confirmed the story directly with Audi officials.

The sedan will be first to go, with the Avant to follow this year and the Cabrio to see its end sometime in 2008. Stocks of the sedan and Avant are expected to last until the end of December, but no longer. The new A4 has just recently been released, and for the time being the standard A4 will be the only version until the new S4 and RS4 arrive.

Despite Audi’s apparent concern that the RS4 would step on the RS6’s toes, the absence of the S4 and RS4 leaves a hole in Audi’s line-up, especially when it comes to price. The RS6 is priced well above even the RS4, and the S4 slots in below that. Whatever the gang in Ingolstadt is up to, RS4 fans are going to have to buy now or face an undetermined wait for the next model. Audi had better hope those fans don’t jump ship to the new BMW M3 Sedan or Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, as they might not come back.

More details and updates on the (temporary) death of the RS4 if and when they arrive.

[inso]

there should be rs4+ soon available with 450hp

[jakaracman]

IMO this is bullshit and I don't believe anything about this...
Stop producing the RS4 because the new RS6 is coming?? Yeah makes perfect sense :lol:

As some have already said, the B5 RS4 was a limited run and was for sale just for a very short period. Same happened with the RS6... it wasn't a regular production model, so that's why I think that info could be possible.

What I can't explain is why they're keeping in production the RS4 Avant and Cabrio then :hmm:
RS4 is going out because it is based on old A4 and they are selling the new one right now. Avant and Cabrio will stay until new Avant and Cabrio A4 come out (at least a year).
And it wont be a sudden cut i any of the cases ...

[Schwalbe]

there should be rs4+ soon available with 450hp

There has never been a RS4+ before. Are you sure there's going to be one? Source? :D

In 2005, it was planned to made an Audi B7 RS4+ with 450hp, but since the new BMW E92 M3 don't represent a threat at all, I have doubts about the relevance to Quattro GmbH to lunch a "plus" late version of the Audi B7 RS4.

But if you want to see an B7 RS4 with the N/A V8 FSI 4.2L of 450hp, see this DTM RS4 safety car picture took from Darkel. According to my source who works for Audi AG., this B7 RS4 is tuned to ~450hp. And yes this option was considered for an RS4+ and for the R8 if no V10 engine was available. :wink:

Audi B7 RS4 DTM Safety car
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/5303/58980img9424122352loil1.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=58980img9424122352loil1.jpg)

Thanks again Darkel for your pix. :D

-------------------

About the topic, jakaracman have very well summarized the situation about the end of B7 RS4 production. :wink: