Monday, July 18, 2011

Audi RS4

The Audi RS4 quattro is the top tier and highest performing version of some specific generations of the Audi A4 range of automobiles. It is a sports-focused compact executive car (often called sport compact in some countries), produced by Audi's high-performance private subsidiary quattro GmbH, in limited numbers, for German car manufacturer AUDI AG, part of the larger Volkswagen Group. It slots distinctly above the Audi S4, as the fastest, most sports-focused model based on the A4's "B" automobile platform.
The original B5 version was only produced as a five-door five-seat "Avant", Audi's name for an estate car/station wagon. The second version, the B7, was released initially as a four-door five-seat saloon/sedan, with the Avant following a short while later. A two-door four-seat Cabriolet version was subsequently added. Furthermore, their unique internal combustion engines are all front-mounted, and are longitudinally oriented. The transmission is mounted immediately at the rear of the engine in a longitudinal orientation, in the form of a transaxle, and contains both a center and front differential.
The "RS" initials are taken from the German: RennSport – literally translated as "racing sport", and is the Audi marque's highest trim level, positioned above the "S" model specification of Audi's regular model line-up. Like all Audi "RS" cars, the RS4 pioneers some of Audi's latest advanced technology, and could therefore be described as a "halo vehicle". Furthermore, it is only available with Audi's Torsen-based 'trademark' quattro permanent four-wheel drive system.Its main market competitors initially included the BMW M3, and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, and could also include the Lexus IS-F.
The original B5 Audi RS4 Avant quattro (Typ 8D) was introduced by AUDI AG in late 1999, for main production and sale from 2000, as the successor to the Porsche / quattro GmbH joint venture-developed Audi RS2 Avant. The vehicle, like its RS2 predecessor, was available only as an Avant (Audi's name for an estate car/station wagon), and was built on an existing platform, in this case the Volkswagen Group B5 platform shared with the A4 and S4. Retail price was around Deutsche Mark 103,584. The RS4 was available for sale in most of Europe, parts of Asia and in some Latin American countries.Audi produced 6,030 units between 1999 and 2001.
Although related to the Audi B5 S4, many of the outer body panels are altered, with wider front and rear wheel arches, to allow for the wider axle track on the RS4. With unique front and rear bumpers, and side sills, and sharing the rear spoiler from the S4 Avant, the aerodynamic modifications achieved a drag coefficient of Cd 0.34. Although the B5 S4 came in a saloon car body style, the B5 RS4 was only available in the Avant version.Luggage space, measured according to the industry standard VDA method is 390 litres (13.8 cu ft) with the rear seats in the upright position, and 1,250 litres (44.1 cu ft) with the seats folded flat.
For the powertrain detail of the B5 RS4, its motive power came from a modified version of the B5 S4's 2.7 litre V6 'biturbo'—a 2,671 cubic centimetres (163.0 cu in), 30 valve (five valves per cylinder) 90° V6 engine (parts code prefix: 078; identification codes: early version: 2000 ASJ, EU2 compliant, and later version: 2000-01 AZR, to EU3 standard).

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