19 May 06
Does the world really need a four-seat convertible that'll crack 60mph in less than 5 seconds and thunder onto 155mph, only to have its progress halted by pesky electronics? Well, Audi seem to think so - hence the arrival of the RS4 Cabriolet.
It's the first time the RS badge has adorned the flanks of a rag-top; this cabriolet joins the RS4 saloon, which went on sale at the start of the year, and the newly-arrived Avant version in Audi's three-pronged attack on the uber-mobile market. All three have the same 4.2-litre V8 FSI engine which kicks out a heady 414bhp and 317lb/ft of torque.
This V8 is a damn fine engine - over 90% of the torque is available under your right foot from just 2250rpm to 7600rpm, and the RS4 will surge forward with amazing velocity. Before you know it, you're bouncing off the 8250rpm rev limiter. It sounds pretty good too, especially with the top down in the Cabriolet - tunnel hunting becomes a popular pastime for savouring that amazing exhaust note in all its tuneful glory.
It goes without saying that the RS4 Cabrio features Audi's quattro four-wheel-drive system. This splits torque 40:60 between the front and rear axles with the bias to the rear, although it can adjust the distribution anywhere between a 65:35 or 15:85 front/rear ratio depending on the driving conditions. This gives the RS4 Cabrio simply astonishing traction, without a hint of wheelspin unless you really go over the top in the tomfoolery stakes.
Not that you'd want to really go mad with the RS4 Cabrio: it costs a rather colossal £59,625, which means it'll be pretty expensive to fix if you bend it. It's also £9600 more than the 'regular' RS4 saloon - a lot to pay for a folding fabric roof. However, as rag tops go, the RS4's is one of the best. Its multi-layered construction means that roof up, road and wind noise is well contained. It can be retracted at the touch of a button in around 21 seconds, and can operate on the move at up to 18mph. The roof does mean though that the RS4 Cabrio has a very small boot - only 246 litres worth of space when the roof's folded, barely enough for a weekend away's worth of luggage.
