 |
| Body roll doesn't really feature |
 |
But what's probably more important to RS4 buyers who can stump up the readies for the Cabrio is whether it's any good to drive. Thankfully, Audi has managed to carry over the RS4 saloon's impeccable road manners even with the roof chopped off, thanks to extra structural stiffening under the body.
The RS4's suspension comprises a system whereby diagonally-opposed shock absorbers are connected through a central hydraulic valve. This means that if one wheel undergoes compression - i.e. it rolls over a large stone - the system builds pressure in the shock absorber, increasing its damping effect and reducing body roll. This is especially noticeable when putting the RS4 through its paces with hard acceleration or braking. Most cars - even performance cars with stiffened suspension - will pitch forward and roll back under harsh speed changes, but the RS4 doesn't. It remains resolutely flat, no matter how hard you try to ruffle its feathers - even when tackling the tight slalom course Audi laid on to showcase the RS4's ability, the damn thing felt solid as a rock.
Scuttle shake is only just about noticeable when tackling really crappy roads or when cruising along a small Italian village's cobbled streets. Trying to put the power down smoothly when dealing with the delightful Italian traffic is no easy task; it requires a very gentle right and a steady left foot because of the power on tap and the enormously long clutch travel. The driving position has somehow suffered in the transition from saloon to cabriolet, with the pedals offset to the right (in left-hand drive cars) because of the intrusion of the wheel arch into the footwell.
 |
| 0-62mph takes just 4.9secs |
|
However, out on the open twisty bits, the rag-top RS4 really shines, allowing you to keep at speeds that really shouldn't be possible and certainly aren't legal. You never feel out of your depth and the ESP hardly gets troubled because of inherent high levels of grip on offer from the quattro system. Even if the ESP does light up, it's been tuned to react late and fast, so it doesn't slap you on the wrists whenever you go stupid. If you're feeling really brave, it can be switched off completely.
|
