NEW Audi RS 4 Competition review: the most hardcore yet

Steve Sutcliffe puts the new Audi RS 4 Competition to the test on road and track.

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As the era of the purely petrol-engined Audi RS model draws to a close, Audi Sport has gone to town on the dear old RS 4 Avant, giving it one last push before the guillotine finally drops upon it, with the nameplate having been on sale since the end of the last century.

Known simply as the RS 4 Competition, this 75-unit run-out special is not cheap at £84,600, making it £16,000 more than a regular RS 4 Avant but, crucially, a couple of grand less than the similarly specified Vorsprung model. Given that its 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine produces no more power or torque above the standard 444bhp and 600Nm RS 4, however, it would be easy to think of the Competition as a cynical marketing exercise; a car designed to extract maximum profit from a model whose enduring appeal would probably sell it to a committed few at almost any price.

Yet the Competition is much more than that. It’s a car with its own identity, both visually and dynamically; one that’s sharper, louder, faster and a fair bit more bespoke in feel beside the already rather tasty regular RS 4. But just how much extra bite does it offer? Our man Steve Sutcliffe got behind the wheel to find out.

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[RalfMilo]

When a torque converter automatic shifts so fast and crisp that a seasoned automotive journalist thinks its a dual clutch lol. Well done ZF.

[wilsonjevin]

The body of the RS4 looks better than the RS6

[GeordieAmanda]

Ooh bonus Steve! Straight on the back of the GT3 RS. My M3 Xdrive's gearbox is a bit jerky in level 3 too, I'm not a fan of it either and it does also seem unnecessary, although to be fair it's still a bit smoother than my old M4's DCT. (I so miss that car). Love the boxing helmet under a racing helmet look. Fingers crossed for a Steve C63 and an M3CLS review in the future, :) Thanks for another great video.

[Metal]

This is the car for me. Forget the supercars, this would be my supercar.

[memememine]

Part of the reason I loved the drive logic selector on M cars is for this exact same reason. When I'm on the highway the kicks from the MDCT are extremely fun. Also when sliding the kick can literally send the car sideways which is hugely entertaining. Then by using the middle settings for proper performance driving you can get perfectly smooth upshifts which do not upset the car.

[aryaahmadi]

When I see Steve, I click on the like button; already been subbed.

[Billeh]

Steve you’re one of the absolute best auto journalists in the world, full stop. Thanks for a great review!

[ForTheLoveOfCarss]

I dont blame you for mistaking it for a dual clutch😃. Great review!

[audimidtowntoronto_]

This newly added Competition Package is craaazy!

[Daveodaddeo]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't stop laughing when I saw the helmet! 😄

[georgimihalkov]

-"How should we name our sportier RS models?"
-"Competition sounds good. And I haven't seen anyone else use that name...certainly none of our direct competitors."

[juandavidsa]

Class review… clearly a move to defend the RS4 as the go to fast wagon vs the new M3 touring

[An.Individual]

2:29 it is not a dual clutch gearbox. It is ZF8 torque converter auto. Nice but he shouldn't be saying it's a DCT.

[jonathanwilcox]

The seats are immense. Just a shame they won't be available on any UK RS4 Comps.

[RS-jblf]

They won’t hike power because it would eat into the segment above. You don’t harm sales for RS6 doing that. This is marketing gents.

[randyragy]

The gearbox "jutter" he is talking about is called AMAX shifting. It is that fastest possible shift you can get from an ZF8 automatic transmission. Yes you give up some comfort for speed.

[augustortiz]

I can’t believe Audi doesn’t sell the RS4 Avant here in the US. What a wasted opportunity.

[toomf]

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE STEVE REVIEW THE 2022 RS4 R ABT

[keithmason]

The judder is the gear limiter, Audi have tuned it in auto to the limit, the standard model thrashed in manual mode does the same

[cg-jiul]

It’s a tiptronic, torque converter 8 speed