Audi RS4: which version to buy
If the question is which Audi RS4 to buy, the data split is sharp. Across four generations the catalogue lists 2.7 MT, three 4.2 MT variants, 4.2 S-tronic, and two 2.9 AT trims (fourth generation plus restyling). Peak power runs from 380 hp to 450 hp. The fastest measured 0–100 km/h is 4.1 s on both 2.9 AT versions; the slowest measured is 4.9 s on 2.7 MT and on two of the three 4.2 MT cars.
If the question is which Audi RS4 to buy, the data split is sharp. Across four generations the catalogue lists 2.7 MT, three 4.2 MT variants, 4.2 S-tronic, and two 2.9 AT trims (fourth generation plus restyling). Peak power runs from 380 hp to 450 hp. The fastest measured 0–100 km/h is 4.1 s on both 2.9 AT versions; the slowest measured is 4.9 s on 2.7 MT and on two of the three 4.2 MT cars. Torque is 440 Nm on the first-generation 2.7 MT, 430 Nm on every V8, then 600 Nm on 2.9 AT — a 170 Nm step for the same 450 hp as 4.2 S-tronic. Body choice is Estate 5-door except generation 2, which is Cabrio only. Prices are not measured.
Audi RS4 generations compared
1 generation (2000-05-01 to 2001-09-30) is one Estate 5-door: 2.7 MT. It is the lightest RS4 in the set at 1620 kg kerb, 2170 kg gross, with 110 mm ground clearance and a 62 L tank. It is the only version with Distributed injection (multi-point). Power is the lowest here: 380 hp (280 kW) at 6100 rpm from 2671 cm³, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, Turbo, compression 9, bore × stroke 81 × 86.4, fuel 95. That is 142 hp per litre (380 ÷ 2.671) and 4.26 kg per hp (1620 ÷ 380). 0–100 km/h is 4.9 s; top speed 250. City, highway, mixed consumption, CO2 and eco class are not measured.
2 generation (2005-01-01 to 2009-12-31) is Cabrio only, three versions, all named 4.2 MT, all 420 hp (309 kW) at 7800 rpm, 430 Nm at 5500, 8 cylinders V-shaped, Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), compression 12.5, 84.5 × 92.8, Manual, 6 gears, AWD, tank 63 L, clearance 110 mm, 0–100 4.8–4.9 s, top speed 250. They are not the same car:
- 4.2 MT at 1855 kg: 4163 cm³, Turbo, fuel 98, 0–100 4.9 s. Consumption, CO2 and eco class not measured. Gross 2305 kg. Heaviest of the three; 4.42 kg/hp (1855 ÷ 420). Payload 450 kg (2305 − 1855).
- 4.2 MT at 1650 kg: 4163 cm³, boost No, fuel 98, 0–100 4.8 s — the quickest of the three. City 19.7, highway 10.1, mixed 13.7 L/100 km. Gross 2260 kg. Lightest V8 and best kg/hp in generation 2: 3.93 kg/hp (1650 ÷ 420). Payload 610 kg.
- 4.2 MT at 1710 kg: 4165 cm³ (2 cm³ more than the other two), Turbo, fuel 95, 0–100 4.9 s. Consumption, CO2 and eco class not measured. Gross 2280 kg. 4.07 kg/hp (1710 ÷ 420). Payload 570 kg.
Power density on 4.2 MT is about 101 hp/L (420 ÷ 4.163 or 420 ÷ 4.165). Versus 2.7 MT, you gain 40 hp and 2 cm of extra tank volume, lose 10 Nm, and in Cabrio form you can be 30 kg heavier (1650 vs 1620) or 235 kg heavier (1855 vs 1620) depending on which 4.2 MT you take.
3 generation (2012-08-01 to 2015-08-31) returns to Estate 5-door with one version: 4.2 S-tronic. 450 hp (331 kW) at 8250 rpm, 430 Nm at 4000–6000, 4163 cm³, Gasoline, 8 cylinders V-shaped, boost No, Robotic 7 gears, AWD, fuel 98, compression 11. Versus 4.2 MT that is +30 hp, the same 430 Nm, one extra gear, and a change from Manual to Robotic. 0–100 is 4.7 s — 0.1 s quicker than the fastest 4.2 MT and 0.2 s quicker than the other two. Kerb 1870 kg is the highest in the catalogue; 4.16 kg/hp (1870 ÷ 450). Gross 2365 kg, payload 495 kg. Clearance 120 mm — 10 mm more than generations 1 and 2. Tank 61 L. Mixed 10.7 L/100 km is 3.0 L/100 km less than the only 4.2 MT with a measured mixed figure (13.7). CO2 249, Euro 5.
4 generation (2017-05-01 to 2019-12-31) and 4 generation, restyling (from 2019-01-01, stop not measured) share the same Estate 5-door 2.9 AT: 450 hp (331 kW) at 5700–6700, 600 Nm at 1900–5000, 2894 cm³, Gasoline, 6 cylinders V-shaped, Turbo, Automatic 8 gears, AWD, Direct injection (direct), compression 10, 84.5 × 86, fuel 95, 0–100 4.1 s, top speed 250, tank 58 L, Euro 6, independent spring suspension, ventilated disc brakes front; rear brakes labelled Disc ventilated. Power matches 4.2 S-tronic; torque is 170 Nm higher (+40%). Displacement is 1269 cm³ smaller (−30%). Specific output is 155 hp/L (450 ÷ 2.894) versus 108 hp/L on 4.2 S-tronic (450 ÷ 4.163). Peak power arrives 1550–2550 rpm lower than the 8250 rpm of 4.2 S-tronic. 0–100 drops 0.6 s versus generation 3 and 0.8 s versus 2.7 MT.
The two 2.9 AT cars are not identical. Pre-restyling kerb 1790 kg, mixed 8.8, city 11.6, CO2 200; gross weight not measured. Restyling kerb 1745 kg (45 kg less), mixed 9.2 (+0.4), city 12.5 (+0.9), highway still 7.2, CO2 208 (+8), gross 2350 kg, payload 605 kg. Kg per hp: 3.98 (1790 ÷ 450) then 3.88 (1745 ÷ 450) — the lowest in the set. Ground clearance and wheels: not measured on either 2.9 AT.
Audi RS4 engine and specs (every named version)
| Version | Generation | hp | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 MT | 1, Estate 5-door | 380 | 440 | 2671 | Gasoline, 95 | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Manual, 6 | AWD |
| 4.2 MT (1855 kg) | 2, Cabrio | 420 | 430 | 4163 | Gasoline, 98 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | Manual, 6 | AWD |
| 4.2 MT (1650 kg) | 2, Cabrio | 420 | 430 | 4163 | Gasoline, 98 | 8, V-shaped | No | Manual, 6 | AWD |
| 4.2 MT (1710 kg) | 2, Cabrio | 420 | 430 | 4165 | Gasoline, 95 | 8, V-shaped | Turbo | Manual, 6 | AWD |
| 4.2 S-tronic | 3, Estate 5-door | 450 | 430 | 4163 | Gasoline, 98 | 8, V-shaped | No | Robotic, 7 | AWD |
| 2.9 AT (2017–2019) | 4, Estate 5-door | 450 | 600 | 2894 | Gasoline, 95 | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
| 2.9 AT (restyling) | 4 restyling, Estate 5-door | 450 | 600 | 2894 | Gasoline, 95 | 6, V-shaped | Turbo | Automatic, 8 | AWD |
Engine size in the data is 2671, 2894, 4163 or 4165 cm³. The 8-cylinder layout appears only on 4.2 MT and 4.2 S-tronic. Turbo is on 2.7 MT, two of three 4.2 MT, and both 2.9 AT; boost No is on the 1650 kg 4.2 MT and on 4.2 S-tronic. Front, longitudinal is the same on every version. Valves per cylinder: 4 on every version.
Audi RS4 horsepower, 0–100, mpg (fuel use)
Measured 0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest: 2.9 AT 4.1 s (both); 4.2 S-tronic 4.7 s; 4.2 MT (1650 kg, boost No) 4.8 s; 2.7 MT and the two Turbo 4.2 MT 4.9 s. Top speed is 250 on every version that lists it.
Torque window: 2.7 MT 440 Nm at 2500; all 4.2 MT 430 Nm at 5500; 4.2 S-tronic 430 Nm from 4000–6000; 2.9 AT 600 Nm from 1900–5000. The restyled and pre-restyle 2.9 AT hold peak torque 3100 rpm wide; 4.2 S-tronic holds 430 Nm across 2000 rpm.
Fuel use where measured:
- 4.2 MT (1650 kg): city 19.7 / highway 10.1 / mixed 13.7. The other two 4.2 MT: not measured.
- 4.2 S-tronic: 14.6 / 8.5 / 10.7. Versus the measured 4.2 MT, city is 5.1 lower, highway 1.6 lower, mixed 3.0 lower.
- 2.9 AT (2017–2019): 11.6 / 7.2 / 8.8. Versus 4.2 S-tronic: city −3.0, highway −1.3, mixed −1.9.
- 2.9 AT restyling: 12.5 / 7.2 / 9.2. Versus the earlier 2.9 AT: city +0.9, mixed +0.4, highway unchanged.
- 2.7 MT: city, highway, mixed not measured.
Approximate mixed range from tank ÷ mixed × 100: 4.2 MT (1650 kg) 63 / 13.7 ≈ 460 km; 4.2 S-tronic 61 / 10.7 ≈ 570 km; 2.9 AT 2017–2019 58 / 8.8 ≈ 659 km; restyling 58 / 9.2 ≈ 630 km. 2.7 MT and the two Turbo 4.2 MT cannot be ranged: consumption not measured.
CO2: 4.2 S-tronic 249; 2.9 AT 200; restyling 208. 2.7 MT and all 4.2 MT: not measured. Eco class: Euro 5 on 4.2 S-tronic, Euro 6 on both 2.9 AT, not measured on generations 1–2.
Audi RS4 dimensions, weight, tank, clearance
Wheels: not measured on every version.
Ground clearance: 110 mm on 2.7 MT and all three 4.2 MT; 120 mm on 4.2 S-tronic; not measured on both 2.9 AT.
Tank: 62 L (2.7 MT), 63 L (4.2 MT), 61 L (4.2 S-tronic), 58 L (2.9 AT). The newest cars carry 4–5 L less than generation 1–2.
Kerb, lightest to heaviest: 2.7 MT 1620; 4.2 MT (boost No) 1650; 4.2 MT (4165 cm³) 1710; restyling 2.9 AT 1745; 2.9 AT 2017–2019 1790; 4.2 MT (1855 kg) 1855; 4.2 S-tronic 1870.
Gross: 2.7 MT 2170; 4.2 MT 2260 / 2280 / 2305; restyling 2.9 AT 2350; 4.2 S-tronic 2365; 2.9 AT 2017–2019 not measured.
Payload (gross − kerb) where both exist: 4.2 MT 1650 kg 610; restyling 2.9 AT 605; 4.2 MT 1710 kg 570; 2.7 MT 550; 4.2 S-tronic 495; 4.2 MT 1855 kg 450.
Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear on every version. Front brakes Ventilated disc on every version. Rear: Disc on generations 1–2; Disc ventilated from 4.2 S-tronic onward.
Which Audi RS4 version to choose
Buy the restyling 2.9 AT if the brief is “fastest estate, highest torque, lowest kg/hp.” It matches the earlier 2.9 AT on 450 hp, 600 Nm, 4.1 s, 250, Automatic 8, AWD, and undercuts it by 45 kg. It is 125 kg lighter than 4.2 S-tronic at the same horsepower. Mixed use is 0.4 L/100 km higher than the 2017–2019 2.9 AT and CO2 is 8 g higher; you trade a little measured economy for the lower kerb and a listed gross (2350 kg vs not measured). Clearance and wheels remain not measured.
Buy the 2017–2019 2.9 AT if mixed consumption is the tie-breaker among 450 hp cars. 8.8 mixed and 200 CO2 are the lowest measured in the whole table. You give up 45 kg and a listed gross weight versus restyling. Highway is the same 7.2. Acceleration is the same 4.1 s.
Buy 4.2 S-tronic if you want 8 cylinders, boost No, and an estate, and will accept slower acceleration. You keep 450 hp but lose 170 Nm and 0.6 s to 2.9 AT. You gain 10 mm of listed clearance versus generations 1–2 (generation 4 clearance not measured). Fuel is 98 rather than 95. Mixed 10.7 versus 8.8–9.2 on 2.9 AT. It is the heaviest RS4 here (1870 kg) and Euro 5 rather than Euro 6.
Buy 4.2 MT only if the body must be Cabrio. There is no Estate 5-door in generation 2. Among the three identically named 4.2 MT cars:
- The 1650 kg car (boost No, 4163 cm³, 98) is the one to take if you want the lowest weight, the only measured consumption in the generation (13.7 mixed), the best payload (610 kg), and the best 0–100 in generation 2 (4.8 s). Kg/hp 3.93 beats 4.2 S-tronic (4.16) and sits next to the later 2.9 AT figures.
- The 1710 kg car (4165 cm³, Turbo, 95) is the only 4.2 MT on 95 fuel. Consumption not measured. It sits 60 kg above the light Cabrio and 145 kg below the heavy one.
- The 1855 kg car (4163 cm³, Turbo, 98) is the heaviest Cabrio, with the smallest payload (450 kg) and 0–100 4.9 s. Consumption not measured. Relative to the 1650 kg 4.2 MT you carry 205 kg extra for the same 420 hp and 430 Nm.
Buy 2.7 MT if the numbers that matter are mass, tank, and early production. It is 380 hp not 450, 0–100 4.9 s not 4.1, but kerb 1620 kg is the floor of the catalogue, tank 62 L is near the generation-2 maximum, and it is the only Distributed injection (multi-point) RS4. Fuel use, CO2 and eco class are not measured, so economy cannot be compared. Versus restyling 2.9 AT you are 125 kg lighter with 70 hp and 160 Nm less, and 0.8 s slower to 100. Power per litre (142 hp/L) is second only to 2.9 AT (155 hp/L).
What each generation actually changed, in arithmetic. Generation 2 versus 1: +40 hp, −10 Nm, body becomes Cabrio, displacement jumps from 2671 to 4163–4165, cylinders 6 to 8, injection becomes Direct injection (direct), compression 9 to 12.5. Generation 3 versus 2: body back to Estate 5-door, +30 hp, torque unchanged at 430 Nm, Manual 6 becomes Robotic 7, 0–100 improves 0.1–0.2 s, kerb rises to 1870 kg, mixed consumption appears at 10.7 versus 13.7 on the one measured 4.2 MT. Generation 4 versus 3: same 450 hp, +170 Nm, cylinders 8 to 6, 4163 to 2894 cm³, boost No to Turbo, Robotic 7 to Automatic 8, 0–100 4.7 to 4.1, mixed 10.7 to 8.8–9.2, tank 61 to 58, Euro 5 to Euro 6, CO2 249 to 200–208. Restyling versus pre-restyle 2.9 AT: −45 kg, city +0.9, mixed +0.4, CO2 +8, gross weight becomes measured.
There is no sedan in this dataset: every non-Cabrio row is Estate 5-door. There are no prices. If the buy decision is “wagon, 450 hp, 4.1 s, 600 Nm,” both 2.9 AT versions fit and the restyling one is the lighter; if it is “8 cylinders, boost No, estate,” only 4.2 S-tronic fits; if it is “open body,” only the three 4.2 MT cars fit.