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.
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.
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.
From rest, the RS4 Cabrio will crack 62mph in just 4.9seconds, 124mph in just 17.4seconds and only will stop itself breaking the land speed record for a convertible once the magical 155mph electronically controlled top speed is hit. Getting back down from those heady speeds is no trouble either, as the RS4 has high-performance eight-piston ventilated brake discs at the front measuring a colossal 365mm in diameter. Supercar-style ceramic brakes are a 4235 option and these will reduce the car's unsprung weight, giving a more nimble handling dynamic. They're super-strong, resisting fade after a hard day's pounding and as an added bonus, they should last for over 180,000miles - outlasting regular steel discs at least two times over.
Inside, you get a choice between leather Recaro sports seats, very comfortable when cruising along, or RS4 bucket seats that'll hug you in places you didn't know even existed, keeping you pinned into the seat through even the harshest of corners. Other RS4 niceties include the flat-bottomed steering wheel complete with Sport button, which quickens up the throttle response and changes the exhaust note, drilled aluminium pedals and real carbon-fibre trim, all impeccably made and fitted to Audi's exacting standards.
The rear seats are only really a realistic option for long-distance travel if the front seat passengers are on the short side, though, as there's not a huge amount of legroom on offer. Access is somewhat restricted if you have the bucket seats fitted as they only tip forward, which means if the roof is up, you'll need a degree in contortionism to get in.
On the outside, Audi's big-toothed grille features with some gills in the front wings to give the front brakes a bit of cooling. 19" 7-double-spoke alloys are standard on all RS4s - although the no-cost option 18" 5-spoke wheels suit the lines of the Cabrio more, and the ride is also marginally better.
However, the RS4 Cabrio feels a little too conservative. People buy BMW M3 Cabrios because of their bling-factor, but the RS4 Cabrio looks too sensible to be considered an uber-motor by many. It lacks any sparkle to differentiate it from normal A4 Cabrios - especially the S4, which although 70bhp down in power, will perform more than adequately for most buyers. The fact that the S4 Cabrio is some 16,645 cheaper is even more reason to give the RS4 Cabrio a miss. That engine is very good, but it's no way worth over sixteen grand.
So who is actually going to buy the RS4 Cabriolet? Those wanting a hardcore road monster will always go for the saloon (or the Avant, if they need the extra bootspace) as no matter how hard engineers try, the Cabrio will always compromise pure driving dynamics. Those wanting a bit of flash will favour a BMW M or Merc AMG, which will always carry more street cred. Finally, those wanting a drop-top to cruise the Riviera will be better off with a regular A4 Cab - a 3.2 V6 with an auto 'box, perhaps - not a race-bred manual-shifting V8.
If, however, you have 60 grand burning a hole in your pocket and just have to have a drop-top that'll outrun an M3, then the RS4 Cabrio is a welcome addition to the Audi line-up. Just be aware you'll be in very limited company.
source:http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/driving-impressions/2006/A/audi/rs4-cabriolet.html
http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/A/audi/rs4/03-large/06-cabrio-f-a.jpg
