Audi to phase out RS4?

[Devon]

Report: Audi to phase out RS4 sedan later this year

06/15/07, 12:01pm, EDT

Audi will discontinue its RS4 sedan in the very near future, according to an unconfirmed report from the U.K.'s Autocar magazine. The German automaker will keep the RS4 Cabriolet and Avant, but will stop producing the regular four-door sedan.

The reason for the move is to make room for the forthcoming RS6, according to the report. The RS6 will be considerably more expensive, and will use a turbocharged 5.0-litre V10. It will debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

RS5 to blame?

If Autocar's report is indeed accurate, a more likely explanation for the RS4 sedan's discontinuation might be the forthcoming Audi RS5. While the A5 and S5 coupes have already debuted, the RS5 is still in the works. When launched, it will offer all the features of the RS4 in a two-door format.

Still, it seems strange Audi would scrap the RS4 sedan when the BMW M3 sedan is right around the corner. The only possible explanation for this is limited production capacity, with the RS5 and RS6 deemed priorities.

Eventually, Audi will phase out its A4, S4, and RS4 Cabriolets in favor of A5, S5, and RS5 drop-tops. Why? Because the A5 is essentially a two-door A4, and once the the A5 Cabriolet is launched, it will replace the A4 version.

With the RS4 Sedan and Cabriolet eventually gone, we don't think there'd be much hope for the low-volume RS4 Avant to stay in production.

So does this mean the whole RS4 line will be dead in a few years? We'll hold judgement until we hear something from Audi directly. The RS4 Sedan has only been on the market for two years, and discontinuing it now seems hard to believe.

Source

It will be a real shame if they get rid of the RS4 for good.

[BlitzR]

Hmm unconfirmed, theres still hope. Everyone buy an Audi RS4.

[watto]

Unconfirmed report.

Wait for Audi to say something, if anything.

[fbc]

Provided they still produce the Avant version, I'm happy. But yeah, I'd be very suprised (and massively saddened) to see the model dropped - particularly with the current model generating such praise, which is why I'm not believing this report much.

[Donington]

Good news is this will make it a future classic.

[-Cpt. J.-]

Me thinks if this turns out to be true, it will make a lot of people at BMW really hapi.
Merc cannot compete with BMW, no american company can compete with BMW only Audi can right now. Well... maby they drop it because VW are making the R36 Passat?

However it is very likely this will turn out to be a "report".

[EsPpY]

I thought it ended already ?

http://germancarscene.com/2007/06/15...on-production/

[BlitzR]

Same source

[ahpadt]

Noes! The sedan looks so much better then the lumpy Avant...

[powah]

Argh! Not the M3 killer!!

[Devon]

Audi RS4 demise rumors clarified

06/19/07, 12:52pm, EDT

Rumors of the Audi RS4's death have been at least slightly exaggerated, an Audi spokesman has said. Last week, British car magazine Autocar claimed Audi would end production of the RS4 imminently to make way for the RS6. Not quite true, says Patrick Hespen of Audi Media Relations.

"There will be a full build of the 2008 model year RS4 sedan, and production is still continuing," Hespen told Winding Road. He said the RS4 was only ever meant to have a two year production run, with 2008 being that second year.

Hespen said Audi will continue its tradition of offering only one "RS" model at a time, meaning the RS6 will have to wait for the 2009 model year (mid-calender 2008) to enter the fold.

Given Audi's dedication to its "one RS car at a time" policy, chances for an RS5 seem slim. Instead, it looks like A5 enthusiasts will have to be content with with the S5 for now.

As for a more potent R8, we already know it's in the works, but any type of "RS" designation can be ruled out. "R8 S," "R9," or even "R10" remain possibilities, however.

Source

[fbc]

Eh? Only one RS model at a time? Seems kinda dumb.

[LeMans GTR]

Yeah especially when BMW and Mercedes have 5 or 6 peformance models at one time

[The_Finn]

damnit i wanted to see an RS5 so badly.... but atleast they are still making the RS4

[Ezbok58a]

No! I love the RS4! (we're literally fighting each other over the chance to move one around at work).

Although here in the states, all we get is the RS4 sedan. I want the damned AVANT! Fast Station Wagons are Cool!!!! Curse you Audi!!!!!

[andyhui01]

fine for me... I love wagons, esp performance ones , but if they take away the whole lineup of RS4, then its a no.

[M3_Powered]

RS4's > RS5's IMO.

[American TG Man]

It's confirmed?!

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...

[BlitzR]

^It still has another year of production.

[Aiolos]

that is kinda stupid to only have 1 rs model at a time. I mean yeah, it means the model is special, ooooo, but what about all the BMW M's and Benz's AMGs and Lexus's upcoming F's? (are there gonna be more than 1 of those btw? or just is-f?)