ABT Sportsline has treaded carefully with its tune for Audi's super-wagon offering some mild performance and styling upgrades.
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So let's be more specific: can a performance orientated Volvo family car threaten two of Germany's finest and fastest mid-size sports models, the BMW M3 and the Audi RS4?
If we're talking about the Volvo S60 Polestar Performance sedan, it certainly has the brute force to do so. The only problem is that, for now, the S60 Polestar Performance is a one-off model that has yet to receive the green light for even a limited series production run.
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The RS4 makes its comeback as a station wagon featuring the same 4.2-liter V8 engine found in the RS5 models. The naturally aspirated eight-cylinder unit is good for 450PS (444bhp) at 8,250 rpm and a peak torque of 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft) available from 4,000 to 6,000 rpm. That's a 30bhp improvement over the previous RS4.
Audi's seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with up to 70 percent flowing to the front or as much as 85 percent to the rear with a default 40:60 ratio, transfer power to the road.
According to the German automaker, the RS4 Avant can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 4.7 seconds and reach a governed top speed of 250 km/h (155mph), which can be increased to 280 km/h (174mph) upon request, while consuming less than 11lt/100km on average (21.4mpg US).
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As we reported in our scoop story on Monday, the 2013 Audi RS4 adopts the RS5's improved 4.2-liter V8 engine rated at 450PS (444bhp) and 430Nm (317.15 lb-ft), channeled to the road through a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.
We also learn today that the new RS4 Avant allegedly completes the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.7 seconds, a tenth of a second slower than the lighter but also far less practical and roomy RS5 Coupe.
Audi's engineers also made changes to the suspension setup and fitted the RS4 with a more potent braking system and 19-inch wheels shod in low profile, high-performance tires.
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There had been a debate on whether or not the 2013 RS4 Avant would use Audi's new 4.0-liter turbocharged unit launched in the S6 and S7 with 420HP, and the S8 with 520HP, but our insiders tell us that Ingolstadt finally chose the RS5's 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 delivering 450PS (444bhp) and 430Nm (317.15 lb-ft).
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The wider front and rear tracks hiding under blistered wheel arches along with the massive brakes, large alloy wheels and the typical RS-style twin oval tail pipes leave no doubt that this is the upcoming RS4 Avant model.
Even though the prototype is a test mule based on the S4 Avant, there are certain elements that tell us there’s something different about this model. These include the heavily blistered front and rear wheel arches housing the same dark 20-inch alloy rims found on the RS5 Coupe, as well as a modified front bumper with different air vents to supply additional cooling to the engine.
The Cadillac CTS-V Challenge at the Monticello Motor Club race circuit is over and done. The fastest man on the track was former GM Performance Division Executive, John Heinricy with a lap time of 2 minutes and 46.56 seconds. The top three places were occupied by CTS-V cars while Michael Cooper with a private BMW M3 Sedan came in fourth with a lap time of 2 minutes 50.424 seconds. GM's own Bob Lutz was seventh overall with a fastest lap time of 2 minutes and 56.321 seconds. Hit the jump to check out the list with the final lap times (updated) as well as a video presentation of the drivers and cars that participated.Lap times via: Cadillac's Twitter Feed and Autoblog.com
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Fastest Lap Times