The upcoming Audi RS 4 is unlikely to escape the downsizing trend and may ditch the naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8 engine for a force-fed V6.
As the next-generation Audi A4 has to comply with stricter emissions regulations, the RS 4 has to contribute somehow to lowering the family’s carbon footprint, and the only way to do that is by adopting a smaller, more efficient engine.
Quattro GmbH’s managing director Heinz Hollerweger told a group of Australian journalists that the next RS 4 doesn’t have to be a V8. “There are nice six-cylinder engines with high power,” Hollerweger told Motoring. However, he didn’t get into details about the upcoming RS 4’s engine but stressed that Audi has to “continue this success story.”
The next generation RS 4 Avant is expected to arrive not long after the all-new A4’s launch, rumored to debut at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show. That represents a change in Audi’s philosophy, as RS versions have usually been launched towards the end of regular model’s life cycles.
Another change could be the return of the RS 4 sedan and the introduction of an RS 6 sedan. “We are considering sedan RS models, yes. But there’s no decision. The question is which body style is the most international. It could be a sedan or a sportback,” Hollerweger said.
When asked about the future of V8 engines in Audi RS models, he replied that the next RS 6 could still feature a biturbo V8 unit. As for the next-generation R8, he confirmed the use of a V10 engine. “The next R8 will have to be 10-cylinder,” said Quattro GmbH’s boss.
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