While Audi’s executive officers were showcasing the Ingolstadt-based firm’s latest conceptual and production models such as the S6, S7, S8 and the Urban studies, the company’s engineers were hard at work trying out a prototype of the upcoming RS4 series in Avant form.
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.
What remains to be seen, however, is what type of engine is lurking under the hood as Audi has recently begun updating its powertrain lineup.
While a modified version of Audi’s 3.0-liter turbocharged unit may still be in the cards, it is possible that the RS4 could get the RS5 Coupe’s 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 or the newly revealed 4.0-liter turbocharged unit launched in the S6 and S7 with 420HP, and the S8 with 520HP.
In any case, the RS4’s powerplant should be good for more than 400-ponies that will be transferred to all four wheels through Audi’s quattro system.
The new RS4 is expected to make its premiere at next year’s Geneva Salon in March.
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