Audi decides its fantastic RS 4 is safe for U.S. consumption in convertible form as well.BY JARED GALL
Maybe you need a 420-hp, 8250-rpm V-8 in your family convertible. Or maybe you need to peel the top off of your 420-hp, 8250-rpm, V-8–powered family sedan. Either way, the time to rejoice is now. Audi has announced that it will be bringing its RS 4 cabriolet to the U.S. for 2008.
Mechanically identical to the RS 4 sedan, the RS 4 cabrio is powered by a high-winding 4.2-liter direct-injection V-8 herding 420 horsepower through a six-speed manual to all four wheels. The conversion from sedan to convertible cuts the door count to two and adds about 300 pounds to the RS 4’s saddle bags, but the RS 4 cabrio should still be good for 0-to-60 toots in 4.8 or so seconds.The other great—as in scale, as in uh-oh—addition in the transformation from sedan to convertible is in the price. Audi has yet to announce pricing for the convertible, but figure on paying at least $8000 more for the droptop two-door than for the sedan, meaning a cool $77,000. First thing we’d do after driving this sweetie off the lot (well, after the break-in miles, anyway) would be a top-down rip through a nice, long tunnel, since the 4.2 screaming to its 8250-rpm redline is one of the tastier exhaust symphonies this side of $100,000.
Those with the money will want to wipe up their slobber, get to the nearest Audi dealership quickly, and throw down a deposit, as only 300 2008-model RS 4 convertibles will make it to the U.S. Keep an eye out for them starting this fall.
