Bad news. Audi has confirmed that the next generation RS4 will not be coming to North America. There were rumours of it getting the axe a while back and the reasons for its death are essentially true. Audi doesn’t want to over saturate our market with RS models. Which is essentially saying, Audi doesn’t want you to have too much fun.
Audi says the lack of an RS4 in the line up will be filled by the RS5. In my opinion, that doesn’t quite fill the shoes of the RS4. The RS5, from what I’ve consistently read, has too much understeer for its own good. Not to mention it’s more expensive and not nearly as practical as the RS4. Even BMW and Mercedes-Benz offer sedan versions of the M3 and C63 AMG. Audi says we will get a next generation RS6 to fill the gap of no RS sedan in the lineup, which also doesn’t make sense because in my eyes the RS6 would compete with the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-Benz E36 AMG, not the M3 or C63 AMG.
And to add insult to injury, Audi is developing an RS4 Avant (that we will not get either) which could have gone head to head with the Cadillac CTS-V wagon.
Sounds like Audi’s product planning department for North America needs a bit of a tune up.
In the meantime, it looks like if you want a compact sports sedan with four rings on the grille in Canada, the best you’ll be able to do is the S4. Which isn’t disappointing by any means, it just hurts a little knowing it’s not the best Audi can do.
[Inside Line]
