It is with a feeling of déj� vu that I bring you this news about Audi’s RS4. Earlier this year the blogosphere was alive with word that the RS4 sedan was soon to cease production – at the time it was believed to be because Audi only produce one RS model at a time - and the RS6 was on the horizon.

Well, it appears to be the case for real this time with Audi confirming that the RS4 sedan will cease production in November. The issue this time is that the current RS4 is now based on the old A4 platform, a platform recently replaced by Audi’s new advanced MLP platform.

The sedan version of the RS4 will be the first to get the axe, followed closely by the Avant, both versions will have ceased being manufactured before the end of this year. The Cabriolet will live on for a while longer, eventually meeting its maker sometime in 2008.

A new RS4 is inevitable but nobody knows when it will become a reality. Trying to second guess the Ingolstadt crew is probably a little pointless as they have their hands full with the new and substantially more expensive RS6. No RS4 effectively leaves Audi without a BMW M3 counterpart, which is a shame as it seemed the general opinion of those who have test driven both was that the RS4 was a fraction better. Seems to me its a case of “buy now or forever hold your peace…”. Sad news indeed.

Steane

[Source: MotorAuthority]

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