Introduction

Audi RS 4 - 2007 First Drive: Strap on the helmet, open the 2007 Audi RS 4’s heavy driver’s door, and slide into the Recaro bucket seat onto the firm cushions and past the stiff bolsters. Adjust the silver-trimmed exterior mirrors with the button on the door panel, check the rearview mirror, and use the power seat adjustments to get comfortable while putting the aluminum pedals and the leather-and-alloy shift knob within easy reach. After a practice row through all six gears, learn that grabbing second gear puts your elbow into your ribcage. Properly position the steering wheel, and then crank the key. Take a second just to enjoy the V8’s rumble, and then depress the S button on the instrument panel to open up the exhaust for a louder note. Rev the engine, watch the tach climb to redline, and listen to the unencumbered song of 420 horses ready for you to drop the hammer. Mr. Track Guy looks you in the eye, you both look to the end of pit lane, and your peripheral vision catches his arm drop, symbolizing that all systems are go. You’re up, junior…

You’ll have to read Page 5 for more details on what it’s like to flog a 420-horsepower, all-wheel-drive German sedan wearing Pirelli PZero tires on a track, but here’s a hint: Chances are this car’s limits far surpass your own. Available for comparison was a respectable ride in its own right, the 340-horsepower Audi S4. However, after several laps in the RS 4, the S4 felt less powerful, less hunkered down and secure in the corners, and less stable barreling full bore down the straights. The S4 is a remarkable ride, but the RS 4 makes it feel like a Hyundai. Apparently, an extra $20,000 buys more than fancy bodywork and carbon-fiber trim. Commuters will be happy to know the RS 4 is also a competent daily driver, except for issues with rear seat room and a stiff ride. Thankfully, neither point is a concern when throttle-steering around a corner on a closed course.

Features

Anything with a $68,820 price tag (including a $720 destination charge and a $2,100 gas guzzler tax) should be big on standard and lean on optional. Such is the case with the 2007 Audi RS 4, which comes decked out with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, headlight washers, heated mirrors, adaptive high-intensity discharge headlights, dual-zone climate control, power heated Recaro front bucket seats, leather upholstery, and a lap timer. There’s also a power sunroof that, like all side windows, features one-touch opening and closing, as well as a 10-speaker audio system with an MP3 player, subwoofer, and six-disc CD changer. The $66,720 sticker also buys a rear parking aid, a tire pressure monitoring system, a trip computer, an exterior temperature gauge, and six airbags – two front, two front-side, and two side-curtains.

Should that bounty of equipment not be enough, a short list of options aims to satisfy buyers of the fully-loaded persuasion. In exchange for $4,700, the Premium Package offers multiple memory functions, rain-sensing wipers, electrochromic interior and exterior mirrors, Bluetooth capability, heated rear seats, a power rear sunshade, a navigation system, and a Bose sound system. Individual options include Sirius satellite radio, rear side airbags, brushed aluminum interior trim, and a sunroof delete option for weekend racers looking to cut weight.