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Audi RS 4 quattro
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When a car combines that indescribable 'wow' factor with the good manners to be used every day, you know you're on a winner. For the ultimate motoring indulgences look no further than the Luxury Sports Car class. High purchase prices and annual costs, limited practicality and exhilarating driving traits are all hallmarks of this small but elite group. They are every bit as much a showcase of technology as they are a statement of success. For the last several years it's quite literally been a case of 'pick a German, any German'. Every year in Australia's Best Cars' high-end sporting category, the leading Teutonic brands squabble over the spoils. This year, a snarling sedan with four interlocking rings on its grille clobbered the coupes that stood in its way and, at the same time, relegated some legendary machines to secondary status. Audi has taken its Quattro all-wheel-drive system to new levels in the RS4 while turning up the wick on performance. With a high-revving and powerful direct-injection 4.2-litre V8 under the bonnet and the surety of four massively-tyred wheels delivering power and gripping like pit bulls, the RS4 is an inspiring machine. It dominates the class for outright pace and never proves tiring, even though the only gearbox is a six-speed manual. The engine is eminently flexible at low revs while credit is due to Audi's specialist sporting arm RennSport for engineering a user-friendly clutch and gearbox combination. To combat its fast and furious nature, the brakes are amazingly strong and effective, even after punishing hilly runs. Although it lacks the purity and handling delicacy of the Porsche Cayman S, it makes up for that shortfall with prodigious grip, outstanding balance and its own certainty in steering. The RS4's crackling V8, plus the ability to press a button on the steering-wheel to pump up the seat bolstering and quicken the throttle response also provide an entertainment factor that sets this car apart. The usual Audi fundamentals apply, which means a finely-crafted cabin, impressive build standards, high security levels and plenty of active and passive safety features. The high price produces an enviable list of equipment, which makes it more comfortable as a regular commuting car. The suspension is firm and sporty, which brings some low-speed ride issues over sharp edges, while dropping into those stiffly-bolstered front seats can, quite literally, be a pain in the rear end. It's also a thirsty sort with a liking for the top grade of premium petrol. And despite the practicality pluses of extra and useable seats, four doors and a decent boot, there's also no spare wheel, but tyre sealant and a compressor. Like most in the class, this Audi is a highly personal purchase. The RS4's shape and lack of exterior adornments allow it to be a more covert operator than its peers while retaining a functional and spacious cabin. Don't for one moment believe the extra weight of the sedan or its boxy shape saps its sportiness, though. More than any other car here, this German is best at delivering the 'wow' factor. That it remains relevant for daily use is just an added bonus.
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