Audi RS4

     The RS4, as the name indicates, is the finest interpretation of Audi’s Quattro thinking. Not that Audi has not tried the stunt before. Actually, they have been chasing classic rear wheel driven legends like the M3s and AMG Mercs for some time now. But for the first time since the days of Walter Rohrl and his all-conquering Quattro coupe, a four-wheel drive car is going to lead that segment. Let me tell you why. First, let me just, erkick start the RS4 with the cool button start.

      Driving off the pit-lane, the RS4 lets you know that you are not driving any humdrum A4. The slight rumble from the exhaust, the sports-car vibes that cannot elude the seat of your pants and, of course, the seats that try to locate the exact location of your kidneys so that it can keep you grabbed. The last time I drove a four-wheel drive sedan hard I crashed spectacularly as anyone playing GT4 for the first time would. So I try to get familiar with things – starting with a blip of the throttle. The noise of engine revs building up has never been so spectacularly calibrated. It starts with a crackle and settles into steely rumble, and gets on to a lumpy thrum (the V8 got to announce itself, right?) and pales off with a hint of a wail which is normally reserved to only genuine supercars. It really sounds like a music system tuned by someone whose middle name is Equaliser – you don’t miss the subtle low notes yet high frequencies will never get people to look for forgotten bomb shelters. Brilliant.