PERFORMANCE review

Updates have transformed the Audi RS 4 before it bows out for good, but can it beat the BMW M3 Touring?

HIGH-performance estates have always been hugely appealing, thanks to their accessible performance, fine quality and - to those in the know- a seriously high level of cool.

But times are changing, and as the German big three of Audi Sport, BMW M and Mercedes-AMG readjust to new tastes and regulations, so the lines between them have never been so blurred. This is perhaps best illustrated in the mid-size fast-estate class, a sector that was once ruled by Audi and occasionally threatened by AMG, but is now commanded by BMW M and its brilliant M3 Competition Touring.

As a retort, Audi has revealed its own Competition model, a more focused version of the existing RS 4 Avant. As it stands, the regular Audi simply couldn't compete with the BMW, so this limited-run variant starts this test as the underdog, with BMW's bigger, brawnier, but heavier M3 Touring ready to once again attempt to overshadow 30 years of fast Audi estate heritage.

Audi RS 4 Competition

MODEL TESTED: RS 4 Avant Competition quattro
PRICE: £84,600
POWERTRAIN: 2.9-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol, 444bhp

THE Audi RS 4 Avant Competition is an extremely rare car in the UK, with only 75 units being sold, all in Mythos Black and all with an identical specification. It costs £84,600, which adds £16,010 to the price of the basic RS 4.

Tech highlights

TO lift the performance of an already-focused car, Audi has worked on the suspension, cabin insulation and transmission software.