3957 lbs / 1795 kg.

Couple of tidbits...19" wheels are STANDARD in US..this is not the case in other places. The RS 4 press events are soon..and the trade mags in the US will have their ability to test the car soon.

BTW, the source of this information is from within Audi...not at a dealership.

Hi Steve,

Yeah, that sounds about right considering my S4 tips the scales at over 4k lbs. However, the 19" wheels are standard worldwide and the 18's are a no cost option. At least, that's what every ROW brochure I have seen says.

Cheers!

the 19" are not a worldwide standard...

So, you gonna get one?

Standard in Germany, but they appear to be in most other countries. I don't think it matters that much as the 19's don't add any significant weight when comparing factory spec wheels.

Yes, I will be getting an RS4 sometime later this year.

happened there?

and where does that leave the power / weight ratio when compared to the B5 RS4?

From what I remember, the hood and fenders are lighter (I could be wrong). The flywheel is no doubt lighter too. But, I have a feeling that's offset by the wheels, tires, brakes, and DRC suspension components.

weighs either.

They won't give you a spare tire because cars are becoming heavier everywhere else and laden with equipment that people seem to want. The manufacturers would rather give you that equipment in the place of a spare tire because it is more likely to be used more often than a spare. As to the fenders and hood, Audi used aluminum to try and redistribute weight more evenly front to back. Not necessarily weight savings in general.

Let's face it, Audi is not selling us a race or a track car. It's a young executive's sedan capable of very fast speeds and excellent handling on back roads. With all that standard equipment, it can't be much lighter than Steve's quoted number.

<center><img src="http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h238/vikenb/aw.jpg"></center><p>I didn't even notice that drop down menu. For the longest time, I've been accessing AW forums through this menu:

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Both these cars here have the same luxury/safety features. The brakes/wheels are nearly the same. Both meet US safety specs. Both are about the same size. The "ligher" one has a full size spare tire.

One weighs 3600 lbs and the other is rumored to weigh 3900 lbs.

Of course the RS4 has a much stiffer platform. This does NOT account for that much weight difference. I think Audi needs to emphasize making their platforms stiffer through innovation...not just making it heavier. Even a $70k Corvette makes use of much more exotic weight saving materials (full carbon body panels, magnesium roof structure) than the RS4. The M3 CSL offers a beautiful full carbon roof. Audi gives you an aluminum hood. Big deal, you get that on a $30k Subaru.

IMO, the RS4 should be what Audi offers as an "S4". Give us a "real" RS4.

Of two cars one and a half generations apart. I am intimately familiar with the B5 S4 and if I compare it with my B6 S4, I see many weaknesses. The two major ones that come to mind are a weaker body and brakes that aren't worth a damn. This of course, is comparing stock to stock. So, the B5 S4 can be 300 lbs lighter, but it doesn't come close to satisfying my driving feel needs as compared to the B6 S4. If you did the same with any other manufacturer, you'll see that the newer models are always heavier even with very few equipment added. You want lightweight cars, go buy a Lotus Elise/Exige.

from the S4 brakes from any generation.

You are buying into it just like many others. Audi could have made the car lighter with little/no sacrifice.

Not every car gets heavier. Look at the new Corvette again. Still light, with much more power and features than the previous generation.

Look at the new Porsche GT3.

Look at the M3 CSL.

Those are all "halo" performance cars for the respective brands. They all employ composites to keep the weight down. They are all light weight and gained very little from generation to generation.

I saw one in Marina del Rey, CA about 2 months ago. Unfortunately it was dark, and all I had was my cell, so I didn't get a good picture. But definately an "M", plus two german engineer types in the front seats with a laptop.

versions of the RS4

That's at least 100 more than I would have even fancied in my most hateful dreams. I think if you take the spare tire out of a D2 S8 it's lighter.