It was the slowest Audi RS4 on the market at the time of its launch. But it was the car that brought more smiles per miles than the rest of its stablemates.
The 2006 Audi RS4 was introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, in January. Later that year it became available for the European customers and the convertible version was introduced when the summer was almost gone. But that didn't stop anyone to buy an all-wheel-drive cabriolet with a powerful engine under the hood.
From the outside, the RS4 Cabriolet featured a specific single-frame grille design. The lowered suspension and the silver A-pillars were part of the specific elements. From the side, the specific light-alloy wheels and the discrete RS4 badges on the rear quarter panels were the only clues. At the back, dual oval exhausts were shown under the apron. But there was no aggressive design.
Inside, the RS4 featured a carbon-fiber trim on the center console, dashboard trims, and door-panels. The flat-bottom steering wheel and the aluminum pedals were part of the package. The car was fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox and that could enhance the driving experience, but not the comfort on day-to-day traffic. The RS4 Cabriolet featured sport seats, but bucket-seats were available as an option. The soft top was removable in 21 seconds at the touch of a button.
The engine was a 4.2-liter V8 with direct fuel injection (FSI) that offered 420 hp. The newly developed all-wheel-drive system, with a self-locking center differential.