While the desire for a very fast estate car may seem peculiar to some, it's one held by many people, and Audi has a long history of catering for it. Two of its most powerful models are in fact only available nowadays in estate form, one being the brutally powerful RS 6 Avant, the other the less powerful but no less thrilling RS 4 Avant tested here.
In its current form, the RS 4 has a 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine which produces up to 444bhp, and to do this without the benefit of turbocharging it has to rev very high. To get full power you have to take it to 8,250rpm, which is well worth doing because it sounds absolutely glorious up there, emitting a scream which I personally find more exciting than the thunderous bellow of the RS 6.
The power is sent through a seven-speed S tronic semi-automatic gearbox to all four wheels. Heavy application of the throttle in mid-corner normally produces either no understeer at all or a movement at the rear which is so slight that it doesn't require correction.
The RS 4 is equally impressive in a straight line, shooting from 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds and reaching a top speed limited to either 155mph or, optionally, 174mph. This is all well and good, but to me a high-performance road car has to be capable of driven slowly as well as quickly. The RS 4 scores very highly here.
There is a suggestion that the rear suspension has been compromised to take into account the possibility of carrying heavy loads, and a tiny amount of steering shake on rougher surfaces. But on the whole, the car is very relaxed on public roads. Speaking of heavy loads, carrying those is certainly possible in the RS 4. Luggage capacity ranges from 490 to 1,430 litres depending on what you do with the rear seats.
You can vary the driving experience by using the standard-fitment drive select system. I found the Comfort setting best for most of the parameters except steering, which I preferred in its firmer form.
Prices start at £56,595, and unusually for an Audi this one has enough standard equipment to make delving into the options list an extravagance rather than a necessity. Part-leather, part-alcantara upholstery, satellite navigation, DAB digital radio, cruise control, roof rails, adaptive highlights, rear parking sensors and splendidly supportive seats are all included in the basic specification.