New Competition packages sharpen Audi RS4 Avant and RS5

Audi is now offering two optional Competition packages on its 2022 RS4 Avant and RS5.

The standard Competition package jazzes up the exterior of both of these Ingolstadt bruisers with lots of gloss-black trim and the option of cladding the side mirrors, front blade and rear diffuser in carbon fibre. The interior boasts Piano Black seat side panels and the option of Dinamica/Pearl Nappa upholstery to wrap the standard RS sport seats.

Of course the real meat of the Competition package sandwich lies buried under the surface where Audi has installed a louder-than-standard RS sports exhaust system plus that apparently “takes the sound experience to a new level”. It's further amplified by a reduction in sound-deadening material between the engine and the interior. Of course this modification has the added benefit of shedding about 8kg of kerb weight.

For enhanced traction customers can also tick the box for a set of optional 20-inch diamond-cut lightweight alloy wheels shod with ultra-sticky Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres.

If this still sounds a bit too tame for your liking then the Competition Plus package will most probably be more up your alley. Opting for this flagship upgrade bolts on a fully adjustable coilover suspension system that can be manually tweaked to better suit everything from choppy back roads to paper-smooth race tracks. Indeed, at its sportiest setting you can expect a ride height 20mm lower than the standard RS4 Avant or RS5. Characterised by higher spring rates, three-way adjustable dampers and stiffer stabiliser bars, this modification will certainly pay dividends when it comes to carving up corners. 

Also forming part of the Competition Plus package is Audi's dynamic steering system with a fixed ratio of 1:13.1, an enhanced Quattro sport differential tuned to deliver more wheel slip, upgraded transmission software as well as a revamped braking package. In combination with the P-Zero Corsa tyres, newly tuned ABS software, and the RS ceramic brake system, the brake path is up to 2m shorter when braking from 100km/h.

No matter which of the Competition packages you choose, both make use of the same 2.9l twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine native to the standard RS4 Avant and RS5. As such you can expect 331kW and 600Nm of torque. Though these figures remain unchanged, Audi claims that both Competition variants will reach 100km/h slightly quicker than their regular siblings: 3.9 seconds (-0.2) for the RS4 Avant and 3.8 seconds (-0.1) for the RS5. The top speed of both has also been limited to 290km/h vs the standard 250km/h.

According to Audi the Competition packages are under consideration for the SA market.