A 270mm single-mass steel flywheel designed in-house couples with a very strong pressure plate and friction plate supplied by Fichtel-Sachs. The system is smooth as can be, not as rattle-inducing as many single-mass setups. The gearing here is modified only slightly from the RS4 factory spec, with slightly longer second and third gears, and a final ratio lowered to 3.89 from 4.11. Holding gears longer-especially second and third-is a nice upgrade.
The Clubsport suspension, as it's called, comes from a tight relationship with KW wherein MTM acts as a chief beta tester. The dampers are adjustable for pressure, rebound, and height via an external valve, and paired with racing springs. It's stiff all right, but more responsive than just bang-you-up stiff. In the set calibrated for my drive time, the Clubsport sits 2.4 inches lower than the original article. And what a damned difference it makes in every dynamic sense.
For now, I'm riding on 9.5x19-inch gravity-cast Bimoto wheels with a 30mm (1.2-inch) offset at each corner, but MTM plans to offer a curious set of forged 9x20-inch lightweight racing wheels with the same offset. The lower stance, wider track, and one degree added negative camber all combine to make the steering feel slightly thick and radically on-center, but the fat RS4 steering wheel feels good in the hands.
Then, of course, the high revs required to wring the best from it all make for a sensational song from the exhaust. The sound is smooth and big, just the way I like my Germans. Thanks to Bessie that the front brakes use dimpled 15-inch discs from Performance Friction in the States. These big steel discs with eight-pot fixed calipers allow prolonged stretches of late braking, handily reeling in all of those thrusting revs. Bloody, square-on fun.
Get yours for just around $70k for all the upgrades mentioned here (no rollcage for North America though, sorry), on top of the base MSRP. It's so worth it.
MTM RS6 R Avant
*Layout
Longitudinal front engine, all-wheel drive
*Engine
5.0-liter V10, dohc, 40-valve. Twin IHI turbochargers (20.3 psi max boost) and two large intercoolers with special ITG air filter and high flow-through ducts, quad-tip Top Gear stainless steel exhaust modified from Audi S6 system
*Transmission
Six-speed Tiptronic S automatic
*Suspension
KW front adjustable screw plates, adjustable rear KW dampers and springs
*Brakes
Six-piston Brembo monoblock calipers with 16.0-inch cross-drilled MTM rotors, braided stainless steel lines
*Wheels and Tires
MTM Bimoto, 10.5x21Michelin Pilot Sport Radial X, 285/30
*Exterior
Carbon-fiber front lipand rear diffuser
*Interior
7200-rpm redline
*Performance
Peak Power: 720 hp @ 6360 rpm
Peak Torque: 579 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm
0-62 mph: 4.3 sec.
Top Speed: 193 mph
Contact
MTM
www.mtm-online.de
MTM RS4 Clubsport
*Layout
Longitudinal front engine, all-wheel drive
*Engine
4.2-liter V8, dohc, 32-valve. Lysholm twin-screw supercharger, Top Gear cat-back exhaust with throttle bypass, MTM software
*Transmission
Six-speed manual
*Suspension
Adjustable KW dampers and coil springs
*Brakes
Performance Friction rotors, eight-piston Brembo aluminum fixed calipers (f), single-piston floating calipers (r); stainless steel braided lines
*Wheels and Tires
MTM Bimoto, 9.5x19 Continental ContiSportContact 3, 275/30
*Exterior
Aluminum hood with reverse air scoop
*Interior
Optional RS4 leather interior with Pole Position seats, rear seat delete, WiechersSport roll cage, four-point harnesses
*Performance
Peak Power: 542 hp @ 8220 rpm
Peak Torque: 418 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
0-60 mph: 3.7 sec.
Top Speed: 186 mph