Disappointing result on the scale? RS4 sedan 2.0

Philipp Kaess

This video has been trending in Austria, and Germany

In this video, the team presents the second evolution stage of its Audi RS4 project, focusing on weight reduction. After numerous modifications—carbon-fiber fenders, a carbon hood, a club-sport interior with bucket seats, a lighter exhaust system, and a lithium-ion battery—the RS4 Sedan 2.0 rolls onto the scales. The hoped-for magic mark of under 1,600 kg is missed: the readout stops at roughly 1,640 kg, sparking disappointed faces, because despite significant investment only about 40 kg have been shed compared with the starting point.

The team then breaks down the numbers: quattro all-wheel-drive hardware, the robust six-speed gearbox, and the large brake system already give the stock car a hefty curb weight. Many carbon parts do save mass, but their effect is partly offset by extra bracing, a larger oil cooler, and the elaborate exhaust. Even the bucket seats save less than expected, as harnesses, brackets, and mounts end up heavier than the original equipment.

Despite the “disappointing” result, the crew draws a positive interim conclusion: the power-to-weight ratio is now just under 3.3 kg per hp, because the V8 produces roughly 500 hp after a software update and tubular headers. On the road, the RS4 feels more agile, responds more crisply to steering inputs, and—thanks to lower unsprung mass—brakes even harder. For the third stage they promise further steps: Plexiglas side windows, an even lighter titanium header system, and moving the battery into the cabin to bring weight distribution close to 50:50.

In the end it becomes clear that raw numbers aren’t everything: although the scale shows no spectacular drop, the RS4 Sedan 2.0 now combines noticeably improved driving dynamics with unchanged everyday usability. The project vividly illustrates how much painstaking detail work is needed to save every kilogram on an already sporty production car—and that the road to perfect balance is often longer than first expected

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