A COMPETITION version of Audi's high performance RS 4 Avant has been announced with a limited run of models for the UK.

Only 75 examples will be released in Britain with prices starting from £84.600.

With a 180mph top speed, uprated suspension, an RS sports exhaust and steering enhancements, the RS 4 Avant Competition is aimed more at track use although Audi says the car is totally road legal.

The car is powered by a biturbo 2.9-litre V6 engine that develops 450ps and 600Nm of torque from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm resulting in a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds, an improvement of 0.2 seconds over the standard model.

The increase in top speed also makes it the fastest RS 4 Avant in the model range.

The steering is fixed at a ratio of 1:13.1 and the enhanced quattro sport differential gives an increased degree of adjustability - especially in the dynamic driving mode - while a new data set in the control unit with revised parameters places more emphasis on the rear axle.

Further fine-tuning to the engine control unit software makes for tighter load changes in S mode when dynamic mode is active. The result of these chassis improvements is improved handling and greater precision.

A new RS Sports Exhaust System Plus featuring tailpipes in matt black has also been developed especially for the RS 4 Avant Competition which generates a more intense sound pattern

The Competition is also around eight kilos lighter than the standard RS 4.

Each model will be finished in a black paint job in honour of the tenth anniversary of Audi's first win at the inaugural World Endurance Championship at Sebring in 2012.

It sits on 20-inch alloys and comes with red brake callipers as standard while the front spoiler has a carbon matt finish as do the mirror housings, front air intakes and the rear diffuser.

Inside, the standard RS Sports seats feature piano black gloss side trims and a leather/Dinamica honeycomb combination upholstery that is exclusive to the RS 4 Avant Competition.

Further touches include red decorative stitching on the RS floor mats, centre console and door armrests and red edging on the seatbelts. The track-focused model is also the only RS 4 Avant to benefit from an Alcantara flat-bottomed steering wheel.

Upgraded standard equipment includes an advanced key, a Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System, a 360-degree camera and a multi-coloured extended LED interior lighting pack.

Audi says the RS 4 Avant Competition will be available to order from September 2022 with deliveries slated to start early next year.