“THE BI-TURBO 2.9-LITRE V6 MAKES A BITUMEN-SEARING 331 KILOWATTS”

still joyful when ambling along in traffic.

Sitting on a new 80 kilogram lighter chassis, the RS4 Avant’s broad stance is exaggerated by a wide, gloss-black grille, ground hugging front spoiler and low ride height. Tucked under the sculptured 30mm wider front and rear guards – that take inspiration from the Audi 90 IMSA GTO racer – are steamroller wide, low-profile 20-inch Pirelli tyres on milled five-spoke alloys. A sizeable roof spoiler enlarges its silhouette.

Inside, the crafted and well-appointed black cabin bristles with tactile surfaces, soft leather, alcantara, carbon fibre and chrome.

The front sports seats are powered, heated, with three-way massage functions and sport adjustable bolsters. You sit low in the RS4 Avant with everything in easy reach and the alcantara- wrapped D-shape wheel is so nice to hold. Black seatbelts with red piping add a nice touch.

The rear passenger area is surprisingly roomy and the tailgate is both motion and motor operated, opening to a reasonably large cargo area, hidden under a cargo blind.

Audi’s intuitive and easy-to-use infotainment system houses Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus DAB+ digital radio and a host of apps that play through 19 speakers, to keep you entertained. Bluetooth phone and wireless charging will keep you connected and satellite navigation that’s also embedded in the virtual cockpit instrument panel, will get you to where you want with a minimum of fuss. Reversing is helped by the 360-degree and rear-view cameras and you can even connect to the internet.

Audi has dumped its entire driver assist and safety catalogues into the RS4 Avant which comes with eight airbags, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, exit warning system, rear cross traffic assist, blind spot warning, pre-sense basic – if an emergency is detected, autonomous emergency braking with turn assist, collision avoidance assist, auto high beam and self-parking and more.

Needless to say it’s as safe and secure as it is swift and has a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

And it wouldn’t be an Audi without a heap of option packs to choose from with prices ranging from $1000 for the gloss black style pack, to $3900 for the Technik pack, both fitted to the test car.

After returning the Misano red amigo, what is deeply etched into my mind is the overall completeness of the Audi RS4 Avant.

All-rounder is a much-overused term so let’s just say it does everything you could ask of it… and much, much more.