AUDI RS4 Avant Edition 25 Years: A Precision Tool on Wheels to Discover the Treasure of Santa María del Paular

A little over 100 kilometres from the capital of Spain lies an architectural, historical, and cultural treasure nestled in what is possibly the most beautiful setting in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, the Lozoya Valley. A construction with over six centuries of history that withstood the looting of the French invasion, earthquakes, the Mendizabal disentailment, abandonment, and multiple lootings. It is the monastery of Santa María del Paular. A construction happily restored and that leaves visitors in awe.

The journey from Madrid is made aboard an automotive gem, the Audi RS4 Avant Edition 25 Years, practically a scalpel to dissect the road with millimetric precision. The exclusive edition has only 250 units, and in Spain, only 6 have been sold. A model that does not go unnoticed, partly due to the iconic Imola Yellow colour reminiscent of the Audi RS4 Sport, but also because of the roar of its 470 HP V6 biturbo engine that leaves no one indifferent.

The first 77 kilometres of the journey are on the A-6 motorway, where we can test the acceleration capabilities of the RS4, capable of going from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. On the smooth track of this first part of the route, a two-lane road, we already see that we have a precise machine that responds perfectly to what you ask of it.

However, where Audi's exclusive model proves its worth is when at the height of Lozoyuela we take the M-604 to enter the Lozoya Valley. On the journey to Lozoya and later to Rascafría, the road begins to twist like a snake, and there this model is the king in terms of behaviour and surgical precision.

Modifications to the engine, suspension, and wheels provide impressive performance. The new RS4 Avant Edition 25 Years' V6 biturbo delivers a power of 346 kW (470 HP) and a maximum torque of 600 Nm. This represents an increase of 15 kW (20 HP) compared to the RS 4 Avant. The model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and reaches a maximum speed increased to 300 km/h, according to the brand. Its standard RS ceramic brakes handle the negative accelerations. The RS plus sports exhaust with matte black outlets generates an intense sound pattern.

We skirt the Pinilla reservoir, which is at its capacity limit after the intense rains of May, and the mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama stand out with an intense green against the turquoise blue of a clear spring day. Just after passing Rascafría, a little over two kilometres away is the monastery of Santa María del Paular.

A construction founded in 1390 that adds six centuries of history and has added to its walls style wonders, from the Gothic with Mudejar reminiscences, Renaissance, through Baroque, to our days. During its first four and a half centuries of existence, El Paular became one of the most powerful Carthusian monasteries on the European continent, to the point that it could afford the luxury of funding the construction of the Granada Charterhouse in 1515.

The Carthusians were evicted with the Mendizabal disentailment of 1834. El Paular was reinhabited in 1953 by Benedictine monks. Currently, 7 monks live there, but as Brother Enrique says during guided tours, "each one is worth three, so we are 21."

The visit to the monastery is a chain of surprises. When you think you have already seen something unique, Brother Enrique opens a new door that leaves you jaw-dropped again. To highlight some of the treasures, the first thing to contemplate is the collection of paintings of the life of Saint Bruno (founder of the Carthusian order) housed in the main cloister and painted in the 17th century by Vicente Carducho (1576-1638): a set of fifty-six large canvases.

Special mention also deserves the polychrome alabaster altarpiece of the main altar. Made at the end of the 15th century, it recreates a series of seventeen biblical scenes with extraordinary detail. Six centuries later, this great work remains intact, which Brother Enrique undoubtedly qualifies as a miracle.

But when it seems that nothing can surprise you, we arrive at the octagonal chapel of the Sagrario, expanded by the overwhelming Transparente, one of the greatest exponents of Spanish Baroque by Francisco Hurtado. A place where light plays with the twisted forms of the Solomonic columns.

After dining in one of the good restaurants in Rascafría, we resume our journey on the M-607 towards the Navacerrada pass. It is only 21 kilometres where the Audi once again shows some of its skills. A route where the RS pro sports suspension is especially appreciated, an adjustable suspension that guarantees a perfect combination of dynamics and comfort. The body height, which is already 10 mm lower than the RS 4 Avant, can additionally be manually lowered another 10 mm, to achieve a total height 20 mm lower than the standard model.

This commemorative edition also incorporates the quattro sports differential, which guarantees greater agility and a greater prominence of the rear axle to increase driving fun, especially in 'dynamic' driving mode. The updated transmission control unit software accelerates shift times and significantly improves distribution among the different driving profiles. The result is greater grip and better cornering behaviour. A firmly fixed subframe on the rear axle provides a more precise suspension response and better overall performance. The dynamic qualities are enhanced by the optimised Torsen differential.

After Navacerrada, we let ourselves fall towards Collado Villalba to take the A-6 back to Madrid, a road with a lot of traffic density but with its three lanes – as long as you don't hit rush hour – allows you to drive at a good pace.