2009 Audi S4 Reviews

Designers often sprout the phrase 'less is more' when describing the newest building, magazine or a piece of Paris catwalk clothing. But German carmaker Audi could quite easily use this to describe its new S4 sedan.In a bold move that many European manufacturers are following, Audi has downsized the engine from a 4.2-litre V8 to a 3.0-litre V6, driving the trademark quattro all-wheel drive system.But before you think it has gone soft, it has added a supercharger to the V6 to keep performance addicts happy. The move is designed to not only improve economy, but tougher new emissions requirements in some markets.Many newer petrol and diesel engines are also extracting the same, or even better power and torque out of lower capacity engines. Apart from the supercharger, the newest S4 V6 is mated to a slick shifting seven-speed S-tronic gearbox with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.On paper, the V6 may be down 8kW on power compared to the V8 but has 30Nm more torque. The 440Nm is spread across a wider rev range, coming in from 2900 revs.Let off the leash, the S4 will still sprint to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds and on to a governed, but academic, top speed of 250km/h.Perhaps most importantly in these times of skyrocketing fuel prices, fuel consumption has been improved. Audi says its 9.4 litres/100km combined figure is about 24 per cent better than the old car.Although Audi refers to its S4 as a 3.0-litre TFSI, the T no longer stands for turbo.In conjunction with direct injection Audi says the supercharger is far superior to twin turbochargers both in terms of packaging as well as performance and responsiveness. It is clearly taking a dig here at the BMW 335i, which uses twin-turbochargers for both performance and refinement.In the S4 the compact supercharger fits inside the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks, in place of the intake manifold. As expected from a German carmaker, the Roots-style system is a work of art.Two four-vane rotary pistons counter-rotate inside the supercharger at up to 23,000 revs while two charge-air coolers are integrated into the housing and are connected to a separate coolant circuit.There are an impressive array of measures keeps the noise generated by the compressor to a minimum.Audi says the engine-driven belt that powers the mechanical charger provides full thrust right from idle and provides the necessary overtaking urge when needed.Visually the S4 gets discrete badging, quad exhausts, 18-inch alloys and is 20mm lower than the standard car. High performance brakes are also included, along with full a leather interior.The xenon-plus headlights and LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights add an air of purpose. Both the front and rear suspension are aluminium to save weight while the steering gear has been mounted low in the body for better precision and road feel.If you really want to explore the S4's limits there is the optional $6700 ‘driver select’ package that sharpens the car's behaviour through various electronic technologies. The system allows you to configure the level of steering assistance, damper control and gearshift shift speed.A sport differential is also part of the package but is not available as a stand-alone option. The drive select package gives drivers a choice of three settings, comfort, auto or dynamic mode.If the vehicle is equipped with the MMI operating system, a fourth mode is available which the driver can program according to their own preferences.The adaptive control system helps correct the car via lightning fast steering invention at the handling limits.The sport differential distributes torque in continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels in the manner of a conventional limited slip differential. If necessary, it diverts virtually all the power to just one of the two wheels to ensure better grip and agility.Of course, being an S4 there are huge high-performance and fade-resistant brakes sitting behind the standard 18-inch and optional 19-inch cast alloy wheels.The front brake calipers also wear the S4 logo.We were huge fans of the previous S4, with its thumping 253kW 4.2-litre V8 and an exhaust sound that was music to the ears of any red-blooded enthusiast. But in the four or so years since it landed here, things have mellowed and times have changed.Conspicuous consumption is no longer acceptable and more stringent economic times call for some belt tightening.For Audi that meant leaving the V8 behind and sliding a supercharged V6 under the bonnet of the latest-generation S4 sedan. But before you rally against the greenies, the V6 loses absolutely nothing to the V8 apart from the exhaust soundtrack and gains a hell of a lot more.Power is down ever so slightly compared to the V8 but supercharger endows the 3.0-litre V6 with plenty of torque across a wider rev range. Having less beef in the front also means the car's overall dynamics are crisper.It is a better all-round driver and the steering no longer has that disconcerting rattle through the wheel through tight corners on rough roads. The V6 gives the car a certain balance the V8 couldn't, even without the optional drive select package.Importantly too, you can tap the prodigious performance or just slip the cruise control on and still get acceptable fuel economy.We managed to get the numbers down to 11.0 litres/100km in a mix of mostly city driving with an occasional country run. That's still pretty impressive for a car with the performance X-factor of the S4.The V6 still delivers plenty of enjoyment even if the exhaust note is more subdued. The car will hit 100km/h in 5.3 seconds, .5 of a second faster than the old car.The engine delivers its power in a beautifully strong, linear way, helped by the rapid-fire changes from the seven-speed gearbox. Throw into the mix precise steering, well sorted suspension and body control and you'll quickly start to forget the old car.Whereas the V8 S4 would understeer heavily when pushed, the newcomer is agile through tight turns and feels more neutral. The steering still feels overly light just off-centre though.The extra security of the 40/60 front/rear split of the quattro all-wheel drive system is a bonus too on those damp mornings when the roads were slick with moisture.Most drivers will be perfectly happy with the standard S4. However, the take-up of the drive select option is running around 20 per cent so many enthusiasts clearly see a benefit from the technology.Visually the S4 is a wolf in sheep's clothing, made even more inconspicuous by its attractive solid white paint scheme. Like the white exterior, the interior is subdued.The only extras on the test car were attractive carbon inlays and S sports seats with Nappa leather that added an air of luxury. Apart from the nice 18-inch alloys a casual observer may think it is just a tarted up 3.0-litre TDI.Look a little closer though and the quad exhausts, body sills and nice shiny alloy finish on the exterior mirrors and S4 badges give the game away. It achieves the desired effect without resorting to loud colours or ridiculous spoilers.Inside there is a thick-rimmed steering wheel, alloy start button and S4 logos but apart from that it is quite restrained.The rest of the cabin is comparable to other A4s, which is no disappointment. The cabin is beautifully trimmed and appointed. The dash and controls are well laid out and easy to use, the materials are high-quality and the fit and finish A-grade.In some ways the S4 has been playing catch-up over the years against the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz so the V8 was the easy answer for the old car.The arrival of the Lexus IS-F and new Jaguar XF V8 is adding more pressure. But the new S4 V6 can cope with the competition. It is a very accomplished touring car.Ultimately, you have to really wonder how much better the expected twin-turbo V8 RS4 will be. But the bottom line is that the S4 now floats like a butterfly, but still stings like a bee.Verdict: 81/100 

Audi Australia marketing general manager Immo Buschmann points out that the new model has more torque than the previous one and, more importantly, better fuel economy.The S4 arrives in quattro all-wheel drive with a supercharged V6 engine and lightning-fast seven-speed S-tronic transmission with dual clutch at $118,900.The V6 may be seriously down on power — dropping from 253kW in the previous model to 245kW — compared with 309kW (BMW) and 336kW (Benz), but it doesn't have their no-compromise ride.The S4 features much the same engine as the supercharged 3.0-litre TFSI (the ‘T’ now also means supercharged) in the A6, but with reduced power and better fuel economy of 9.4L100km (claimed).The S4 features a compact roots blower Eaton supercharger with two coolers, one in each cylinder bank and maximum boost of 0.8 bar.It's a strong powerplant with a usable 440Nm of low-end torque, virtually no lag and none of the annoying supercharger whine.But the greatest driving attribute of the new S4 is the optional sport differential which splits the torque between the rear wheels for improved cornering, like the BMW X6 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.While the quattro drive has a 60:40 rear-to-front torque split with a maximum of 85:65, the sports differential distributes force between the rear wheels, giving more torque to the outside wheel when cornering.Styling cues that set this apart from the garden variety A4 are a single-frame grille with chrome, S Line bumper, LED indicators in the mirrors, S-design 18-inch alloys, black brake calipers with the S4 logo, LED taillights, boot spoiler and four oval tailpipes.Inside there is a DVD-based navigation system, Audi MMI operating logic, electric seats and mirrors, parking sensors front and rear, keyless entry and start and leather sports steering wheel and seats.The sports diff is everything it is claimed to be and will have some people seriously questioning rear-wheel drive. Gone is the vague understeering corner entry.Turn-in is pin sharp and, although there is a little lightness powering out of a corner, it still stays tight and doesn't wander out wide. Handling is almost neutral. The split rear diff certainly doesn't feel as noticeably strange as in the heavy X6.Importantly, traction is improved and there is less likelihood of stability control intervening, which means you keep power on throughout the corner for higher G forces. The all-wheel-drive system adds to the body weight, but you simply can't feel it.Some may say supercharging is old fashioned and Audi last used them in the 1930s before reintroducing it in the A6 and now the S4. However, it feels totally modern with instant power and no whine or scream.It's a practical car you could commute to work, tour relatively economically, or take out for a serious tyre-shredding track day.For more detailed information, see your Carsguide newspaper sections or check back here in a few days.