2010 AUDI S4: Sports sedan finally finds itself

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This article was published 06/11/2009 (6124 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Audi just can’t seem to make up its mind about the S4.

First, it was powered by a puny 2.7-litre V6 juiced up to 265 horsepower with the addition of two steroid-like turbochargers. In 2003, in an effort to compete with the Joneses (in this case, BMW), it was determined that two extra pistons had a whole lot more cachet than two turbochargers. Hence, until very recently, the S4 was powered by a 4.2-litre V8.

But small-displacement V8s need to rev to make power and, as glorious as all that cacophony may be, high engine speed equals high friction — anathema to fuel efficiency — and in these environmentally conscious days, even a pocket rocket has to be as green as possible.

The answer was a return to a blown engine (forced-induction engines can be smaller and don’t need to rev as high to make power, both boons to fuel economy). But, this time, instead of twin turbochargers, Audi has plunked a single Eaton Roots-type supercharger inside the engine bay to force feed the now 3.0-litre V6.

It’s made all the more confusing because the S4 wears the "T" badging (as in V6T) usually reserved for its turbocharged cars. Not only that, but the supercharged 3.0L takes a step backward in the horsepower department, boasting only 333 h.p., while the outgoing 4.2L had 340.

Of course, Audi is not in the business of making successively worse — or slower — cars, so there’s more to the new S4 than a slight loss in horsepower. In fact, thanks to the benefits of supercharging, there’s 23 more foot-pounds of torque — 325 versus 302 — from the V6 than the V8.

Perhaps more importantly, that torque peak occurs at a much lower 1,500 r.p.m. with the blown V6.

If you’re thinking that makes the new S4 gutsier at low speeds, you’re right. Immediately noticeable is that the 2010 jumps off the line where the previous V8 version needed to gather revs before it gathered momentum. Audi says it scoots to 100 km/h in just 5.1 seconds, a breath quicker than the outgoing V8. It’s definitely more responsive.

The entire experience is made all the better by the superior performance of the double-clutch transmission. Still the leader in the technology, the S-Tronic is essentially a manual gearbox enhanced with two clutches and some nifty electric servos. The advantage is that each successive gear is already engaged, only waiting for its clutch to be engaged. It makes for far quicker and smoother shifts than any comparable manumatic, traits in keeping with the S4’s dual traits as both luxurious and sporty.

Audi also seems to have beefed up the S4’s handling. Though the comparison is often made between the S4 and BMW’s M3, that challenge is actually taken up by the still-V8-powered RS4. The S4 actually resides in between BMW’s 335i and the M3; think of it as a 335 with a performance chip and sports suspension.

The S4’s interior is much the same as all recent Audis — excellent materials and even better execution. One could complain there really is a plethora of switches and knobs, but they all worked for me, who suffers from gadget phobia.

The interior was all dressed up with what Audi calls Carbon Atlas trim. It’s a big name for some minor upgrades, but at least it was cheap at $500. Ditto the Bang & Olufsen sound-system upgrade — very worthwhile at $1,100.

But $3,200 for the navigation system? The days are long gone when a GPS system, no matter how much Audi has upgraded it this year, is worth that much. Perhaps now that Volkswagen (which owns Audi) has swallowed Porsche, it is adopting some of that company’s pricing strategies.

Nonetheless, the S4’s $58,800 base price is much more 335i than M3. It’s a more serious sports car than ever before that just so happens to also get better fuel economy.

— Canwest News Service

THE SPECS

Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive luxury sports sedan

Engine: Supercharged 3.0-litre DOHC V6

Power: 333 h.p. 5,300 r.p.m.; 325 ft-lbs. of torque 1,500 r.p.m.

Transmission: Seven-speed manumatic

Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS

Tires: P245/40R18

Price: base/as tested: $58,800/$69,150

Destination charge: $800

Standard features: Power door locks, windows and mirrors, three-zone climate control air conditioning with micron air filter, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system, Sirius satellite radio, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, power glass sunroof, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, Alcantara leather seats, power front seats, heated front seats, sports seats, auto headlights, dual front air bags, front side air bags, side curtain air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, quattro all-wheel drive, electronic stability program, LED tail lights, bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, brushed aluminum interior trim, quad exhaust pipes