It is hard to fill a segment void in the automotive world these days. But even so, there are certain pockets of opportunity that remain untouched. And in the case of Audi and its lineup of go-fast sedans, there are unique tuners like Stasis Engineering that will happily fill them.
Since 2008, the B8-generation Audi S4 has quietly romped many of the globe's closed tracks and vacant streets with its athletic all-wheel drive handling. Its 333-horsepower 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 has put smiles on riders' faces with claimed 4.9 second runs to 60 mph. Its luxurious cabin, in the truest of Audi traditions, has simultaneously comforted drivers' appendages, eyes, and glutes. Indeed, the all-wheel drive S4 is a well-engineered sport sedan bent on giving the BMW M3, Lexus IS F, Mercedes-Benz C63, and Cadillac CTS-V a very hard time.
Yet, within the competitive lot, the S4 has always been recognized as the tamer, more timid, and not as aggressive four-door. And unlike generations before, enthusiasts wanting a meaner S4 wrapped in a quattro-created RS package were out of luck.
By now, you can already understand how quickly the fluorescent light bulbs flickered on inside of Stasis Engineering's main offices at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia.
The Brilliant Red S4 strewn across your screen is a "hardercore" reinterpretation of the everyday S4. Stasis calls it the Challenge Edition, and it is the higher of two performance packages offered by the American outfit (the other being the Touring Edition).
A few choice parts sharpen this driver's tool to near M3-like levels. A less restrictive T304 stainless steel exhaust ($1495) frees up gasses and gives the supercharged mill a throatier bark at all rpms. Combined with a revised ECU ($1495), the Challenge Edition makes 410 horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque, or 77 ponies and 45 pound-feet more than stock.
