Featuring fresh lines, an improved cabin, and a new 3.2L, 265-hp V-6 under the hood (an updated 2.0L turbo-four is available, too), the all-new 2009 Audi A4 reaches 62 mph in an estimated 6.2 sec, just a couple of ticks slower than a BMW 335i with an automatic transmission. But A4 shoppers looking for a little something extra have no doubt skipped the regular model to wait for Audi's newest go-fast A4 variant, the 2010 Audi S4.
Since 1997, Audi has offered the S4 -- a sedan fitted with a sport-themed interior, more power, and a sharper suspension than its A4 -- as an option for those who include canyon-carving as part of their commute. And just as the base A4 got a complete revamp for 2009, now Audi is following up with a leadfoot-friendly S4 that includes a new engine, transmission, quattro system, and sport differential with customized torque distribution, along with upgraded styling, a freshened interior, and more tech goodies. Previously Audi moved the S4 from twin-turbo V-6 to a 4.2L V-8 boasting 340 hp in a bid for more output, but it looks as though worries about gas mileage and CO2 emissions are finally causing the automaker to blink. Returning to its forced-induction roots, the new 2010 S4 has a supercharged 3.0L V-6 under the hood, which is down 7 hp from last year's model.
Of course, mere horsepower figures don't always tell the whole story. In developing its all-new 3.0L TFSI V-6, Audi says it found supercharging a better solution than returning to twin turbos for both packaging and performance, and a version of this engine will also be available in the midsize 2009 A6 (though with just 290 hp). One of the primary benefits of the new powerplant is its impressive torque, for, along with 333 hp, it offers a full 324.5 lb-ft of twist, an upgrade from the 302 lb-ft available in the previous generation's V-8. In addition, maximum torque comes on at just 2500 rpm and remains constant through 4850 rpm, making the car especially responsive in everyday driving (as an example, Audi cites a 50 to 75-mph time of 4.4 sec), and while some may miss the previous S4's V-8 rumble, in fact at 5.1 sec the new model is actually a couple ticks faster from 0 to 62 mph.
That said, Audi names its competition for the 2010 S4 as BMW's M3 and the Mercedes' C63 AMG, but with both those cars sporting V-8s in excess of 400 hp, and 0-to-62 times just north of four seconds, they seem like better rivals for the current V-8-powered RS4 instead. But Ingolstadt's latest creation does have one significant advantage: Besides being quicker than its predecessor and having more torque, one of the new S4's biggest improvements can be seen at the gas pump. While the 2008 S4 is rated by the EPA at just 16 mpg combined, thanks to its TFSI V-6 Audi estimates the new model will yield a fairly impressive 24-plus mpg highway -- close to the 3.2L A4. Enthusiasts may be less concerned with fuel economy than the average commuter, but with the current instability of gas prices, no doubt many will welcome the improvement.
