2010 Audi S4 – Family Value

The Audi S4 has always been one of the hottest sedans in the world. Most people don’t remember the first North American S4 introduced back in 1992, but it was a turbo five-cylinder monster based on the C4 chassis. The latest version of the S4, the B8, is set to hit dealerships any day now and Audi has just released final pricing. Most media outlets were predicting a price just under that of the $55,000 BMW M3. However, Audi has surprised the masses and brought it in at a base price of only $45,900.

The well-equipped S4 is now competing head to head with the BMW 335. A comparably equipped 335ix is now within a grand of the Audi and that’s without leather. Having driven both the B8 and e90 platform extensively, I would take the Audi any day of the week. There are still a large number of buyers that will buy the BMW for the propeller on the hood. There are probably an equal number of buyers who will wax poetically about the thrills of a rear wheel drive platform and just being either too fast or furious of drivers to live with all wheel drive. Our experience has shown that most of these blowhards have never been on a racetrack and wouldn’t know a power slide from slip and slide anyway.

This pricing announcement must have lead to some head scratching at the Roundel Factory. The Audi clearly leads the BMW in interior fit and finish as well as quality of materials. BMW has been forced to lower standards recently while dog fighting with Asian luxury car manufacturers. This coupled with BMW loosing some of its legendary driver involvement has allowed Audi to sneak into the position it is currently in.

The 2010 Audi S4 is powered by an all-new 3.0-liter tfsi direct-injection supercharged V6. Returning to forced induction makes perfect sense for the company that pioneered force-fed sedans all through the 1980s. It also makes sense for a company who is currently as environmentally focused as Audi. The previous generation of V8 powered S4 would struggle to achieve 14mpg around town and 21mpg on the highway. The 3-liter B8 S4 has been rated 18/27mpg, a significant improvement. Peak horsepower is down slightly, the V8 peaking 340hp at 6800RPM while the V6 puts out 333hp over the entire swath of 5500-7000RPM. As you would expect from a supercharged mill, torque is up significantly. The V8 S4 churned out 302ft-lb at 3500RPM while the tfsi is making 325ft-lb from 2900 through 5300RPM. The S4 will also be available with Audi’s 7-speed S Tronic DSG gearbox, something not available on any other car in the category.

The 2010 should start hitting show room floors any day now. The biggest complaint we have about the car is the lack of a North American Avant in the line up. As much as we love the 2.0t, it just isn’t the same. This new S4 has set the bar for performance sedans in this price category yet again. We can’t wait to see what’s coming with the RS4.

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