Introduction
The Audi S4 is a performance variant of Audi's A4 sedan. While the standard Audi A4 models utilize turbocharged 4-cylinder or normally aspirated V-6 engines, the high-performance S4 models have traditionally offered significantly more power, upgraded suspensions, and sport-oriented interior appointments (the S4 models should not be confused with Audi's RS4 models"the highest-performing A4 variants). The first S4 was launched in the U.S. in 2000 (several years after its European debut). It featured a twin-turbocharged, 2.7-liter V-6 engine that was rated at 250 hp.
The second S4 model debuted in 2004. It was the first time Audi offered both sedan and wagon body styles of the S4 for sale in the United States. The twin-turbo V-6 engine had been replaced by a 4.2-liter V-8 that was rated at 340 hp. Although powerful, the large engine was heavy and fuel economy wasn't its strongest suit. An updated model arrived in 2006, and it shared the same 4.2-liter V-8 engine with the previous model S4.
Audi's all-new S4 model, to be sold in the States as a 2010 model, is built on the all-new A4 platform launched for 2009. Unlike the models that preceded it, the S4 has dropped its large-displacement engine and replaced it with a smaller, supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6 engine rated at 333 hp. While it doesn't offer the sheer horsepower of its most recent predecessor, it does generate more tire-twisting torque"sure to keep the enthusiasts happy. As an added benefit, the technologically advanced powerplant delivers improved fuel efficiency, too. With a new chassis, new engine, and the latest in innovative technology, the 2010 Audi A4 promises to be the strongest example to date.
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