2009 Audi S4 arrives

By Alborz Fallah | May 22nd, 2009

German luxury car maker Audi has released the current top of the range sporty version of its A4, better known as the Audi S4.

Using a brand new 3.0-litre V6 engine with direct fuel injection and mechanical supercharging, the BMW 335i competitor produces 245 kW and 440 Nm of torque, resulting in a 0-100km/h time of 5.3 seconds.

It does it all while using an average 9.4 litres of fuel per 100 km (24% improvement over the old S4). Whilst we wait for the new Audi RS4, the S4 still has Audi’s respected quattro permanent all-wheel drive system that gives it the advantage over its two German rivals.

The engine is mated to a new seven-speed S tronic gearbox as well as a new sport differential. For a car that costs $118,900 it’s standard features don’t exactly jump out at us. Listed highlight items include a DVD-based Navigation System, Audi MMI operating logic, electric seats and mirrors, Audi Parking Plus system at front and rear, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights and full keyless entry.

Of course if you keep reading you’ll soon realise that the price tag does in fact justify itself. To differentiate it from the A4, the S4 gets special aprons, aluminium-look exterior mirrors, 18-inch S-design alloy wheels, sill panels, restrained rear spoiler, the now-familiar Audi Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights and the rear LED lights, and, of course, quadruple exhaust system.

Sports seats featuring electric lumbar support, a modified instrument panel and sport steering wheel also set the car apart. If money is not an issue, Audi now offers its adaptive cruise control (ACC) as an option. The system regulates the distance to the vehicle in front, and braking guard issues warnings regarding possible rear-end collisions.

Although BMW has won numerous awards for its twin-turbo engine found in the 135i, 335i, X6, 7-series and now the new Z4, Audi believes that mechanical charging in conjunction with direct injection is better than twin turbochargers for starting performance and responsiveness.

We could try and explain to you why Audi thinks this is the case, but best if Audi do it:

The compressor is so compact that it easily fits inside the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks, in place of the intake manifold. Two four-vane rotary pistons counter-rotate inside the supercharger at up to 23,000 rpm. Two charge-air coolers are integrated into the housing and are connected to a separate coolant circuit. An impressive array of measures keeps the noise generated by the compressor to a minimum.

The engine-driven belt that powers the mechanical charger provides full thrust right from idling speed. The 3.0 TFSI delivers its maximum 440 Nm at 2,500 rpm and maintains this constantly until 4,850 rpm. In fourth gear, the vehicle accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. Thanks to the extremely short gas paths, the sonorous, supercharged V6 responds spontaneously to the throttle, even more so than a naturally aspirated engine of the same displacement.

We look forward to bringing you a road test of the S4 in the future. If you’re interestead, you can find more specific technical information at: 2009 Audi S4 Specifications

MPS Carl

So at the start of the article you told us the power and torque figures of the competitor without mentioning anything about the S4 in question. At the end after downloading the pdf we find that the S4 has identical power and torque figures to the BMW engine?
Tom

MPS, I thought the same thing when I first read it, but it says the BMW 335i “competitior”. So its referring to the Audi 3L V6 engine.
Tom

Look forward to the eventual review. It’ll be interesting to see how it compares to the previous S4, which while good was not competitive with its German counterparts, something the RS4 did so well.
Sumodog

Mazda 3 MPS 80-120 is 3.5s. No supercharger in site
Austin

Very nice car, also some nice photography there from Audi.
Acfsambo

Sumodog, though there is a turbocharger in the MPS
Adam

Also a meaningless metric when you haven’t specified which gear the MPS does that in.

It mentions the Audi does it in fourth…
Splatter

It needs to be faster for me to consider trading my 2007 Clubsport in. I don’t think it looks anywhere near as good as the new Commodore and would choose a new SS or Clubsport over it any day of the week. Audi’s are for tossers who think they are more important then they actually are.
Mitch

a clubsport is just a glorified commodore. This is a nice car.
DesignEngr

Theres only one thing different between this and a Clubsport.

Audi S4: cLass
Clubsport: cRass

Clubsports are for w@nkers who think that others look at them ’cause they got a noice car, when really they’re saying “W@ANKER”
HoldenLuvR

I agree with splatter. People who drive Audi’s are wannabe Europeans who think they have more class then @ss. Just because they drive an Audi or BMW/Mercedez for that matter, that they are so much better then everyone else.
Damian

“I don’t think it looks anywhere near as good as the new Commodore and would choose a new SS or Clubsport over it any day of the week.”

This is the attitude of your typical Commodore owner. It reeks of ignorance, misguided pride, and insularity.

Whilst the S4 is a little too expensive and underwhelming, it’ll no doubt, win many hearts. There’s no disputing that Audi make quality vehicles. BMW may still be the benchmark when it comes to dynamics and driving pleasure, but Audi have Quattro and interior build quality as their trump cards.

Holden on the other hand, have nothing.
Camski

“Holden on the other hand, have nothing.” – Damian

Yes and no, they do have a couple of things up their sleeve. Main one being price, I mean a SS is a bargain by comparison when you’re comparing $ for $ and if you’re a die hard V8 fan, until the RS4 comes (that’s if it comes with a V8…) then look’s like Holden have that one as well.

I’m not debating whether the HSV’s/SS’s are or are not superior to the S4 in terms of handling, power delivery etc. but just the fact that, Holden don’t exactly have “nothing”.
Golfschwein

Splatter and HoldenLuvR, might people buy these if they simply want a nice car, and not have to look at a Commodore’s lower dash and console plastics? Now, there’s a thought!
Neo Utopia

Holdens are for Holden type of people, Audis are for Audi type of people which tend to dislike uncouth things and people. They aren’t “tossers” (an unsuitable uncivil word which is completely inappropriate for this diplomatic web site). It would be great if people were more objective about cars on this site rather than being overly subjective and somewhat volatile, these are the types of people who may cause roads department to not have a higher speed limit on highways. People who act like a hooligan are treated like ones you know, everyone has a right to their opinion, so long as their opinion is not offensive and is not overly biased.
Golfschwein

I’m with you there, Neo Utopia. People who label others “w@nkers” just because they like nice things are being w@ankers themselves and could well afford a little time out for self-reflection.

Once done, they’d realise they, too, like nice things. Or things that are nice to them, at any rate. I have still not met the person who deliberately seeks and purchases things they hate.
Alex

So Splatter, Audis are for tossers and HSVs aren’t? HSV drivers are a bunch of the most massive wankers in the world. Audi drivers may think they are more important than they are but HSV drivers think they have the best car in the world when they drive one of the least impressive cars in the world. I’ve driven HSVs current range, they go fast. That’s all I can say; they go fast. They don’t handle, they are completely tasteless and are of dubious quality. I hope that you don’t buy this car, I wouldn’t ant somebody who was willing to part with money for a tarted up Commodore to have a nice car. HSV drivers don’t need Audis anyway because they don’t car about handling.
Good luck with your car, but you just can’t compare a HSV to this as they are in different leagues. Not necessarily better and worse leagues, just different.
CHAPPY

Not bad thow on DRIVE.COM.AU they have this car against the BMW M3 and AMG C63 not the BMW 335 here’s they quote
Overall, the new S4 is an impressive flagship for the excellent A4 range. But while the original S4 was a bold statement that Audi was coming after BMW’s M cars – it pipped the six-cylinder M3’s power output by a kilowatt – this car is more executive express than brutal performance car.

As i have a BMW335 M-SPORT COUPE which is still faster and the 335 would kill it through corners as the 335 is one the best handling cars in the world as quoted by a lot
of mag road tests.
But still a very nice vehicle.
porto

HSV’s can be everything in the world, but at the end of the days its still a Holden. Why doesn’t that compute in their minds?

People proud enough to compare their commodores againts german marques, and then say owners of such german cars think too highly of themselves, deserve to be labelled tossers.
Alex

Chappy, they have it wrong. The S4 is to go up against things such as the 335i. The M3 and C63 competitor will be the RS4 when it comes. I don’t think it’s meant to be a brutal performance car so much as a really good all rounder. Something that’s great fun to drive, fast, but still easy to live with.
Shak

hey dont bag Holden for what some of their owners are like. I drive holdens and while Germany still has the upper hand in most areas like quality and drivability Holden has come a long way under the (mis)guidance of tha miserable GM. HSV’s are for a certain crowd and Audi’s are for a certain crowd.
The Realist

Splatter Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
“It needs to be faster for me to consider trading my 2007 Clubsport in.”

Typical Holden owner attitude. And Holden wonders why they can’t attract non bogans…

“I don’t think it looks anywhere near as good as the new Commodore and would choose a new SS or Clubsport over it any day of the week.”

People like you would choose a Commie over a Maserati or Aston Martin, there’s no point arguing with you.

“Audi’s are for tossers who think they are more important then they actually are.”

The upper end Audi owners I know are business men, bankers and consultants. They contribute more to society than any Clubsport driving hoon who thinks speed is everything. I’d classify them as certainly more important then you.

Watch you don’t wrap yourself around a pole next time you go to work bud.
Shak

btw Top gear magazine did a drive of this 4 months ago
Elitist

Why buy this when I can get an Alfa Romeo 159 Q4 Ti?
Icaramba

I want one!
Cupid Stunt

Audi – best cars on the planet IMO. certainly the best interiors.
Owner

I traded in the Holden, which I liked, for a car that handles properly because I love being safe that is all there is left to say!
Ozzie Bone

CHAPPY

Although the BMW 335i M Sport is a teriffic car it was well and truly dusted by the S4 (optioned with the LSD) – see MOTOR magazine August edition. The S4 blew it away from 0-100; 0-400; 80-100; 100-0 and a lap at Wakefield. This confirms similar tests undertaken in OS magazines.

The S4′s lap at Wakefield was only 0.7 of a second behind that set by an M3 DCT sedan – which is damn close given thepower differences (V8 v V6).

The S4 also blew away a Lexus ISF – same magazine but in an ISF review.

As for Commodores … I would like to see how many were purchased if the Government did not impose a ‘wealth tax’ on imported vehicles!