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2009 Audi S4 arrives

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

Alborz Fallah

05:0622 May 2009

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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

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