But the blower is back in fashion at Audi, and there’s one under the bonnet of the latest S4. The new 328bhp 3.0-litre V6 is smaller and slightly less powerful than the 339bhp 4.2-litre V8 of the previous S4, but more importantly, it packs more torque – another 30Nm at 440Nm. And with 90 per cent of that thrust available from 2,200rpm, it promises to be a responsive drive. On paper, the figures are certainly impressive, with a 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed limited to 155mph. Thanks to the engine’s smaller capacity, there are improvements in efficiency, too, so the new S4 returns 29.4mpg combined and emits 224g/km of CO2.Once on the road, all thoughts of economy vanish as you explore the engine’s power. The quad exhaust pipes emit a pleasing growl as the rev counter sweeps around the dial, and that torque really makes itself known – no matter what gear you’re in. Only a faint whine from the supercharger reminds you how it manages this feat.
But this car is about so much more than just a big engine. For a start, the S4 is available with Audi’s new seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission, which debuted on the Q5 compact SUV (see Issue 1,025), as well as a bespoke six-speed manual. The company expects the former to be the biggest seller in the UK, and we can see why. Full throttle upshifts are executed quickly, while the downshifts are accompanied by a pleasing blip of the throttle to smooth out the changes. Steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters complete the set-up.
While the standard A4 is a handsome car, the flagship adds some trademark S-style muscle. There are aluminium-look mirror housings, 18-inch alloys, two pairs of chrome exhaust tips and subtle badging. Overall it looks purposeful, but restrained, particularly in Avant estate form driven here, although it may not be aggressive enough for some buyers.
© Source: autoexpress
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