2010 Audi S4 to get a supercharged V6, increases fuel-economy

omarrana submitted on 04/24/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 12:56 PM
from: www.egmcartech.com

Tags: Audi

Audi

2010 Audi S4 to get a supercharged V6, increases fuel-economy

While those you that have a little more cash to throw around wait on the next-generation Audi RS4 which rumored to get 450-hp (an increase of 30-hp from its predecessor), many of us more ‘frugal’ buyers are wondering what Audi has planned for the S4.

According to CARandDRIVER, the current 4.2 liter V8 will be replaced by a supercharged 3.0L V6 producing close to the same 340-hp. Why the switch to a V6 from a V8? Fuel-efficiency. In order to increase fuel-economy by 20% to 23.3mpg on the European cycle, Audi will downgrade to a V6.

Worry not though, that still gives the Audi S4 some serious power to leave the BMW 335i... Read Article

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DexDiamonds - 4/24/2008 1:42:49 PM

+2 Boost

Are all the V8s going extinct?

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silver1 - 4/24/2008 6:37:06 PM

-4 Boost

Yeap. Everybody except the Lexus LS 600. Unless they make all V8's average 35mpg.....The LS 600 will reach this when Toyota releases their LS650h World's first V12 Hybrid, which both cars will have Toyota's next generation hybrid engine. I think that engine will also be on the upcoming Toyota Prius which wil make that car get at least 80mpg+.

njshift - 4/26/2008 8:16:37 AM

+2 Boost

How can you be a man and even say that?

rjcamp2002 - 5/6/2008 11:24:19 AM

+1 Boost

I have a 2008 s4 avant with the v8 and I would not have bought it if it had a v6 twin turbo. The normally aspirated v8 engine has a feel and response that is not going to be replicated with the v6 twin turbo. Turbos are add-ons for crappy engine design and platform sharing. Audi needs to build a lighter and more weight balanced car and specifically for the s4 use more efficient engine intake design, firing timing and more aluminium throughout the chasis like on the a8. As for comparisons to the 335I, that is another problem. The s4 should be competing with the m3 so add the turbos to the new a4 3.2 and have a healthy comparison to the 335I.

raikkonen - 4/24/2008 2:35:19 PM

0 Boost

Great idea - especially since their previous forced-induction V6 was soooo reliable.

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raikkonen - 4/25/2008 9:27:20 AM

+3 Boost

Why the negs from dillusional Audi fanboys? You mean you don't think the turbo V6 in the last gen S4 was unreliable?

Go visit the turbo V6 S4 forum. During one round of engine bombings, the S4 guys were jumping ship faster than Pats fans after the SuperBowl.

1evlaudi - 4/28/2008 1:45:31 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

link please?
because i have a V6 twin turbo pushed to 300+ hp and 360+lbs/torque and have had no problem at 40k miles, my buddy has a S4 V6 with K04 and 100k+ miles and no issues...

Agent63 - 4/24/2008 2:47:11 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Good choice by Audi. Economical choice as well as weight saving. I imagine it's a better car overall. It gives more reason for the RS4 to have a V8. That price difference can justify this.

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JUGNU - 4/24/2008 4:03:20 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

and what about the regular 6 cylinder in the A4, A6...etc. That area needs major work. Audi definately should have come up with atleast 300BHP 6 cylinder engine by now. Rest of the engines are good and competitive.

JUGNU

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aarononymous - 4/24/2008 7:41:58 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like it will be getting a detuned version of this engine, at least in the A6

adamsaf723 - 4/24/2008 4:20:15 PM

+1 Boost

It should also make it a lot light I would imagine. That equals a faster car :D

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bulldogz - 4/24/2008 4:20:39 PM

-1 Boost

"...Worry not though, that still gives the Audi S4 some serious power to leave the BMW 335i in its rear-view-mirror."

ummm, yeahhhhh. Everyone knows the 335 is really around 330-340hp, so how does this car suddenly smoke it?

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BMW4me4ever - 4/24/2008 5:51:48 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I was kind of thinking the same thing. The current 335 is alot quicker than the outgoing S4. So if it gains only 30 more horsepower, how is it going to smoke the 335?

AlexTx - 4/24/2008 6:19:05 PM

+3 Boost

It's not faster than the S5; so, the new S4 will be faster than the 335 as the S4 will be much lighter than the outgoing model!
Plus with Audi Drive Select... awesome!

BMW4me4ever - 4/25/2008 12:57:59 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

alextx ... the current S5 is only .2 to .3 tenths quicker than the 335. If the new S4 isnt going to be quicker than the S5, how will it be quicker than the 335? Also, the price will be alot more than the 335xi.

Threepoint1415926 - 4/24/2008 5:18:41 PM

+1 Boost

C32 AMG anybody?

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ThierryHenry14 - 4/24/2008 5:20:16 PM

+3 Boost

Great choice by Audi. I wouldnt call it a downgrade to a V6 though, I would just call it a switch. It should make the car lighter and not nose heavy.

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Htay7500 - 4/24/2008 6:44:18 PM

+3 Boost

sweet!

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bmwdrvr - 4/24/2008 7:11:40 PM

-3 Boost

this makes sense because there is no excuse why a compact sedan with 340hp gets only 13mpg a corvette z06 with 500hp and 500lbs of torque from a 7.0 liter gets better gas mileage than that, as do other supercars like the 911turbo. The s4/s5 epa ratings are laughable at best, the 335i can get faster performance numbers than the S4 with epa ratings on par with the A4 and A5. So can the G37 from its 330hp 3.7 liter V8, even full size suvs and pickups get better epa ratings, i could never figure out why waste the money on an S4....it doesnt handle that well, its not very reliable, the ride is sorted, and it has epa ratings on par with a Dodge Ram what a joke

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Heyhuub - 4/25/2008 3:17:07 AM

+4 Boost

The V10 in the M5 is a joke too, it can't even get get to the milage the RS6 does, this while the RS6 is 300kg heavier, has AWD, an auto-gearbox and allot more powerfull.

Heyhuub - 4/25/2008 3:20:15 AM

+2 Boost

This was not an attack on the M5 though, just aplying BMWDRVR's logic.

bmwdrvr - 4/25/2008 8:38:12 AM

-2 Boost

so basically your wining?, because if a v6 engine with fairly good epa ratings or even a large 7.0 liter V8, or twin turbo 500hp 6 can get alot better performance times than the S4 why is it only getting 13mpg with only 340hp....it makes no sense, im not a crazy fan you saying something about a CAR isnt going to upset me, but my point still remains 13mpg for a car with only 340hp is rediculous an IS is faster to 60 than the S4 also with 306hp and a V6 with decent epa ratings. It would seem they cant find a way to get good epa ratings and performance which in todays market is important. This isnt the 70's and 80's where nobody cared. Gas is high everywhere you would be crazy to go for the 13mpg S4 given all its other flaws, and the fact there are several ways to get better epa ratings, better performance, and well better everything else than the S4.

Heyhuub - 4/25/2008 9:51:03 AM

+4 Boost

Maybe you forgot the fact that the V8 S4 is a 6 year old car with an engine that was developed 10 years ago?

The 6 cilinder M3 at the time hardly produced better numbers.

bmwdrvr - 4/25/2008 2:45:09 PM

-1 Boost

actually your wrong there, do some research even the current model M3 with its get this 414hp V8 gets better epa ratings than the 340hp S4, the old e46 M3 also got better numbers so your wrong there, now your just making excuses for the S4 because the S5 also gets poor gas mileage 14 mpg, that matches the much faster and more powerful M3 and even the 380 horsepower CLS, the 420hp XKR even those 2 getter ratings, and other cars in its class all for only 20hp more than the G37, and 0-60 times that both 335i, and G37 can run with while still not out gunning the cars that have 100+ more horses and larger engines that are supercars with better gas mileage

S4cabriofoxone - 4/26/2008 1:16:13 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

The S5 is much faster than the XKR and CLS550... I don't know why you're comparing them. Its quickest 0-60 time has been recorded at 4.5 sec, which isn't far off the M3 or RS4.

chewy - 4/26/2008 7:08:57 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

the s4 gets poor fuel economy because of the manual gearing (the Auto gets better)

The RS4 gets the same fuel economy as the S4 (yet has 80 more horsepower) And the RS4 gets very similar fuel economy to the M3 even with AWD.

The S5 gets better fuel economy than the S4, especially with the auto. The S4 will get even better fuel economy.

ZBL1414 - 4/24/2008 7:49:18 PM

+2 Boost

Audi still has too many models in the A4 lineup and their pricing is all wrong. Right now you have two choices:

1. Pay BMW prices for less performance.
2. Pay in excess of BMW prices for equal performance.

Until they price their cars correctly I'm not even going to waste the time test driving one.

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bulldogz - 4/24/2008 8:49:10 PM

0 Boost

Dude, that is one of the truest things I've heard said here.

Of course with their craptacular resale value, you can get some good AWD performance for less money if you don't mind used.

Atenza28 - 4/25/2008 1:26:32 AMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Is it because of the 2.0T? Otherwise I don't see why you say they have too many models.
A4 = 328i
S4 = 335i
RS4 = M3
A4 Avant = 3-series wagon
And the premium over BMW is because of the AWD. I do still agree it's too much for that system but I'd say it's on par with BMW.

AlexTx - 4/25/2008 2:09:53 AM

+3 Boost

The U.S is the only country in the world where you can get an Audi for less than a BMW; every where else in the world Audi is priced the same or more.
These cars are actually well priced when you consider how well they are put together and how much it costs to build them.
They should be priced much higher!

Heyhuub - 4/25/2008 3:19:00 AM

+3 Boost

If you want to drive a classy Audi, you'd have to pay a little more. ;)

ZBL1414 - 4/25/2008 6:26:24 AM

-1 Boost

Here is how it should be:

2.0T or a small v6 model priced with 328i

(kill the 3.2)

The S4 priced with the 335i

The RS4 priced with the M3.

And all that assumes Audi can provide the same levels of performace at those prices, which they can't right now. Otherwise they should look to Infiniti, where the G35 very close to the 335i, but costs $5k less.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/25/2008 9:18:28 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

ZBL, I've been saying that for months, and with the new A4 it's more necessary than ever. The new 2.0T actually has more torque than the 3.2, and with a six-cylinder S4 and possible A4 3.0TDI on the way, there is quite literally no reason to buy a 3.2. It needs to die.

Heyhuub - 4/25/2008 9:59:47 AM

+1 Boost

No, this is how it is.

Audi A4 1.8TFSI 120hp / BMW 316i

BMW 318i

Audi A4 1.8TFSI 160hp / BMW 320i

Upcoming A4 2.0TFSI / BMW 325i

Audi A4 3.2 / BMW 330i

Upcoming S4 / BMW 335i

Upcoming RS4 / BMW M3

Just like it has always been, BMW just never had a competitor to the S4 till now.

ZBL1414 - 4/25/2008 10:16:34 AM

0 Boost

Heyhuub- I'm cool with your list. Two things though: 1) There is no reason to have a model between the 328i and the 335i (the same goes for the Audi equivalents). Does BMW does still sell a 330i in Europe? 2) Your list still ignores the pricing problem. Unless the performace factor is significantly increased with the next gen A4 family, the S4 and the RS4 should cost LESS than the current 335i and the M3, respectively.

Heyhuub - 4/25/2008 11:38:26 AM

+4 Boost

The 330i is still sold in Europe yeah.
And the S4 has always been that price since it came out in 2002, just under the E46 M3's pricepoint. It's just that BMW decided to severely underprice the 335i.

The RS4 at that isn't even sold anymore and was sold for that price long before the current M3, so it would be silly to adjust the price just because BMW again decided to underprice the M3 compared to the RS4.

Audi i believe also has a policy to not put the american price under the price in euros in Europe. For example the RS4 was 66K dollars in the US and 65K euros in Europe. Where BMW looses quite a bit on each car sold Audi tries to to keep losses at a minimum.

chewy - 4/26/2008 7:11:59 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

the 330i/Audi A4 3.2 makes sense in Europe because they get bit better fuel (which matters with gas at almost twice the price than in US) economy than the 335i and the new S4

the "middle" versions also make sense pricewise in Europe

chewy - 4/26/2008 7:18:22 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

exactly Heyhuub

BMW is giving US buyers a giant discount with the new M3

not a bad thing, but I don't think Audi will price the next RS4 that cheaply

S4cabriofoxone - 4/27/2008 2:23:23 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

chewy, in Europe they just buy the A4 3.0TDI instead. I'd like to see the numbers for 3.0TDI vs. 3.2--I'm sure it's about five to one, if not an even larger gap. I don't think the engine really makes sense ANYWHERE.

dayday - 4/25/2008 4:14:38 AM

0 Boost

i thought all these S4s S5s are suppose to compete with M cars... they started competing to normal BMW

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Heyhuub - 4/25/2008 10:08:38 AM

+4 Boost

No, the Audi S class never competed against the M class. BMW just never had a competitor against the Audi S till the 335i.
The only reason people seem to think that BMW M competes with Audi S is because the B6 S4 surprisingly had about the same power as the M3 that was launched a year earlyer.

This is how it always was.

1994:
Audi S2 - 230hp
BMW M3 - 286HP
Audi RS2 - 315hp

Audi S6 - 280hp
BMW M5 - 340hp

1999:
Audi S4 - 265hp
BMW M3 - 320hp
Audi RS4 - 380hp

2002:
Audi S6 - 340hp
BMW M5 - 400hp
Audi RS6 - 450hp

2005:
Audi S4 - 344hp
BMW M3 - 343HP
Audi RS4 - 420hp

2008:

Audi S6 - 435hp
BMW M5 - 507hp
Audi RS6 - 580hp

amazinBimmer - 4/25/2008 5:56:38 PM

-5 Boost

heyhuub....new moron to the audi (VW) club.

335, 550 and 135> any S counterpart. and always faster.
M3, M5, M6> any RS counterpart. and always faster.

good luck with your idiotic logic.

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S4cabriofoxone - 4/26/2008 1:18:13 AMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Heyhuub has been a member for at least several years.

The 335i isn't as fast as the S5.

The 550i isn't as fast as the S6.

The 135i matches the TT-S.

The M3 matches the old RS4, and will most likely be slower than the new one.

The M5 isn't as fast as the RS6.

The M6 doesn't have any competition from Audi, but it can't keep up with an R8, especially not through the corners.

chewy - 4/26/2008 7:20:57 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

how do you explain that every single European test found the new RS6 much quicker than the M5???

How do you explain that???

Audiphile - 4/27/2008 10:10:29 PM

+1 Boost

Very good points as always, S4, but do you think that this fool will ever listen to the truth? I'm afraid amazinBimmer will always choose fantasy over fact.

AmazinBimmer - denial is not a river in Africa! Get help, man.

1evlaudi - 4/28/2008 1:49:35 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

troll, go away

zyrl - 4/26/2008 2:43:28 AM

+1 Boost

bravo amazinidiot hehehe

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Audiphile - 4/27/2008 10:29:03 PM

+2 Boost

What I'd like to know is, why did Audi chose to supercharge this new V6 instead of using twin turbos The turbochargers would use less fuel than the supercharger, and engineers have been able to virtually eliminate "turbo lag".

As for the new S4's debut at the 2008 Paris Auto Show in October, does this mean that we will have to wait until calendar year 2010 to get the car, or will it be available in the States in mid-2009 with a "2010" model-year designation? Does anybody know anything regarding its USA introduction date?

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RandyM - 5/1/2008 5:53:35 PM

+1 Boost

amazinBimmer=assclown

He wears BMW underoos, lives in his parents basement and is 30 years old. They don't know what to do with him.

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