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Audi's new supercharged V6 in detail from Autocar

GermanNut submitted on 5/10/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 3:03:35 PM

27 user comments | Category: Spy Shots | Source: | SOURCE: www.autocar.co.uk

Audi has adopted BMW's strategy of using smaller engines to reduce weight and drastically improve balance.

We will see Audi employ this exact strategy in the new upcoming B8 S4.

The current Audi S4 is powered by a 4.2 liter V8 producing 340 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. The future B8 S4 will be powered by a supercharged V6 producing 286 horsepower at just 4,850 rpm and 310 lb/ft. of torque up form the current model's 302.

We might even see the supercharged V6 engine in the new A8 and Q7.

What this means to you: Audi is no longer going to produce heavier engines with more horsepower and torque that throws off the car's balance. Instead Audi will adopt the new lightewight engine philosophy of BMW to improve acceleration, fuel efficienecy and balance.



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GermanNut

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User Comments

BozzorTheGreat

I think the HP rating should say 386hp, not 286hp...

— BozzorTheGreat (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 6:01:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

EnnNorak

I'd rather see Audi spend money on proper tooling and produce a 60-degree V6 instead of an inherently out-of-balance 90-degree V6. Better still, Audi should stick to normally aspirated 90-degree V8 engines and offer a supercharged 4-banger for less costly models.

— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2008 10:40:15 PM | | Votes: 2   

Rupert

Audi has adopted BMW's strategy?

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 6:13:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

TauronB2G

Didn't Mercedes start with superchargers for their amg models years ago? I think they have done it, rethought it and went to high displacements and are now going back to smaller engines.
T

— TauronB2G (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 9:34:56 PM | | Votes: 1   

S4cabriofoxone

Huh? Those numbers don't sound right. The 286hp is WAY too close to the 265hp of the 3.2, and a far cry from the current S4's 344.

I'll believe it when I see it.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 6:16:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

S4cabriofoxone

By the way... the only way I could possibly believe this is if 5 things come into play:

1. 3.2 is eliminated from the lineup (probably won't happen).

2. S4 becomes far less expensive (~$10,000 less).

3. That horsepower number is underrated (like 335i's).

4. It weighs significantly less than the current S4 (which could definitely happen).

5. It has DSG.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 6:19:48 PM | | Votes: -1   

GermanNut

1. The 3.2 likely won't be eliminated from the lineup.

2. The S4 will ikely start at $43K instead of the current $48K. A $5K reduction in price

3. The horsepower number will be underrated just like BMW's 335i

4. The weight will obviously be significantly less because instead of using a 4.2 liter V8, Audi will use a 386 horsepower 3.2 liter V6.

5. Audi's S-tronic has already debuted on the Q5 and Audi has said publicly that all cars that can handle the S-tronic (if their torque is not off the charts like the RS6) will get the S-tronic. This means the S4 and RS4 will get the S-tronic transmission.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 8:00:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

S4cabriofoxone

The Q5 isn't getting S-Tronic. It just has a fast-shifting ZF six-speed auto.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 11:43:48 PM | | Votes: 0   

Rupert

The Q5 IS getting a 7 speed DSG. For sure. Maybe not right now, but it will.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 5/12/2008 10:00:49 AM | | Votes: 0   

steve27t

BMW Strategy ???? Was the writer born yersterday? Audi has had powerfull turbocharged engines for years and years. Only recenlty putting a V8 in the S4, so it is going back to its roots and has nothing to do with BMW. You would think these writers would know what they are talking about, instead of giving us BS.

— steve27t (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 8:13:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

chewy

286 horsepower @ 4,850 RPM. Someone made an error. Surely it will spin more than that easliy. And that would also mean that it makes 310 pounds feet of torque at that point.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 8:13:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

budfrogS4

those specs sound more like a diesel engine than a gas engine.

— budfrogS4 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/12/2008 10:51:11 AM | | Votes: 1   

Spoonie_G

286hp? LOL!

The S4 seems to be an "Also-Ran" already.

And Audi wants to know why US sales are slumping?

Answer: Weak, underpowered, overpriced cars.

It takes more than a nice interior. The cars have to actually perform considering the premium that Audi is charging. Looks like I'll never own another Audi again. Audi lost me to BMW with my last car purchase, looks like they lost me again.

— Spoonie_G (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 8:19:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

markanthony0419

couldnt agree more. looked at an s5 this weekend. 1 you have to wait 6 months for it. 2 there is no lease program so you have to but 30k down and still have a 750 a month payment. 3 a worse performer the the 6k cheaper bmw 335 xi and about the same performance as a g37 which is 15k cheaper. is the inerior worth that much more in the s5? you make the call

— markanthony0419 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/12/2008 10:15:41 AM | | Votes: 1   

GermanNut

Correction: 386 horsepower NOT 286 horsepower.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 8:24:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

chewy

the S4 is not intended to compete with the current M3. But do go ahead and check out the Road & Track comparison, the RS4 had very similar performance as the new M3. Not bad for the old generation (not made anymore) RS4.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=6696

As for pricing, Audi won't discount the S4 for the American market as BMW does with the M3.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 11:39:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

S4cabriofoxone

"386 is a good number but will get trumped by the M3."

You do realize, of course, two things:

Product placement - the RS4 is the M3 competitor, not S4.

Price - the S4 will be marginally more expensive than an average 335i. With 85 more horsepower I think you know who will be "trumped."

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 11:45:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

GermanNut

BMW will canabalize its sales for sure if it releases a tii lineup of 3-series and 1-series models. Why get a tii when you can get a regular size car with basically the same performance.

As it is there has been non-stop discussion at how the price of the BME 135i is so close to the 335i. Sure, the 135i maybe lighter and therefore offer better performance, but overall it is not the complete package the 335i is.

Sure the S4 will get trumped by the M3. The S models have always gotten trumped by BMW's M in the horsepower department ever since Audi launched the RS4. S6 has less horsepower than the M5. S5 has less horsepower than the M3.

As always though Audi will trump BMW's M horsepower with their RS lineup.

I heard news floating around that the Audi RS5 will feature a 485 horsepower NA V8 with weight-saving panels and materials to reduce weight even further over its RS4 counterpart and it will come with Audi's S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. Price should be $10K higher than the Rs4 but performance will be enormously better.

BMW will cause huge problems for their sakes if they raise the price of the M3 any further.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 10:41:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

S4cabriofoxone

Are you 100% sure about that 386 number? Because THAT would be awesome.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/11/2008 11:44:42 PM | | Votes: 0   

GermanNut

I am fairly confident it is 386 horsepower. Audi is looking to set up its next generation of RS models as ultra-high performance monsters.

The only way to continue to get respect in the high-performance arena is to build impeccable cars. The R8 did it, the RS4 did it and now Audi must continue this trend with the model they will be bringing to the U.S. (NOT RS6 Avant or Sedan)

The next RS4 due out in 2010 and the RS5 along with the RS-TT are going to be hugely impressive machines.

— GermanNut (View Profile)

Posted on 5/12/2008 12:16:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

chewy

286 comes from 290 ps. The S4 will likely have 333-350. Those are the two reported figures.

290 hp @ 4,850 RPM means that the engine has plenty of power in reserve. I think it can easily make 350 @ around 6,000 RPM

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/12/2008 2:12:20 AM | | Votes: 0   

irie77

Oops! Deboosted chewy by accident. No big deal.

I've seen similar reports of the S4 producing anywhere from 333-350 HP. Not sure which of the two is the correct number. However, with either of the two HP numbers and a combination of other variables it appears that this car would be a better performer all around than the B7 S4.

— irie77 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/12/2008 10:03:41 PM | | Votes: 1   

Larry

Audi has been desperately copying BMW since 1990. When in doubt copy BMW, yet they have a motto of "Never Follow", more like "Always Follow BMW."

— Larry (View Profile)

Posted on 5/12/2008 8:52:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

chewy

Audi had turbos/twin turbos for decades. BMW just made its first twin turbo engine. Audi then had a NA V8, BMW now has a NA V8 (for the 3 series) Now Audi has a supercharged V6.

— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 5/13/2008 12:27:11 AM | | Votes: 1   

TimmyG

Chewy, it wasn't a notable model but I believe BMW had some turbo charged older 3 series models designated "3.??is". I'm not 100% sure though.

I wouldn't suggest BMW or Audi are copying each other. Audi is growing fast, but it seems to be in fleet cars which are primarily driven by price. In the top end, pre-current model RS4, Audi was not known for performance, moreso understeering, underpowered and poorly handling, yet well built cars. And they have rested on their Quattro laurels for way too long.

And if you think I'm talking out of my ass, I owned an 04 A4 1.8T S-line which was Quattro and supposed to be an entry level S4. Now I own an Evo 9 (with the S-AYC which I don't think you get in USDM models) which is a more primative but classic engine that goes so hard and has a much better AWD system. Of course, you don't get the build quality of Audi and VW!

— TimmyG (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2008 7:06:33 PM | | Votes: 1   

TimmyG

"Audi is no longer going to produce heavier engines with more horsepower and torque that throws off the car's balance"

And the new A4 should have a larger engine bay if the car is overall bigger. I hope they make a new RS4 with the 4.2 V8 with the new platforms - unfortunately I haven't been lucky enough to drive an RS4 but I read on reviews the front heavy (part of the engine mounted past the front axle) could be a bit of a problem.

This competition has been great for us consumers, bringing us cars like the 3.35ci which delivers similar (less intense) performance of the E46 M3, and the new M3 and C63 taking it to the next level (relative to the models they replace).

— TimmyG (View Profile)

Posted on 5/15/2008 7:01:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

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