Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Audi
Audi S4 to get 330-HP biturbo 3.0L TFSI V6
Audi is returning to turbos in a big way lately. Look no further for proof than the RS6 Avant sporting a twin-turbo V10 producing 510 HP. The smaller S4 sedan, however, hasn't been force fed since the B5 version with its biturbo 250-horsepower V6. The next two generations were powered by the brand's ubiquitous 4.2L V8 in both non-direct inject and direct-injected versions. AudiWorld has revealed that the newest B8 iteration of the S4 will return the car to turbos once again when it debuts with a biturbo 3.0L TFSI direct-inject engine producing 330 horsepower. This is significant news for a couple of reasons. For one, as AudiWorld points out, the new S4 will be far more receptive to modification than the last two generations with their naturally-aspirated V8s. Presumably it will also be more frugal with fuel than the 4.2L V8-powered S4s before it while producing almost as much power. Finally, the S4's 340 horsepower will best the BMW 335i with its 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six by some 30 horsepower. It's a small victory, but we're sure Audi will take it. Along with high-po powerplant, the B8 S4 is also expected to get Audi's vectoring quattro system that can dynamically send the twist to any wheel it wants. The previous active sport differential system could only split torque between the rear wheels. AudiWorld also reports that the new S4 will go on sale in the U.S. in late 2008, the same time as the A4. This means we should expect the S4 to debut at either the Detroit Auto Show in January or the Geneva Motor Show in March.
[Source: AudiWorld]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Menice 4:10PM (11/20/2007)
whooosh......go da turbo.
more power from a smaller engine, and less gas.
we need more...the domestics produce how many turbo vehicles? doh!
come on guys.
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Bryan 11:30PM (11/20/2007)
Yes, because turbo's are inexpensive to replace, and they last soooo long in Audi's. Love the car though.
Aaron B Brown 4:22PM (11/20/2007)
Fantastic, I would take this Audi diesel version of the S4 over the gas powered BMW M3 any day.
What's the torque rating on this engine? It must be massive.
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HotRodzNKustoms 4:23PM (11/20/2007)
dude, it's gasoline your thinking tdi
RDL 4:32PM (11/20/2007)
Huh?
Isn't this a gasoline engine?
Zane 4:24PM (11/20/2007)
Not trying to be a jacka** but the RS6 actually produces 580 hp and NOT a puny 510 ;-)
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porschedevotee 5:33PM (11/20/2007)
Mmmm... drove by an RS6 just this afternoon :) He was sitting at a turn light and I turned around to check it out as I went past and realized afterwards I had totally pissed off the guy in the A4 next to me who had been trying to get my attention for a few minutes. Oops!
This baby would sure get a few looks from me though, that's for sure... I especially love the new lights, particularly the way they look on the R8. Very elegant and distinctive.
Zane 8:54PM (11/20/2007)
C5 RS6? Or a camo'ed C6 avant?
HotRodzNKustoms 4:28PM (11/20/2007)
Now I don't know if I'm alone but from past experience I will not buy a used turbo sports car, except the 911 and maybe the new GM 2L turbo. I have had too many turbo related issues in Audi's, VW's, and Subaru's for me ever to buy another used turbo sports car from them. I much sooner buy a used V8 S4 than a used turbo 6 S4. But that's just me.
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vwboyaf1 6:19PM (11/20/2007)
The first thing you're going to upgrade is the turbo anyway. I've had a turbo R32 GTS-T that was 10 years old at the time and ran perfectly.
Daniel 4:35PM (11/20/2007)
The question is whether the price premium will be worth it. The S4 will undoubtedly cost way more that a "base" 335i
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joeg 11:55PM (11/21/2007)
Also the BMW has been heavily underrated in it actual power ratings. Automobile magazine dyno'd the 335i Coupe and in one pull they managed to actaully hit 300 hp at the wheels. Will the S4 really be able to keep up? Have to wait and see!
Chase 4:36PM (11/20/2007)
About damn time! I tend to like Audi's styling the best out of the deutsch großen drei, but that V8 just isn't up to the task for this segment anymore. -- Those narrow-angle 6s have been just asking for forced induction, and by picking this configuration, it means that Audi will be moving the S4 to exactly the same market as the 335i (which has practically the same motor configuration).
Audi, ditch the naturally aspirated 6s in the US also and focus exclusively on the 2.0t (big turbo version), 4.2L high-rev, and now the 3.0tt. That's a winners circle of awesome motors there. They are currently good for 265, 420, and 330 hp respectively, but I'd bet they would dependably reach 290, 450, and 380 hp.
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Daniel 4:37PM (11/20/2007)
way more "than" a base 335i
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Ben 4:53PM (11/20/2007)
This sounds like good news. It should handle better with the lighter engine than the previous s4 with the 4.2L V8.
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Patrick 4:54PM (11/20/2007)
The 335i puts down 275-285 hp to the wheels, so it's actually more like 340-350hp. We'll have to wait until the official pricing from Audi comes out to see if it's really worth the extra money (I'm assuming it will cost more than a reasonably optioned 335i). I'm sure it will be a great car though, and should have a lot of tuning potential with the FI engine. *Disclaimer* - I own a 335i so I'm somewhat biased. ;-)
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Chase 8:14PM (11/20/2007)
Those are some really optimistic 10-15% calculations ...
I get...
275 * 1.1 = 302.5 (110% of 275)
and
285 * 1.15 = 327.7 (115% of 285)
A more reasonable optimistic number from your numbers is 320, which is what I hear most of the time...
robbyradz 5:00PM (11/20/2007)
Now, if Audi is indeed adding the twin turbos to compete with the 335, they need to drop the price. There is a huge gap between the A4 and the S4, unlike BMW where there is only a $5000 discrepancy between a 335 and 328. I will soon be in the market for a vehicle, and I was contemplating between a STI, EVOX, 335x.. but always wanted that S4 but it was completely out of my price range and the V8 is just not practical for a daily driver.
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Chase 7:45PM (11/20/2007)
Just to note, if you add all of the options onto a 335i that are standard on the current Audis, they are basically the same in cost. Specifically, Audi needs to de-content their S-series cars so they appear as though they aren't ludicrously overpriced (which so many people unknowingly assume, without factoring in all of the standard stuff on the S-cars).
That reminds me of a joke from that old movie "Trading Places" the punch line is "Look at that s-car-go!"
Xcountryflyer 5:18PM (11/20/2007)
It will be fast, expensive and very heavy.
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