REPORT: 2010 Audi S4 to get supercharged V6
Emerging reports suggest that the next Audi S4 will ditch the current model's V8 and open up the gap a little with the top-of-the-line RS4 with a new supercharged V6. Bearing the 3.0T or TFSI badge, the 2010 S4 could benefit from "twin-charging" with the possible inclusion of a turbo in addition to the supercharger.
With a potential unveiling at the LA Auto Show in November, the supercharged S4 is also tipped to feature a Magna-sourced "sport differential" like the ZF unit featured in the BMW X6, bringing the fight to the turbocharged BMW 335i, while the RS4 takes on the M3. While power will likely remain similar to the current 339-hp 4.2-liter V8 and weight only marginally reduced by 100 lbs or less, the purpose in switching to forced induction would be to improve fuel economy while returning comparable performance. The S4 is also expected to be developed outside Quattro GmbH, while the RS4 would be created by the Audi performance division, giving the former a more restrained look compared to the all-out bulging bodywork of the latter. The forced-induction V6 is also tipped to replace the 3.2-liter V6 in the base Audi A6 Quattro.
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JD 10:40AM (4/24/2008)
I want this.
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3seriesisking 10:44AM (4/24/2008)
As a member of the automotive faithful, may I be the first to say WOOHOO!!
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Red 10:48AM (4/24/2008)
My respect and admiration for Audi has grown exponentially over the years. I'm really liking where this company is going and foresee a bright future, even in lieu of the CAFE bullsh**.
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Throwback 10:48AM (4/24/2008)
Why not go with twin turbos? A smaller unit for low rpm, and a bigger one for the top end.
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MikeW 11:08AM (4/24/2008)
Its a V6.
Yeah Tri-charger!
Maybe Audi will integrate a TVS supercharger on top, so the output of the TVS is plumbed into the twin turbos, then to the intercoolers, then into the engine.
rouse42 10:50AM (4/24/2008)
think there gonna lower the price.
not likely, probably gonna start at $49900
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Zane 10:56AM (4/24/2008)
Ahh.. reminds me of the last gen S4. Great times indeed!
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halogenrepublic 10:58AM (4/24/2008)
Volkswagen's last effort in combining turbo with a supercharger on the VW Polo was miserable.
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HeyHuub 12:01PM (4/24/2008)
Apparently u don't know much.
The Polo never used the twincharger concept. The last Polo that used a supercharger was back in 1992, the G40, it was supercharged in the form of using a G-loader. While it was verry fast, it however proofed to be not so reliable mechanicly.
The current Polo GTI is only turbocharged.
The first VW to use both a supercharger and a turbocharger is the current Golf GT TSI. 1.4 Twincharged producing 170hp and as far as i know it's perfectly reliable.
Tom Walker 11:00AM (4/24/2008)
I owned a 2000 S4 - 2.7 liter twin turbo engine. It was a fantastic car until it went in to limp mode and shut down the turbos for no apparent reason (did this 3 or 4 times and the dealer had no idea why). I love the feel and power and efficiency of turbos (especially at Denver altitudes where NA cars lose about 18-20% of their rated power) but their reliability can be scary when a turbo swap costs upward of $7k. Supercharging may be a little better. Either way I am a huge Audi fan, can't wait to see what the final specs are.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:13AM (4/24/2008)
The S4 was never made by quattro GmbH, the RS4 was (well, some RS4 models).
It'll be odd to see of the car picks up a "sport differential" since the diff is integrated into the transmission in a quattro (well, a true quattro with a longitudinal engine) and so changing it without changing the tranny is difficult. I don't think Magna makes trannys.
Making the base engine in the A6 a supercharged 3.0 engine makes zero sense right now. How low exactly are they looking to go on the mpg totem pole? It should be optional.
The V8 in the S4 is no fuel-sipper but in the years I bought my A6 (2000), the 4.2L V8 got the exact same fuel rating as the twin-turbo 2.7L engine. So I'd be surprised to see a big increase in efficiency here.
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eddy 11:36AM (4/24/2008)
Magna (or at least Magna Steyer) makes Trannys, but Audi uses only Trannys which are made by ZF. The turbocharged 6-cylinder is a good idea.
P.S.: In 2000 4.2 FSI was far more efficient than a non-FSI six cylinder at that time. Nowadays the 3.2 TFSI is far more efficient than the 4.8 FSI engine.
whynot 3:45PM (4/24/2008)
Downsizing and boosting with a roots type supercharger (with no internal compression) makes perfect sense. Especially if it turns out to be the new efficient TVS supercharger.
Downsize for economy, boost for performance. No exhaust backpressure from a turbo or lag to impede fuel economy.
This is definitely a move in the right direction.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:56AM (4/24/2008)
There was no FSI 4.2L engine in 2000. There were no FSI Audis at all. Even the R8 (I mean the one on the track) didn't have FSI until a year later (2001), although it was two years for me since I got my 2000 A6 in late 1999.
I own a 2000 A6 2.7T to this day.
rated MPG for 2.65L (2.7) twin-turbo quattro A6: 17/24
rated MPG for a 4.2L V8 quattro A6: 17/24
Both were with 5-speed autos.
Although in the real world the 4.2L did a little worse,
although this was more than made up for by a larger gas tank.
The 4.2L was not at all efficient, and it wasn't more efficient than a small twin-turbo V6, let alone the 2.8L engine which was offered at the time.
MikeW 12:38PM (4/24/2008)
The torque vectoring differential is only for the rear.
Bill 12:46PM (4/24/2008)
I think you are confusing the “sport differential” with a transfer case.
Of course the S4 has a differential located between the rear tires just like any other rear/all wheel drive car.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:40PM (4/24/2008)
No, I wasn't thinking of the transfer case. I think you mean center differential. I was thinking center differential, and I think I'm right.
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/audi/audi-improves-quattro-awd-with-new-sport-differential/
This sounds like an awful, non-proper quattro. It sounds like the Haldex quattro, which cannot be rear biased.
We'll just have to see what it really has when it gets here. It's more likely probably the new quaife center diff (that isn't really a diff) that debuted on the RS4.
MikeW 10:20AM (4/25/2008)
That article says nothing about a torque vectoring center differential (or center coupling)
So open front, torsen3 center (Audi is using is 40/60), and torque vectoring rear.
and still TOO front heavy.
truecarlover 7:56PM (4/28/2008)
Yeah - I'm not sure why they made reference to quattro gmbh - they only deal with R/RS. They do the "S-Line Trim" - but not the S cars. As far as the sport differential - can't tell who the differential is sourced by - but in Audi's press release - they state that they developed the software for it themselves. http://www.media.audiusa.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=9949
Devin_mm 11:15AM (4/24/2008)
Hmmm... 2010 might be time to upgrade my B6 S4.
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