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More details on Audi's forthcoming 350 hp, supercharged S4
After a report yesterday that the next S4 would be benefiting from a supercharger, Volkswagen AG's powertrain head, Wolfgan Hatz, presented the automaker's new 3.0-liter TFSI engine at the Vienna Motor Symposium. According to Auto Motor und Sport, the new engine will be fitted with a blower and putting out around 350 hp when fitted to the next generation S4. The supercharged six is expected to return better fuel mileage than its V8 counterpart and will also be fitted to the refreshed A6, due out towards the end of this year, although output will be reduced to 290 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. Additionally, both models will benefit from a Magna-sourced sports differential that will migrate to the Q5 and S5 down the line. No timeframe was provided about the release of the S4, but we'd expect to see the A6 replacement in Paris, with the S4 debuting at the LA Auto Show in November.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via MotiveMag]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Xcountryflyer 1:33PM (4/25/2008)
Let the comparison tests begin. From the journalist comparison tests so far. The M3 bests the C-AMG and ISF.
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BAMF 1:55PM (4/25/2008)
@Xcountryflyer- You have to remember that the S4 is targeted at the 335i, not M and AMG models
zamafir 2:19PM (4/25/2008)
ditto, and in keeping with the trend BMW's started with the new m3, it doesn't really advance the game any but rather provides about as much as the competition, brilliant.
BMW "hmmm audi's using a 4.2l in the Rs4... we'll do the same with the M3... not because it needs a v8 but just to make sure ours is as big as theres"
A few months later
Audi "hmmm... BMW's using FI on their six in the 335i... we'll do the same with the S4..." (though this aping of BMW makes more sense then the 4.2 in the M3).
naggs 1:41PM (4/25/2008)
but i thought blowers were only for low tech domestic dinosaurs?
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James 1:44PM (4/25/2008)
Tell that to Merc
CarbonBlack 2:14PM (4/25/2008)
naggs, I agree!
Look at MINI, they had a blower, but got smart and evolved to a turbo.
Audi will do the same
Toy Yoda 2:48PM (4/25/2008)
Or to Alpina.
Thetruck454 2:56PM (4/25/2008)
No mater how you do it, turbo's and positive displacement chargers like most OEM's use have complete different feels. No matter how you build/tune a engine turbo's have slight lag, and power is not just dependant on engine speed, you also have engine load. Supercharged motors power is directly related and only related to engine speed. Its a holy different feel to drive, something manufacturers seem to be obsessed with
Nick 2:09PM (4/25/2008)
350 horses out of a blown 6? Even if it is a 3.0L, that seems pretty paltry for what's going to be a high-priced sports sedan. Porsche just upped the 3.8L 6 in the S models to nearly 400 horsepower, Nissan has their 3.7 churning out at least 330 along with the 3.8L making 350 horsepower in the Fairlady Type 380RS (non-competition).
I'm sure that all of those engines probably get worse fuel economy than this thing will, but still.
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Brian 6:35PM (4/25/2008)
Not if you compare it to the 300hp in the 3.0L in the BMW *35s
GTX141 2:26PM (4/25/2008)
You're not lookign at teh big picture. Its called life-cycle management. By launching it at 350, they can turn the wick up a bit down the road to keep interest in the car over its life cycle.
This common practice done by many, if not all, OEMs.
rip 3:06PM (4/25/2008)
The old 2.7T from Audi was only rated at 270.
Thing is, that rating was low. It was more like 300.
I really don't care what the listed HP is. I'm more interested in actual performance. If it does 0-60 in under 6 sec. and a top speed over 140, the S4 could have a 90hp 3 cylinder for all I care.
In fact, I'd be more than happy if they listed this new engine at 100HP. That would probably be great for insurance purposes.
Only teenagers(that never actually own these cars) or short, pudgy, balding men have pissing contests over HP.
zamafir 2:21PM (4/25/2008)
So if 350hp from a blown 3.0L 6 is paltry, what's that make the 300hp from the 335i's 6 pot? pathetic?
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Nick 2:39PM (4/25/2008)
The 335i is making more than 300hp (pretty much common knowledge) and the turbos on the thing are minuscule. That said, it too is a bit disappointing given that the old 3.2L S54 was making in excess of 350 horsepower naturally aspirated in its "ultimate" factory form (in the 5-year old M3 CSL). It just feels like they aren't trying.
spdracerut 2:27PM (4/25/2008)
Huh... interesting. I guess they went to the blower for packaging reasons. While these forced induction motors are relativey 'weak', I'm sure they're designed for buttloads of low-end torque in mind, something the NA motors can't match.
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BigMcLargeHuge 2:52PM (4/25/2008)
They has an excellent line of bi-turbo engines, from V-6 to V-8. They threw those away for naturally aspirated V-8 and V-10. These were found to be inadequate so now we're on a bi-tubo V-10 and a supercharged V-6.
They really would have just been better off improving on the original 2.7T and 4.2T.
Some companies know when to hold on to a good thing when they have it. Others let everybody have an idea make its way to production.
Audi seems scatterbrained on the S/RS engines. I don't think they are 'evolving' so much as having an engineer's scuffle.
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BigMcLargeHuge 2:54PM (4/25/2008)
I personally think its pretty obvious that BMW is having an engineer's scuffle as well.
They went and spent so much money on the 4.0 V8, but the I-6 still has so much untapped potential.
The 335i's engine with a Dinan or Vishnu kit can make well over 400hp and 400lb-ft. That puts it neck-and-neck with the M3. Particularly when they both do it under warranty and with upgraded oil cooler.
Sorry, but I think BMW is sandbagging the I-6 TT to justify the existence of the NA V8.
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Seoultrain 3:00PM (4/25/2008)
Yep, Audi is doing the same thing with the S4 to justify the RS4.
BigMcLargeHuge 3:07PM (4/25/2008)
Correction:
Vishnu can do it under warranty and Dinan has the oil cooler upgrade.
Sorry, I don't want to over-generalize.
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