Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Paris Motor Show, Audi
Paris 2008: 2009 Audi S4 armed and ready
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Audi S4
We were never particularly fond of the last generation Audi S4. With 4.2-liters of V8 hanging precariously over the front axle, it provided adequate thrust, but never delivered the dynamic thrills we used to associate with the twin-turbo'd V6 fitted to the B5 platform.
Apparently Audi agrees, and in a move to further differentiate its lineup – while also providing some competition to the all-conquering BMW 335i – it's fitted the new S4 with a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 putting out 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. With a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system sending 60 percent of the power to the rear wheels, the 2009 Audi S4 is ready to do battle and we're truly looking forward to our time behind the wheel.
For all the details, check out our previous post on the 2009 Audi S4 and peruse our live gallery from the Paris Motor Show.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ethan 1:42PM (10/02/2008)
What exactly do they mean by supercharged? Is it purely engine-powered or is it a turbo-type (i.e. exhaust-powered) setup with help from the engine to get rid of the lag? Or something completely different?
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MikeofLA 2:04PM (10/02/2008)
ummm... supercharged means exactly that. Superchargers are belt driven forced induction systems. They provide boost with no lag, but they have more drive train loss as opposed to turbos.
Supercharger's are smoother while Turbos are more powerful (generally speaking)
BoxerFanatic 2:11PM (10/02/2008)
Belt-driven 4-lobe twin-screw compressor between the cylinder heads with intercoolers. Supercharged.
Turbocharged is an exhaust driven turbine/compressor pairing, or two of them, and they are usually differentiated by using one word or the other.
People don't usually refer to a turbocharged engine as being supercharged.
The S4 is looking really good. 7 less horsepower, but more than 20 more lb-ft. of torque than the previous V8. V8s are nice, but so is forced induction.
I am most interested in how well the new DSG application, and their electro-mechanical rear differential are going to work out.
And the car does look good. Too bad it is so expensive compared to the Turbocharged AWD Legacy GT and Spec B, albeit being better equipped. The Legacy turbo models, with a bit of tuning, can equal the S4's power with two fewer cylinders, and a good turbocharger. Plus, the Legacy is probably noticeably lighter weight.
extinctdoughnut 3:17PM (10/02/2008)
Actually his question is completely valid. Turbo chargers used to be called Turbo-superchargers. The original super chargers were most gear driven on cars and airplanes. Later it was learned that exhaust gases could be used practically to power the supercharger.
Only in "recent" history has it been shortened to turbo-charger and supercharger.
From wikipedia:
Early manufacturers of turbochargers referred to them as "turbosuperchargers". A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an engine. Logically then, adding a turbine to turn the supercharger would yield a "turbosupercharger". However, the term was soon shortened to "turbocharger". This is now a source of confusion, as the term "turbosupercharged" is sometimes used to refer to an engine that uses both a crankshaft-driven supercharger and an exhaust-driven turbocharger.
Some companies such as Teledyne Continental Motors still use the term turbosupercharger in its original sense. For the purposes of this article, the more modern terms turbocharger and turbo are used.
Ethan 5:51PM (10/02/2008)
It still seems odd to me for Audi/VAG to use a non-turbo-assisted supercharger.
Adrock 12:19PM (10/03/2008)
No, unfortunately it's not a "Twin piston gas powered turbo charged ass hammer with scrotum cupping attachment"
Mark 1:50PM (10/02/2008)
does this seem a bit slow to anyone?
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MikeofLA 2:05PM (10/02/2008)
BMW said the 335i was a 0-60 in 5.5 and it achieved 4.8, so expect it to be conservative at best. Germans are normally pretty restrained on their accel numbers.
Dave Peterson 7:55PM (10/02/2008)
that it does but Autoblog is incorrect with it's figures. Audi states 5.1 to 62mph (Europeans use the 100km measurement) which will be more like 4.8/4.9 converted to 60mph. That is plenty fast and one can be sure that there are still supercharger pulleys and ECU updates to be had from the aftermarket tuners to push it beyond 400bhp.
MikeofLA 2:01PM (10/02/2008)
Now that is Sexy! Do Want!
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Cardude 3:01PM (10/02/2008)
Nice, very nice. Audi is on a roll!
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Sid 3:10PM (10/02/2008)
The new A4/S4 is looking really Hawt!! And so is the A1 sportback!! Well done Audi!!
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Jim 3:42PM (10/02/2008)
What's that white drop-top to the left in picture #6???
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wutang54 4:00PM (10/02/2008)
I'm not sure, maybe an A5 Cabrio?
But other than that, very nice indeed. Hopefully this will be a good wake-up call to BMW to make them focus on what they should (3-series and cars), rather than churn out garbage like the X1. The competition is catching up.
Jim 4:55PM (10/02/2008)
It shouldn't be the A5 Cabro...perhaps I'm mistaken, but I thought that wasn't going to be announced until early next year. Perhaps it is an A3 cabro. I'm just so eager to see the A5 cabro everything looks like it.
mayflyripper 5:27PM (10/02/2008)
Looking at the picture in h-res, the licence plate on the car says "A3 1.8 TDI".
mayflyripper 5:37PM (10/02/2008)
That should be the 2009 A3 1.9 TDI. Can't tell if it's the A3 or A3 Sportback.
oZ 3:56PM (10/02/2008)
I love this car in a completely inappropriate way.
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ky 4:01PM (10/02/2008)
2009 A3 cabrio would be my guess
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ky 4:04PM (10/02/2008)
woops - that was in reply to Jim above asking about the drop top in pic #6