Audi is rather well known for producing performance orientated sedans. In fact, the company have a performance version of all their sedan models. Audi has been aggressively releasing new models of their cars ever since a revamp in styling recently. And the new Audi S4 gets the new styling treatment too.
Audi’s true performance model for the A4 series is, of course, the RS4 but that particular sub-model has been discontinued since 2008. Although there were rumours of reviving the RS4 name; right now, we have to be contented with the highest performance sub-model the A4 series has to offer.
Technically, the 2013 Audi S4 is not really new. It is still based on the B8 platform which is shared across the A4 range (including the A4 Allroad Quattro). What is new is the exterior styling. First of all, the car looks bolder and wider due to the highlights of its straight horizontal lines. The front grille receives the clipped top corners just like the rest of Audi’s new models.
The car gets an all new xenon headlights and the fog lights are situated in the front bumpers’ redesigned air vents. The larger air vents adds to the car’s accentuated looks. At the rear, the boot is lifted up slightly to give a boot lip spoiler look. The rear lights cluster are narrower and the quad-tip exhausts, which now sits on a more rectangular diffuser, look pretty much similar to the previous S4.
Overall, the aesthetic looks of the car is more subtle compared to other German automakers’ performance models. The only thing that shows that it is one is the S4 badge on the front and rear of the car. In other words, it is like a sleeper car, one that doesn’t shout; “Hey, look! I am a really fast car.”
At the heart of the S4’s powertrain, the car still delivers around 330bhp between 5500-6500rpm and 440Nm of torque between 2900-5300rpm; with an electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h). The 3.0 litre supercharged V6 engine is still the popular (used on other VW group models) and astute choice for Audi. Audi has stated a 0-100km/h timing of 4.9 seconds but some other independent tests has showed a 4.7 seconds timing.
The Audi Drive Select is a feature that a potential customer will love, especially when he/she has over 300bhp just under their right foot. It fine tunes the adaptive suspension, dynamic steering, engine and throttle response of the car.
If you buy the car with the seven speed S-tronic dual clutch transmission, it also fine tunes the shift points. All new A4 series models come with electric power steering. This, plus the Audi Drive Select feature, improves the understeer feeling that lesser A4 series models have.
Interior wise, nothing much has changed except for several things. The multi media interface analogue controller situated at the centre console has four buttons now instead of eight. The stereo volume knob now toggles left to right to skip audio tracks. And a 3D Google sat-nav feature; connected via Bluetooth.
Consumers are already hyped about the all new A4 and with a performance version coming up; it is fair to say that the 2013 Audi S4 will be consumers’ first choice for a performance executive sedan.
Photo credit: Net Car Show
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