The Audi S4 is the high performance variant of Audi's compact executive car A4. The original Audi S4, built from 1991 until 1994, was a performance-oriented version of Audi's 100 saloon/sedan. All subsequent S4s, beginning with the "B5" platform car in 1997, have been based on the Audi A4; and as the A4 has evolved from one generation to the next, so has the S4. Audi's platform generation names, beginning with "B5" in 1997, are used throughout to distinguish between generations/evolutions of these products.
Like its regular A4 counterpart, all S4 variants have had longitudinally oriented, front-mounted engines. All versions of the S4 have their transmission mounted immediately at the rear of the engine in a longitudinal orientation, in the form of a transaxle, and like all Audi "S" cars, are only available as standard with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) system, using a Torsen-based centre differential system.[1] A more powerful internal combustion engine, larger upgraded brakes, firmer suspension, larger wheels, and distinctive sheetmetal, styling cues and badging have always been amongst the many upgrades the S4 receives over its mainstream 100 and A4 siblings. In markets where the even higher-performance and further-visually-differentiated Audi RS 4 is not offered, the S4 is the top-of-the-line trim of the A4 family.[2][3]
A single turbocharged 2.2-litre inline five-cylinder powered the original C4 version, and a 2.7-litre twin turbocharged V6 engine was found in the B5 generation. The B6 and B7 versions shared a common 4.2-litre V8 engine, the first time that a V8 engine was placed in a compact executive car, placing it in direct competition with the BMW M3 (3.2 L inline 6) and Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG (3.2-litre supercharged V6). The B8 generation uses a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine and competed with the BMW 335i, BMW 335i/340i xDrive, and Mercedes-Benz C350.[2] The current B9 generation is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 TFSI engine, with rivals including the BMW M340i xDrive and Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG/Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC.[4][5]
All versions of the S4 have been manufactured at Audi's plant in Ingolstadt, Germany; they are, or have been available as a four-door five-seat saloon and a five-door five-seat Avant (Audi's name for an estate car/station wagon) body styles since the model's inception in 1991. A two-door four-seat Cabriolet (convertible) S4 variant was introduced as part of the B6 and B7 generation A4 lineups. The B8 Cabriolet has now been built off the A5 coupe body style and the "S" variant is marketed under the Audi S5 nameplate.
C4 (Typ 4A, 1991–1994)
Factory production of the original Audi S4 (Typ 4A), usually known as Audi 100 S4, began in August 1991 to serve as the performance version of the newly updated, C4 platform, 100-series four-door, five-seat saloon. First shown to the public at the May 1991 Barcelona Show, it was designed to replace the outgoing C3-based Audi 200 turbo quattro 20V and retained its five-cylinder engine.[6] The 200, Audi's first true sports-saloon, had been discontinued at the end of 1990.[7][8] Being the first S4 model from Audi, it is commonly referred to as the Ur-S4, derived from the augmentive word (meaning: original).
Audi mildly updated the C4-based model line in 1994 and dropped the 100 nomenclature; all variants of the former Audi 100 line were now re-badged as the Audi A6. In line with the switch in model name, Audi temporarily discontinued the use of the S4 name and began selling an updated but fundamentally identical version of the car, based on the "new" A6 and badged as S6
B5 (Typ 8D, 1997–2002)
The second generation S4 (Type 8D), also known as the Audi S4 quattro debuted in 1997, with factory production commencing October 1997,[1] as part of the facelifted B5 platform Audi A4 line-up, although it was not available in North America until late 1999.
In addition to the saloon (sedan), an estate version (wagon)–the Audi S4 Avant–was introduced into the lineup from 1998. Production of the B5 S4 ceased in September 2001,[1] although it was still sold together with the next B6 platform generation through 2002 in North America. Examples produced June 2001 to end of production are 2002 Model Year cars, the 10th digit of the VIN being the number "2".
B5 powertrain
The powertrain details[1] of the B5 S4 feature a 2.7-litre twin-turbo ('biturbo') 90° third-generation
B6 (Typ 8E/8H, 2003–2005)
The third generation Audi S4 quattro (Type 8E — saloon: 8E2, Avant: 8E5, and Cabriolet: 8H7) debuted its saloon and Avant bodystyles in Europe in March 2003,[1] and appeared in North America slightly later. This was based on the latest Volkswagen Group B6 (PL46) platform used by the then current Audi B6 A4. Despite having moved to an entirely new platform, one of the S4's most publicised new features was its new engine - a 4.2-litre V8 engine. Following its initial launch of either a four-door five-seat saloon (sedan), or a five-door five-seat Avant (estate/wagon), it eventually became available in three bodystyles - and for the first time in the Audi 'S' car range, from February 2004, a two-door four-seat Cabriolet (convertible), Type 8H, was included in the model range.[12]
Official performance figures for 0-100 km/h in the saloon with the manual transmission are 5.6 seconds (Avant 5.8 s, Cabriolet 5.9 s), however, a road test conducted by the American automotive magazine Motor Trend[13] indicated that it could go from a 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds, and make it to 200 km/h in slightly over 20 seconds, although doing this led to fuel consumption dipping into single digits.
B7 (Typ 8E/8H, 2005–2008)
The Audi B7 platform Audi S4 quattro, based on the Audi B7 A4, debuted in late 2004. Although Audi classifies it as a new car, the differences between it and the outgoing B6 S4 casually appear to be primarily cosmetic, and is still classified by the internal designation: Typ 8E (although with revised sub-designations - saloon: 8EC, Avant: 8ED, and Cabriolet: 8HE).[1] It has the same 4.2-litre V8 engine (identification code: BBK) as the B6 S4, producing a power output of 253 kW at 7,000 rpm, and 410 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm.
There are a few mechanical changes, such as revised springs and dampers and, from model year 2007, an updated Torsen T-3 automatically biasing centre differential, featuring a 'default' asymmetric 40:60 front-rear torque split on manual transmission models, along with the later Bosch ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme[1] and gloss black painted brake calipers.[1] The 'Avus-III' wheels now became an option, and were replaced by a standard offering 8.0Jx18 inch 'S-design' 7-spoke forged alloy wheel.[1]
B8 (Typ 8K, 2009–2016)
From November 2008, the fourth generation of the 'Audi S4 quattro'[14] (Typ 8K) entered factory production.[1] It is based on the Audi B8 A4,[15] built on the Volkswagen Group MLB/MLP platform. Unlike the previous B6 and B7 models, the new B8 version was only available as a four-door five-seat saloon (sedan), or a five-door five-seat Avant (estate/wagon). The sport-performance two-door four-seat Cabriolet (convertible) mantle is now taken by the Audi S5 Cabriolet and new Coupe. Unlike previous generations of the S4, only the sedan was imported to the United States and Canada.
Compared to the previous B6/B7 S4 which used a 4.2-litre V8 engine, the B8 S4 uses a smaller displacement 3.0-litre TFSI V6 engine, but now with the addition of forced induction via an Eaton mechanical supercharger.[2]
B9 (Typ 8W, 2017–2025)
Audi announced the B9 S4 in 2015, with the official unveiling of the European-spec model at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Noticeable changes to the B9 included a modern, more angular exterior, newly designed wheels, and a new turbocharged V6 engine co-developed by Porsche.[30] Unlike the pre-facelift B8 S4, the announced European-spec model is only available with an eight-speed torque converter automatic (ZF 8HP55a).
The new model uses LED main-beam and LED daytime running lights as standard, alongside dynamic turn signals and LED tail-lights. Like other Audi models, the notable feature in the new S4 is Virtual Cockpit which has Classic Layout and Sports Layout in displaying speedometer and tachometer.
The B9 S4 features standard 18-inch 5 double-spoke wheels with summer tires, or optional 19-inch 5 V-spoke wheels.
The B9's brakes use multi-piston calipers, replacing the single-piston sliding calipers of earlier models. LED headlights are standard while a flat-bottomed steering wheel, "S" embossed seats, and quad tailpipes differentiate the S4 from the B9 A4.
B9 powertrain
The current generation S4 is powered by a 3.0 L V6 with petrol direct injection and a single twin-scroll turbo powering the EA839 engine with 354 PS and 500 Nm. The engine uses a hot inside V layout, which places the cylinder head exhaust ports, exhaust manifolds, and turbocharger inside the V of the engine; this is a similar arrangement to the twin-turbo V8 engines used in Audi's C7/C8 RS6 and RS7 (including C7 S6/S7).
See also
- Audi S and RS models
External links
- Audi.com - international corporate portal
- Audi UK - S and RS models
- Audi USA - S4
References
- ETKA official factory data^
- Ezra Dyer. Behind the Wheel - 2010 Audi S4 - Less Motor, More Grip, and It All Makes Sense - Review The New York Times, 2010-03-11, retrieved 2010-03-21^
- AudiWorld.com North American S4 Model Guide - historical S4 specifications, prices, and options^