Where culture and transportation converge

2010 Audi S4: S-Tronic to the Fourth Power

by Tamara on November 23, 2009

in Audi, FEATURED, ROAD TESTS, luxury cars

Try saying this three times fast: 2010 Audi S4 quattro Auto S-Tronic Sedan. Too late — the sportier version of the A4 sedan was here and gone already. That’s how I feel at the moment — a bit awestruck with the sleeper car that sneaked into the driveway and disappeared all too soon. If the Audi S4 were a person, it would be an art collector — it arrives early, it’s unassuming, and it will have you talking more about it once it’s left the premises.

The S4 came my way one week ago. It was a busy bustling week in New York, where sometimes, it takes planning to schedule driving time, when walking is a leaner, hassle-free option. (Yes, this is counter-intuitive to a car journalist lifestyle, but it is what it is. Call me a new-age car journalist.) Days were passing, and I was clamoring for seat time in the S4. At last, I took my first spin on a bright blue morning on open roads, and was to coin an old phrase, Audi 5000.

In the cabin, the S4 interior feels architecturally German, ala Walter Gropius, particularly with sport seats and the wrapped leather steering wheel. There might be other options, but I see black as the only recourse here. The glass sunroof creates a panoramic sense that opens up the space, as is the same case on the respectable A4 everyday driver, which was sculpted into a sportier shape and applied new headlights that make for a wider stance. And there was enough room to get the baby seat snugly in and out of the backseat.

With ants in my pants, I finally had the opportunity to really sashay in the S4 on the a wide-open stretch of pavement along the East River, fancy, fast and fresh… did I say fast? The addition of Sports Rear Differential (quattroSport) kept under steer out of the game, and I co-sign on claims of great agility due to torque split between the rear wheels. The new 3.0 TFSI V6 supercharged is faster too than the hulky previous V8, reaching 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, but with less horsepower and torque at 333 hp / 325 lb-ft.

S4 is the upgraded model of the A4 2.0T, replacing the 3.2 V6 that is out of the lineup, according to my Audi sources. The S4 sedan S tronic makes good on speed bucks at $47,300 (7% less than 2008 S4 V8 $ $49,710 that also included a $1300 gas guzzler tax), while the manual saves a bit more S4 sedan manual is priced at $45,900, which also is 9% less than 2008 S4 V8 $48,610, and was slapped with $1700 gas guzzler tax.

Fuel economy 2010 S4 S tronic: is markedly improved with this engine change reaching 18/28 verses the 2008 guilty model at 14/21. S4 battles against the BMW 335i and Mercedes-Benz C350. And it’s not the vehicle for everyone — which is what I like about it best. Like the art collector, the S4 has it’s own distinct persona with A4 practicality, and S-style sense of adventure. I’ve decided the S4 stands for something, as in S to the fourth power, or sophisticated, speedy, savvy and suave — here are pure S-tronics at work. My only regret about the S4 is that I didn’t get the opportunity to log more miles. We’ll be waiting for the next opening.

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