Audi S4 B9

Based on the brand new and more technologically advanced Audi A4, the semi-high performance variant, the S4, in saloon and Avant versions, may have lost some of the charm points from its previous model, such as the loss of the manual gearbox and supercharger, but it's got AMG's C43 range in its crosshairs. So, is it better than before?

2017 Audi S4

2017 Audi S4 Avant

At first glance, the brand new S4 looks very identical to the normal A4 but when you notice some subtle changes on the exterior and interior to make it look semi-sporty but by stark observation, it's catered to be as elite as an honor student at a very prestigious academy. Remind you of any?

Anyway, once you're done digging out what's new, in and out, what's underneath is what matters because for the new model, the 3.0L TFSi engine loses its supercharger, resulting to become a turbocharged semi-high performance vehicle which a very average sound that makes you wanna go "hmmm". No bark though but the power output of 354PS of power and 500Nm is pretty impressive for a turbocharged engine but it's still short of power compared to Mercedes-AMG's C43. Still, could be worse, the only offering of an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox is one gear short compared to the C43's 9G-TRONIC as well. While it maybe restricted to 250kph, the 0-100kph time is now 4.7 seconds, which is vaguely the same as the C43's but get this; because the S4, like the A4, is utilized on an MQB platform like all good VW Group machines, it's 60kg less than the C43, resulting to combined fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km, compared to the C43's 7.8L/100km. How's that for a semi-high performance car?

As a light car compared to the C43, the new S4, with its signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, is a potent multirole that can handle through bends with mildness, even when it feels under the weather. Because it's lower than the base A4, courtesy of its sport-tuned suspension, its low center of gravity results to even better handling but it's still basically milder in body language and if you can sense its understeering woes, hope you got your painkillers ready because this going be an achy-breaky feeling.

Should you buy it? The S4 is priced at 59,300 Euros for the saloon while the Avant is priced at 61,150 Euros, competitively priced to the AMG C43 range, and while it produces less power than the C43, the S4, despite the loss of its supercharger and manual gearbox, still works like what a semi-high performance should and while this is classified as a sports car, it's still a luxury car ticking all the right touches in partial terms of endearment. Is it better than before? Don't be silly but it's a good fun finding out.

Photo: Audi AG

Forza 4: Who let the A4's out?

Oh, look who's booked in at the Top Gear Test Track on Forza Motorsport 4. It's those high-performance variants of the Audi A4 through the years. The S4 B5, the S4 B6, the RS4 B7, and the  S4 B8, those were high-performance models of the Audi A4 through the years but those cars are arguing that which one is better. To settle those differences, my inner Stigness send me to lap these cars round the Top Gear track one by one by one to find out which of these "A4 on steroids" is the best...

Let's start with the S4 B5




Based on the Typ 8D (B5) A4, the S4 succeeds from the first Audi C4 S4 when it was debuted in 1997 as part of the Audi A4 B5 minor change.

The B5 S4 is equipped with a 2.7L V6 twin-turbo engine which includes a cast iron cylinder block with two aluminum alloy cylinder heads. This engine produces 265PS of power and 400Nm of torque while mated with a 6-speed C90 manual transmission.

The sedan version was launched in 1997 while the station wagon variant, called the S4 Avant, was launched a year later. In 1999, the B5 S4 went on sale on the USA. Production ended in 2011 although it was sold alongside the A4 B6 through 2002 in North America.

The S4 B5 also makes motorsport history when this is the car of choice for Michael Galati at the 2001 SpeedVision World Challenge where he won the GT title in a Champion Racing S4, winning 4 races and made it to its first manufacturer's Championship.



The S4 B5 crosses the line in 1:32.861...

Now it's the B6's turn...




Following with the success of the B5 S4, the S4 model is now based on the Audi B6 A4, which was based on the Volkswagen Group B6 (PL46) platform. It was available in saloon, Avant, and Cabriolet.

For this model, the S4 B6 comes with the 4.2L V8 engine that can go 0 to 60mph in 5.6 seconds  in the saloon with manual transmission (Avant 5.8 s, Cabriolet 5.9 s) but American car magazine Motor Trend managed to make the S4 B6 go from 0 to 60 in less than five seconds.

In the USA, the S4 B6 was subjected to the $1,700 gas guzzler tax (combined 20.2 miles per US gallon (11.6 L/100 km; 24.3 mpg-imp)) for the six-speed manual sedan.



The B6 Audi S4 did it in 1:30.163...

Next up, the RS4 B7




The first RS4 was introduced in 1999 and went on sale in 2000 as an Avant-only model. From its discontinuation in 2001, Audi produced 6030 RS4 Avant models.

In 2005, the RS4 returned and it was based on the B7 Audi A4. It was available in the European public in mid 2006 and later in North America and up to its discontinuation in 2008, 10,000 units were made. It was available in three body variants; a sedan, an Avant, and a Cabriolet version.

Powered by a 4.2L FSi V8 engine and mated with a 6-speed manual transmission, the RS4 can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds while top speed is normally limted to 155mph.

The B7 RS4 marks a departure from the Audi RS cars tradition (where the previous RS 4 and RS 2 were available exclusively as Avants.) ever since the first Audi RS6. Unique features of the B7 RS4 are the smaller, flat bottomed steering wheel (complete with "Sport" button), Recaro shell-type race bucket seats with electrically inflatable upper and lower side bolsters, and carbon-ceramic brakes.

In Top Gear Season 7 Episode 2, Jeremy Clarkson races the RS4 against mountain climbers at the French Alps and in the end, the mountain climbers defeated the RS4. It went round the Top Gear Test track in 01:25.7.

In Top Gear Season 10 finale, James May drove the RS4 while Jeremy Clarkson's in the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and Richard Hammond's in the BMW M3 at the Ascari Race Resort in Spain.



The RS4 did it in 1:23.201, meaning not only I beat Stig's record, it beats the other two but would that lap time be more than enough to be beaten by the current-generation Audi S4 B8? Let's find out...




From the moment the Audi B8 A4 was launched in the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, this model is now based on the Volkswagen Group MLB/MLP platform. A year later, Audi has launched an S4 model which was based on the current B8 A4.

Beginning with the B8, the saloon and Avant version was available while the convertible variant was replaced by the Audi S5 Cabriolet in 2009, the year when it went on sale for the European public.

For this model, downsizing occured because the B8 S4 replaced the 4.2L V8 engine with a 3.0L TFSi V6 engine with forced induction via a Roots-style Eaton mechanical supercharger.

Even though it's an S model, the B8 S4 competes with the BMW 335i and the Infiniti G37 since Audi discontinued the Audi B7 RS4 and Audi has never made a competitor to the BMW M3. Optional features on the B8 S4 includes active rear differential, active steering and ultra-quick electrically-adjustable shocks (both via Audi Drive Select Package).

APR Motorsport competed the B8 S4 at the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Grand Sport (GS) class.



As it turns out, the S4 B8 managed to do it in 1:28.223, that's about over five seconds slower than the RS4 but still more quicker than the previous S4 models so I therefore conclude that the RS4 B7 is the winner of my Top Gear Forza Motorsport 4 comparisons....

Go pick the RS4 B7...because it's sonorous...