Audi S4 Limousine
The Audi S4 is a high performance sport version of the Audi A4 range of cars. The new S4 is due to make its official appearance at the forthcoming Paris Auto Show this autumn; it is due to go on sale in the UK in the spring of next year. Contrary to popular belief the new luxury car does not get twin turbos to boost the old 4.2- litre V8’s output. It actually gets a sparkling new version of Audi's three-litre V6.
The 3.0-litre, direct-injection unit produces 329bhp and 325lb ft of torque, which is some 10bhp down on the previous generation S4 but slightly up in the torque department - in fact, it'll hit 62mph in just 5.1 seconds, which is half a second quicker than the last S4. That's seriously quick! It’ll be known as the 3.0-litre and it's packed with clever tech including supercharging and direct injection - even though the ‘T’ traditionally stands for ‘turbo’? The new engine uses an Eaton supercharger and has an air-to-air intercooler rather than a water-to-air unit.
Naturally, the S4 gets Audi's four-wheel drive Quattro system, which delivers 60 per cent of the power to the rear wheels in standard driving through either a six-speed manual gearbox or a new seven-speed DSG transmission. There’s also a smart new rear diff which sounds similar to the system in the Saab 9-3 Aero X.
As with its predecessors, the 2009 S4’s exterior looks are some what understated which some say isn’t a bad thing. As one might expect, there's plenty of aluminium on the inside along with myriad 'S' badging; it’s most distinguished features include the cool LED front lights, the deep front spoiler, chunky alloy wheels and the quad exhausts pipes.
So, in the future when it comes to hiring a luxury limousine, your choices won’t be restricted to large, slow saloons. With new Audi S4 there will be plenty of sporty looking, fast luxury cars to choose from too.
