New S4 arrives Down Under

Audi Australia this week launched the new S4 sport sedan and S3 Sportback with S tronic transmission. The hot S4 midsizer is now powered by a 3.0-litre supercharged V6, replacing the well-regarded 4.2-litre V8, while the S3 five-door benefits from the arrival of Audi's twin-clutch gearbox.

The latest S4 was unveiled internationally at last year's Paris motor show. It features the new seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and customers can order a sports diff which continuously distributes torque across the rear axle, enhancing Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The sports diff is packaged with Audi's drive select program, for $6700 over the S4's $118,900 starting price.

New to the S4, the drive select function will adjust throttle response, shift points and steering determined by setting modes -- comfort, auto or dynamic -- using dash-mounted buttons. Drive select can be ordered with adaptive dampers only (without the sports diff) for $2600.

Among other features of the new S4, Audi is punting on buyers opting for better fuel efficiency via its supercharged six over the previous model's V8. According to figures, the 3.0-litre V6 uses 9.4L/100km, which Audi claims is a 24 per cent reduction in consumption compared to the 4.2-litre V8.

The company says that with direct injection, supercharging is "far superior to twin turbochargers".

"In the development of this car, all options were considered," said Audi's local product and tech chief, John Roberts. "[Including] the advantages and disadvantages of using either supercharging or bi-turbo.

"In this application, the packaging and the performance that was achieved, and the reduction in consumption, and the spontaneous acceleration from a standing start... the supercharged option was the better way to go."

Roberts was quick to add the company was not resigned to mechanical charging alone, saying "moving forward, not every engine will be supercharged. In this application, for what was achieved, it's the best."

Compared to the outgoing model's V8, the 3.0 TFSI engine is down on power (245kW vs the V8's 253kW) but up on torque at 440Nm (410Nm for the V8).

The new S4 goes on sale next month.

Released in November last year, the S3 is now offered with Audi's S tronic transmission. The six-speed dual-clutch option costs $2700 over the manual model, making the top S3 $71,010.

Fuel consumption is slightly reduced for the S3 with S tronic, at 8.3L/100km, compared to the manual model's 8.5, and the 0-100km time is also better at 5.6sec.

The S tronic gearbox will be offered for the five-door Sportback models only.

Pricing
S4 - $118,900
S3 Sportback with S tronic - $70,010

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