The European luxury manufacturers are front and center in a
take-no-prisoners performance war. And at this point, it looks like Audi
will be a challenger for the boldest step in this direction. Audi has taken
its nice friendly compact A4 sedan and wedged a potent V-8 into the engine
compartment. Audi is the first manufacturer to take this radical step a V-8
in a compact and in so doing is indicating its intention to take on the
highly regarded BMW M3, the Mercedes-Benz C32 AMG and any other takers. Oh yes, the wagon version of the A4, called the Avant, gets the same bold
treatment.

The new high-performance Audi offers several advantages. First off, its
sleek styling, devoid of the usual appurtenances such as scoops, wide fender
flairs, and gonzo rear wings, doesn¹t attract undue attention. Yes, there
are some very subtle styling flourishes, such as the beefy 18-inch cast
alloy wheels, painted bumpers giving the car that monochromatic look,
aluminum exterior mirrors, and a subtle rear spoiler. But there¹s nothing in
the package that will send the local constabulary reaching for their radar
guns. The interior also is enhanced over and above the standard S4. The
interior gets a soft leather treatment and 12-way power Recaro sport seats,
generally regarded as the best performance seats in the business.

The other advantage to the Audi S4 package is the inclusion of Audi¹s highly
regarded all-wheel-drive Quattro system. This technology offers an extra
margin of safety, particularly when driving this very highly powered car in
wet or icy conditions. You¹d have to be pretty reckless to pitch the S4 into
the ditch given its Quattro system.

Now let¹s get down to the basics that make the S4 a machine to reckon with.
First off, squeezing the V-8 engine, which usually resides in Audi¹s full
size A8 sedan, into a compact car took some engineering legerdemain.  By
rearranging some of the engine components, Audi shrunk the length of the
engine to a scant 18 inches and reduced its weight to 430 lbs. Hey, you
could almost put it in your briefcase. So equipped, the S4 can blast from
zero to 60 miles per hour in just over five seconds and reach a top speed
electronically limited to 155 mph. I don¹t know about you, but it¹s
reassuring to know that the top speed is restricted to a number just shy of
sending the car into earth orbit. The car obviously accelerates briskly from
any sane speeds by flicking the transmission lever into a lower gear and
flooring the accelerator.

The S4 masters most any demanding road condition.  In fact, I¹d rate the S4
as a very user-friendly car. Meaning that the car is very easy to drive fast
at or near its limits. The transmission works very well and the steering
responds to the slightest inputs. The car feels well balanced and very
forgiving. 

A key to its handling capability and agile character is a new lightweight
suspension. Aluminum suspension components are one of the interesting trends
in automotive engineering and for my money the technology represents a real
advance. These new suspensions seem to step lively over bumps and road
surface irregularities and are more responsive that older, heavier
components. The lightweight components are also less prone to bouncing
around when you high a rough patch or road while going around a curve. The
laws of physics seem to indicate that there is an advantage to reducing
inertia as the suspension systems move in their assigned tracks.

On the other hand, even with its aluminum suspension and aluminum engine
components, the S4 is a relatively heavy. This is the result of putting a
V-8 (even the lightest V-8 engines are heavier than a six or an inline four)
in the car in the first place and the Quattro all-wheel drive system adds
several hundred pounds to the equation. Consequently, the weight factor
means that the S4 gives away some of its power advantage to lighter
competitors. 
 
 

Vehicle: Audi S4 Sedan

Price as tested: $50,790

Engine:

         Type: 4.2-liter V-8

         Horsepower: 340 @ 7,000 rpm

         Torque: 302-ft. lbs. @ 3,500 rpm

Fuel economy, manual transmission

         City - 14 mpg

         Highway - 20 mpg

Curb Weight: 3,936 lbs.