Audi’s new S4 will be unveiled for the first time in Australia at the Australian International Motor Show, ahead of its mid-November 2005 launch.

The new S4 is instantly recognisable with its new front end dominated by the brand’s formal design idiom, the single-frame grille, with the new S-exclusive grid pattern and newly styled headlights. The shoulder line sculpts the sides of the car with purpose and tension and the tail end, with its newly-styled light units, also features four oval tailpipes indicating the engine’s enormous potential.

A more powerful rear bumper, fully painted to match body colour, features large air inlets, while a discreet rear spoiler, xenon plus headlights and aluminium-look door mirrors all add to the S4’s subtle, yet individual appearance.

With a new design and a long list of exclusive standard equipment, the top sports model in the A4 range, the Audi S4, boasts a supremely powerful 4.2-litre V8 engine with 253kW of power and 410 Nm.

The eight-cylinder engine’s thrust thus enables the new Audi S4 with its sporty 6-speed tiptronic gearbox to complete the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds. It takes just 20.8 seconds to reach 200 km/h, and its top speed is governed to 250 km/h.

The new S4 is the only car in its class to have quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The benefits of this class-leading system means that engine output can be converted into propulsive power efficiently at all times, entering a new dimension of superiority thanks to the handling potential of its aluminium chassis.

Steering with an extremely direct ratio means that the S4 can be guided precisely when cornering.

345 millimetre discs at the front are a visual indication of the brake system’s performance.

The Audi S4 offers outstanding technology, on-road dynamism, powerful yet subtle exterior design, and of course the highest quality interior to match.

The instrument cluster has the characteristic grey S dials and special needles new sports leather steering wheel features S badging and wheel-mounted shift paddles. Recaro sports seats provide firm lateral support and excellent comfort on long journeys.

The new Audi S4 is priced at $131,200. Full details on Australian specification will be available from the vehicle’s launch in mid-November.

With a new design and a more extensive equipment specification, the top sports model in the A4 range, the S4 with supremely powerful 344 bhp V8 engine, is soon to be launched in Australia. Its permanent quattro four-wheel drive and consistently sport-tuned aluminium suspension ensure that this power can be converted into maximum forward propulsion and driving pleasure.

The S model of the new A4 generation is instantly recognisable: the front end is dominated by the new face of the brand, the single-frame grille – in this case with S-specific grid pattern – and newly styled headlights. The shoulder line sculpts the sides of the car body in a most eye-catching way.

And, finally, the most prominent feature on the new tail end, apart from the newly styled light units, are four oval tailpipes – a clear indication of just what the Audi S4 is capable of.

The V8 engine, with chain drive at the rear and a displacement of 4.2 litres, delivers 253 kW (344 bhp) and 410 Nm of torque. It consequently sets clear benchmarks in its segment: a benchmark for a supreme and even development of power resulting from the large swept volume, and a benchmark for unmistakeable dynamic handling.

The power-to-weight ratio of this model is just 4.8 kilograms/horsepower. The eight-cylinder engine’s thrust thus enables the new Audi S4 with its new 6 speed manual gearbox to complete the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds. It takes just 20.6 seconds to reach 200 km/h, whilst its top speed is a governed 250 km/h.

The new S4 is the only car in its class to have quattro permanent four-wheel drive. It can therefore convert its engine output into propulsive power most efficiently at all times and enter a new dimension of superiority thanks to the handling potential of its aluminium chassis.

Steering with an extremely direct ratio means that the S4 can be guided absolutely precisely around all kinds of corners.

In other words, driving pleasure in the purest sense, on the motorway as well as on challenging country passes.

The Audi S4 also offers other qualities that have already become a well-known feature of the S models with the four-ring badge. It is consequently positioned as the top sports model in the A4 line, and not only in terms of power and performance – its equipment specification and materials of the highest quality underpin this status.

The S4 is also notable for its unique combination of unmistakeable style and sporting exclusivity, of individuality and versatility.

The design

The superiority of the new Audi S4 is immediately reflected in its deliberately restrained appearance. The body of the S4 saloon is sporty in terms of its proportion and basic shape, differing only subtly from the other members of this model family.

A typical situation that many drivers of the new Audi S4 will find themselves in when manoeuvring to overtake: glancing in their rear-view mirror, the driver in front will see the more powerful bumper fully painted in the body colour with large air inlets, xenon plus headlights and aluminium-look door mirrors and immediately be aware that a very special Audi is approaching.

This realisation is confirmed with a glance at the tail end as the S4 passes: here the onlooker will notice the four distinctive oval tailpipes and – on the saloon version – a discreet rear spoiler as the characteristic feature of the Audi S4.

S4 models can be identified from the side by sills in the same colour as the body, contrasting lower door skirts and the characteristic 18-inch “S” wheels of Avus design.

345 millimetre discs at the front are a visual indication of the brake system’s performance.

The new S4, like the other S models, can be ordered in a choice of exclusively available paint finishes: Imola Yellow, Brilliant Red, Sprint Blue, pearl effect and Deep Green, pearl effect. The S4 can also be ordered in Brilliant Black, in the metallic colours Silver or Dolphin Grey and in Phantom Black or Moro Blue, both with pearl effect.

The Audi S4 is notable not only for its sporting exterior, but even more so for its inner values. This applies not only to its technology, but also to the interior.

The instrument cluster, for example, has the characteristic grey S dials and special needles. The new three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with S badge also accentuates the vehicle’s particularly sporty character.

Recaro sports seats provide firm lateral support and excellent comfort on long journeys. Not only the driver and front passenger benefit from these qualities, but also passengers on the two rear seats.

Engine and transmission

The heart of the new Audi S4 is again quite clearly its engine – a tremendously powerful V8 with a displacement of 4.2 litres and a five-valve cylinder head. This engine is notable not only for its dominant power output (253 kW/344 bhp), but also for its unbeatably short design.

The development engineers, however, have not economised when it comes to power.

The new 4.2-litre engine delivers its maximum power at 7,000 rpm. The maximum torque of 410 Nm is available at 3,500 rpm. Even at just 1,100 rpm the large V8 produces almost 300 Nm, and between 3,000 and just under 4,500 rpm the peak-torque range is always above 400 Nm.

Clearly more impressive than such figures is the combination in practice of the engine’s spontaneous response to every movement of the accelerator pedal, its astonishing free revving and hefty torque that is characteristic of a V8.

And then there is the experience of an equally characteristic V8 sound – reserved and practically free of vibration in the low speed band and with a sonorous tremolo under load. It certainly makes no secret of the engine’s potential.

Thanks to efficient emissions control with primary and main catalytic converters, the new Audi S4 also remains clearly within the EU4 limits.

The S4 is available with a 6-speed tiptronic gearbox with dynamic shift programme DSP and sport programme. This automatic transmission is designed specifically to meet demanding handling requirements: weight reduction, rapid shifts and an optimised shifting strategy make sure that the convenience of the automatic transmission is combined with the sports performance specific to the S4.

The chassis

The dynamic chassis comprising lightweight aluminium components is based on the much-praised axle design of the A4 series and provides the ideal basis for maximum agility as well as excellent suitability for everyday use. It is not least thanks to these characteristics that the S4 has already put up an impressive performance in numerous comparison tests conducted by the trade press, clearly distancing itself from its competitors.

Four-link front suspension and trapezoidal-link rear suspension enable maximum steering precision and clearly defined handling with excellent cornering stability. Ride comfort also benefits from this ingenious axle design because a low unsprung mass makes for a particularly sensitive response from the suspension.

The new S4 generation also comes as standard with one of the most elaborate and efficient rear suspension systems around: self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension, specially designed for quattro drive.

The new S4 has a particularly direct steering ratio: as far as the driver is concerned, this is a contribution to the sports-oriented handling of the agile eight-cylinder version that can be experienced in all situations. The S4 can be guided extremely precisely around all kinds of corners. A standard feature is the speed-dependent servotronic, which enables precise steering at high speeds as well as effortless manoeuvring and parking.

The Audi S4 is being launched with standard-fit 8x18-inch alloy wheels produced exclusively for this vehicle. These are fitted with tyres of size 235/40 R18, uniting good road grip with direct steering properties and defined directional stability.

The braking system is also matched to the powerful potential of the Audi S4. The ventilated discs measure 340 millimetres in diameter at the front, 300 mm at the rear. The system is operated via a dual-rate servo. This assists the driver during extremely hard braking by automatically increasing the servo rate.

The equipment

The top sports model in the A4 series is a claim also satisfied by the standard equipment specification for the new S4.

This of course includes safety features such as full-size front airbags with two-stage activation, side airbags integrated into the seat backs and the head airbag system known as sideguard which covers the entire side window area and the A posts. The front seats now have active head restraints, and a seat belt reminder function is also new.

Active safety benefits from the electronic stabilisation programme ESP and the high-performance brake system with dual-rate servo and brake assist. Standard features also include quattro permanent four-wheel drive which converts engine power with unfailing efficiency into forward movement and also ensures extremely safe handling in all road and weather conditions.

The S4 sports suspension lowers the vehicle’s ride height by 20 millimetres and – apart from its sporty appearance – means a clear advantage in terms of dynamic handling.

The exterior of the S4 models differs from the other models in the A4 series through Avus-design cast aluminium wheels of size 8x18-inch. Other identifying features include electrically adjustable and heated aluminium-design exterior mirrors, a newly styled rear spoiler on the saloon, an original radiator grille with grid pattern and exclusive front and rear bumpers.

A further highlight in the standard equipment package are the particularly bright xenon plus headlights. These can be combined as an option with the dynamic cornering light technology known as adaptive light.

Inlays in Carbon Atlas or, as a no-cost option, Piano finish black, Aluminium silver or Fine-grained Birch wood grey offer all drivers the chance to customise their car’s interior. S4 badges on the nose and tail, on the door sill trims, in the instrument cluster, on the dashboard and on the newly designed 3-spoke sports steering wheel clearly indicate this Audi’s special status, even when stationary.

Full Australian specification information will be available from the vehicle’s launch in mid-November 2005.