Audi S4: return to the six-cylinder

The signing of Ingolstadt will launch next spring in a new generation of the S4. With this new sporty Audi confirms the trend among major manufacturers make increasingly mechanical cylinder capacity smaller and more power. In this case, the S4 is leaving the eight-cylinder engine and replaces it with another six, which produces a similar power--333 horses, and at the same time, achieves a saving of over three liters of gasoline per 100 km .

In 1992, the signing of Igoldstadt announced the sale of a saloon sportiness. Although initially was called S4, in fact, this version of the Audi racing stemmed 100, which was the predecessor of the A6. This first S4 was powered by an engine of five-cylinder in-line, 2.2 liter displacement and an output of 230 hp.

The second Audi S4, the first that actually corresponded with the A4 and not with the Audi 100 - came in 1997 with a propellant of six cylinders in V with 265 horses. This was followed by a new generation born in 2003, which included a novelty as eight-cylinder engine with 344 hp V, and another in 2006 - with a different aesthetic and also eight-cylinder engine and the same power.

Now, 16 years after the first S4, Audi just introduced which would be the fourth generation of this sport, a model that will land at dealerships in March 2009. One of the most striking aspects of this new Audi is maintaining his sportsmanship and at the same time, consume less.

Audi has left the engine from eight cylinders in V for another less-cylinder with Cubic intention to reduce consumption. And he has succeeded. The S4, with a propellant of six cylinders in V and three liters of engine capacity achieves the same power and spends less than the previous S4 with an engine from eight cylinders in V and 4.2 liters.

Return to the six-cylinder

In particular we are talking about a mechanical six cylinders in V, with 2995 cubic centimeters, an output of 333 hp and a torque of 440 Nm. 2,500 revolutions. With this engine with direct injection and fed by a supercharger, the S4 sedan with the body spends 9.7 liters, while consumption of household is 9.9 liters.

This represents a saving of 3.4 liters of fuel, compared to the previous generation, which had an average consumption of 13.1 liters per 100 kilometers.

From the S4 series incorporates a box six-speed manual. However, this sports sedan may also include another of the latest innovations. This is the change in S Tronic dual clutch, now with seven gears.

Items such as security, Audi continues to rely on the nobility that involves the incorporation of the integral traction, which under normal conditions sends 40% of torque to the front wheels and the remaining 60% to the rear. Differential

Novel

Along with the integral traction, the S4 has other developments. This is the latest generation of a rear differential. What makes this device different is that it has been added to a differential gear in the semi-right as in the left side. This gear is attached to the semi-differential and a multi-clutch. Finally, all movements of the axis are controlled by large number of sensors.

In this way, at the time in which a shaft turns more than another, the differential is capable of blocking the shaft and necessary send up to 100% of torque to a single axis. The conclusion is that before driving a sport, the driver will have to work less with the steering wheel and at the same time, enjoy greater lateral acceleration and see how decrease the risk of an or .

Finally, the new S4 will also include a device called "Audi drive select 'which is in charge of controlling the map for managing the throttle response, the regime change as well as the sportsmanship of the address. Specifically, the driver will choose one of the comfort, dynamic and self-quarter mode more configurable for versions with the MMI, depending on your driving style.