First Drive Review
The basic concept here is far from new: big V-8 stuffed into a smallish car to lend more urgency to forward progress. Detroit applied the formula a lot during the heyday of the big-inch in the '60s and early '70s. Never mind that the resulting hot rods weren't inclined to change directions or stop. They'd go from A to B in a serious hurry, merrily shredding tires, and in those days, nothing else really mattered.
Consistent with today's more comprehensive expectations, the S4 does much more than merely sprint. It has the balance of an Olympic gymnast and the sure-footed all-weather agility of a snow leopard-wrapped in sheetmetal that differs very little from the everyday A4's. Whether this cosmetic reticence suits you is your call. But it doesn't take long to figure out this is not your everyday A4. Not with that refined V-8 exhaust music laying down an internal-combustion back beat worthy of Bach.
And, of course, there's the matter of fast forward. Ja. The S4 does that. As you'd expect. Then again, maybe not quite as you'd expect. We'll get back to that issue a little later. First, let's look at the rest of the package.
Given its überdog role in the A4 lineup, the S4 has stiffer sinews than its stablemates-slightly higher spring rates, revised shock-absorber damping, stiffer anti-roll bars fore and aft, reduced (by 20 millimeters) static ride height, quicker steering, and bigger brakes. Like the idea of bolting in more horsepower, this is fairly standard, with one important exception: Audi seems to have achieved its handling goals-increased roll stiffness, crisper responses-without excessive ride-quality compromise.
The "seems to" proviso is based on a half-day exposure to the S4's dynamics, part of it on the Misano racing circuit in northern Italy, part of it on a variety of Italian public roads, all of it in wet weather. We'll suspend a definitive judgment until we can subject an S4 to the weather-checked tarmac of southeastern Michigan. But the S4 does shape up as an exceptionally smooth operator for a car in this rarefied performance category, and it's distinctly smoother than a BMW M3.
The secret, if there is one, lies in the extensive use of aluminum in the S4's suspension-including aluminum hub carriers-adding up to reduced unsprung mass.
Besides its surprisingly compliant ride and decisive responses, the S4 also seems to be a reliable ally for quick driving in damp conditions. The standard Quattro all-wheel drive accounts for this in part, of course, and the Continental tires provide exceptional grip on wet pavement. But the element that separates this Audi from a lot of other cars in nasty traction conditions is the relatively high threshold the engineering team set for the intervention of the S4's traction-control and stability-enhancement programs. Instead of instant shutdown at the first hint of slippage, the S4's microchips allow a fair amount of wheelspin, as well as the occasional judicious broadslide.
As noted, the S4 doesn't advertise its high-testosterone character. The only exterior clues are the chrome side mirrors and the six-spoke, 18-inch Audi Avus-style wheels. Inside, the dash sports carbon-fiber trim and gray-faced S gauges, and there are deeply bolstered Recaro front bucket seats. Like all recent Audi interiors, it's a seductive blend of fashion and function that gladdens the eye and the backside in equal measure.
