Subscribe
Save article | View favourites
August 31, 2009
 2010 Audi S4. Click image to enlarge |
Additionally, the S4 Premium can be ordered with the Sports Differential and Audi’s Drive Select (adjustable engine/throttle mapping, suspension damping, and dynamic steering) for $4,000. Drive Select significantly changes the driving dynamics of the S4 via pre-set Comfort and Dynamic choices, or an Individual setting that allows the driver to fine tune each of the vehicle’s dynamic parameters to his or her preference.
Exterior features of the S4 that differentiate it from A4 models include quad exhaust tail pipes; S-design front/rear bumpers, grille and rocker mouldings; integrated spoiler in the trunk lid; aluminum clad mirrors; larger brake rotors with branded calipers; front and rear diffuser blades and the 18-inch wheels. Interior differentiating features include S4-badged steering wheel; sport seats with available contrasting interior; aluminum door sills and gauge cluster; black headliner and brushed aluminum trim.
Not that I’m proud of this, but I wasn’t in an Imola Yellow S4 for more than 30 seconds before my drive was interrupted by a uniformed representative of the California Highway Patrol. I got pulled over, in other words, after barely making it into third gear.
 2010 Audi S4. Click image to enlarge |
So yes, the S4 accelerates with enthusiasm (0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds), but I didn’t have the pedal entirely to the metal and am not known for aggressive driving on public roads. Part of the explanation for my transgression is that the S4 simply caught me off guard. While merging into the two-lane, Highway 101 traffic, the lack of fuss with which this was accomplished had me blithely accelerating beyond the 55 mph (90 km/h) speed limit before even bothering to check the speedometer (in my defence, 70 mph on this car’s speedometer is positioned at something like 7:30 on an analogue clock, so a quick glance suggests you’re barely moving).
But that was my bad, so to speak, although perhaps in the interest of furthering positive international relations the officer returned my documentation with a warning and a reminder that, “We have miles-per-hour in California, not kilometres, and doing 71 of them in a 55 zone outside the Infineon Racetrack, of all places, is not particularly bright.”
Point taken: I promised to smarten up.
   2010 Audi S4. Click image to enlarge |
The next day, it turned out we were inside the gates of said Infineon Racetrack, which is a challenging venue indeed. All corners and hills, it weaves this way and that, up and down, pulling and pushing your car on about four kilometres of asphalt (as it was configured for our group). We also drove the S4 on a short track specifically designed to highlight the Sports Differential, the effect of which is particularly evident (due to suspension settings) when switching between Comfort and Dynamic modes on cars equipped with Drive Select. It is surprising how stable the car feels with this technology onboard as it compensates for the forces that want to pull the car off-line by pushing back in equal measure.
Driving the S4 on public roads — at speeds that don’t attract unwanted attention — is rewarded by comfortable and supportive seats, premium audio, a finely tailored cabin of tasteful design and authentic materials, and an overall precision feel to steering, throttle, suspension and brakes that permeates the vehicle. In other words, this isn’t a highly strung performance sedan that beats you up after a couple or hours behind the wheel. It’s a refined drive that simply has way more performance potential than most vehicles on the road. The available Drive Select technology enables you to tailor that potential to your mood or general driving style.
Concerning the practicalities, the trunk is large, featuring a ski pass-through and split folding rear seats; rear-seat legroom is somewhat tight, but headroom there is generous; the front seats have excellent front/rear-up/down adjustability, and the radio persistently defaults to “on” even if you turn it off before parking the car.
The main competitor? BMW’s 335i/335ix would top the list in our market, although Lexus and Mercedes models are also in Audi’s target zone. In comparison to these brands, the S4 is formidable opposition in terms of design and engineering, but buyers for this type of car make their choice for complex reasons, and the final purchase decision may come down to brand allegiance. It’s tough to get luxury buyers to switch.
But if you’re already an Audi-phile, I think you’ll like this S4, even though it’s arguably not as wild as the last-generation V8 car. If your loyalty is elsewhere, you owe it to yourself to put an S4 through its paces.
|
Pricing: 2010 Audi S4
Specifications
|
Related posts:
- 2010 Audi S4 makes debut
- What’s New: 2010 Audi A3
- What’s New: 2010 Audi A6/S6
- First Drive: 2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet
- Audi debuts A5/S5 cabriolet in New York
Review by 
