The New Audi S4 Is Here With A Brand New V6 And 349bhp

Genuine showroom sleepers are rather rare these days. Anything remotely sporty is made to look unmistakably so, and while that’s just fine for the showy types, what if you want to be fast and discreet? That’s something the Audi S4 has always been good at, and now there’s a new one, based on the recently introduced B9 A4.

It’s still powered by a V6, although the old supercharged engined has been replaced with a "newly developed" turbocharged unit. It develops 349bhp and 369lb ft of torque, a tasty increase from the 329 bhp 325lb ft offered up by the old B8.

At 1630kg (1675 for the ‘Avant’) it’s also a tad lighter than the old one, making 0-62mph possible in 4.7 seconds. Top speed, meanwhile, is the usual 155mph electronically-limited jobby. It’s reasonably economical on paper, achieving 38mpg on the combined cycle, while puffing out a tree-hugging 170g/km of Co2.

There are also some clever bits under the skin to make the S4 nice and capable when you’re giving it what for. The centre-locking differential sends 60 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear boots, and 40 to the front. If necessary, though, it can chuck up to 85 per cent to the rear, and 70 per cent to the front. Meanwhile, there’s also a system which brakes the inside wheels ever so slightly during hard cornering before they break traction.

The rear suspension is a plush five-link setup, and as is the norm for quick cars from Audi these days, there are multiple drive modes to select from, which adjusts the suspension characteristics (if you’ve splashed out on the optional adaptive dampers).

It’ll go on sale in the UK in Spring 2016 for around £40,000, but in the mean time, you’ll be able to see it in the metal at the Frankfurt motor show.