New Audi S4 joins the competitive turbocharged sports sedan race

21 September, 2015

German automaker Audi has just announced that next year’s Audi S4 won’t be supercharged, but rather turbocharged, which is the best news we’ve had all day. The people at Audi have stated that their 3000cc TFSI engine will output 260kW (354hp) at the flywheel, and produce 500Nm of torque from 1300–4500rpm — that’s 73Nm more torque than a 2JZ-GTE, just so you know.

Yes superchargers have their advantages over their turbocharged cousins, however, as we’ve seen over the years, the tuning potential isn’t as great from the factory. Perhaps this is why Lexus, BMW, and now Audi have elected to join the turbo ranks.

Unfortunately, this exciting announcement has been immediately dulled by the fact that Audi will no longer be producing the S4 with a manual gearbox. Instead, the S4 will utilize an eight-speed tiptronic transmission that we’re told provides ‘fast, comfortable, and spontaneous gear changes’. We can only hope that by ‘spontaneous’ they mean with regards to the driver’s input, as opposed to the transmission changing gears whenever it feels like it to keep things exciting. The transmission is also said to ‘freewheel’ when possible, in a bid to lower fuel consumption.

Audi is confident that the eight-speed, all-wheel drive, turbocharged combination will not disappoint, having claimed a 0–100kph time of 4.7 seconds. It’s a time that’s outrageously quick for a sports sedan, especially considering that the new S4 will consume less than 7.4 litres of fuel per 100km — a number only seen with smaller-capacity engines.

The suspension in the Audi has also reportedly had a serious rework, with high-speed stability and universal handling in mind. Audi engineers have made sure that every suspension component is as light as possible, in an attempt to further aid driver feel and feedback. Adding to this is how low the S4 sits, 23mm lower than the bread and butter A4 it’s based upon, while sporting a set of 18-inch wheels with 245/40R18 tyres. An alternative set of 19-inch wheels are also available as an option.

The interior in the S4 is a very nice place to be indeed, with Alcantara and pearl-nappa leather seats present, as well as a fully digital instrument cluster named the Audi ‘virtual cockpit’. The 12.3-inch screen displays all the usual vital information, but has three modes — our favourite being ‘sport specific’, which places the tachometer smack bang in the middle.

Although we don’t like the fact that there’s no manual, we’re looking forward to taking a closer look into the S4 when they go on sale. We’re also keen to see which automotive manufacturer goes down the turbocharged route next. It’s an exciting time for tuning enthusiasts indeed.

Motorman: When the top trio took to the road

What sort of cars did Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme drive when they weren’t on the race track? Motorman knows
Most top racing drivers do care about safety levels of road-going cars for everyday motorists and their all-round abilities behind the wheel. Jackie Stewart for one denied finding everyday driving boring. He took pride in giving his passengers the smoothest possible ride, and encouraged all drivers to actively engage in the task. They also make interesting choices for their transport away from competitive motoring.
Thirty years ago I spent a day with Chris Amon driving on lower North Island roads and I can remember those informative few hours as vividly as if they were yesterday. In 1983 Chris accepted a challenge from Toyota New Zealand to improve its locally assembled cars in a relationship that extended well beyond the end of New Zealand-built Toyota vehicles in 1997.

The Ayrburn Classic announces dates for 2026

Save the date: Friday 20 – Sunday 22 February 2026
That’s right. The Ayrburn Classic returns next February for what promises to be another world-class celebration, scheduled slightly earlier on the calendar to bask in Central Otago’s long golden evenings and late-summer glow. This festival will once again transform Ayrburn into a playground for car enthusiasts, food lovers, and seekers of high-end hospitality alike.
The 2025 edition set an incredibly high benchmark, and is fast becoming one of the leading reasons to visit Queenstown – amongst New Zealanders and international travellers alike. With over 250 classic and contemporary luxury vehicles on display – collectively worth more than $250 million – the festival was a visual and visceral feast for attendees.
Standouts included an $8 million LaFerrari, the latest Aston Martin Vanquish, and a fleet of dream machines from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and more. The event’s unique blend of elegance and accessibility attracted both seasoned collectors and casual admirers aplenty.