So long supercharger, hello turbocharger
Rarely do we see an automaker introduce the new generation of a car with a less-powerful powertrain, especially a German luxury manufacturer. Yet Audi did just that with its last S4 and S5 models, swapping their lusty, naturally aspirated V8 for a 333-hp, supercharged V6. They wanted to reduce fuel consumption, but also CO2 emissions, an important detail for the European market.
This time around, they increased the horsepower count and reduced fuel consumption even more, thanks to a new powertrain. It’s the same basic 3.0L V6 than in the current S4, but seriously overhauled with, according to Audi, some 800 modifications. The supercharger was thrown into the recycling bin and replaced with a turbocharger, and while they had the engine cracked open, engineers installed new cylinder heads, an integrated intake manifold as well as a new combustion process.
The result is 354 metric horsepower as well as 369 lb.-ft. of torque that expresses itself from 1370 rpm. By the way, it’s the same number of horses that what the old 4.2L V8 produced in the S5 before being replaced with the blown V6, so they caught up. The new 3.0 TSFI V6 unleashes full power right off the line, funnelled through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. We lament the passing of the manual gearbox in the 2017 Audi S4.