CRAMMING a very powerful V8 into a smallish car designed around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine – or a 3.0-litre V6 – is a concept that would leave fast-car critics aghast. The latest Audi S4 does just that, and it is everything you’d imagine such an unlikely marriage to be. It is almost astonishingly rapid, but not for a moment does it feel incapable of dealing with its tremendous power-weight ratio. Constant four-wheel drive takes care of that – as do the electronic systems that add finesse to the power delivery while looking after brakes and any signs of unwanted on-road discrepancies. Along with the Audi RS6, the S4 is one of the most inspirational cars of the year.
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Audi S4 sedan
Released: December 99
Ended: August 03
Family Tree: A4AUDI'S previous S4 was available in both sedan and wagon (or Avant, in Audi-speak) bodystyles. On sale between December 1999 and August 2003, both models were powered by a 2.7-litre turbo V6 walloping out an impressive 195kW and 400Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. At the end of its life, S4 sedan cost $109,320, while Avant was $112,120. The new S4 sedan is much more expensive, but its V8 delivers even more performance.
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