The 2011 Audi S4 is a performance focused vehicle with a price tag to match. With all this power, the 2011 Audi S4 still manages to give its driver a fuel economy of 27 mpg on the highway, a 26% improvement over the previous year.
Transmission and Handling of the 2011 Audi S4
The Audi S4 is available in both 6 speed manual transmissions and 7 speed auto-shift manual transmissions, both of which come with overdrive. The S4 features all wheel drive with independent front and rear multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar. Available options include an electro-mechanical limited slip differential, ride control, and adaptive suspension for maximum vehicle stability and control.
Leather sport seats with heated power front seats and driver and passenger lumbar support make riding in the Audi S4 both stylish and comfortable.
With the 2011 S4 sport sedan, Audi takes on the likes of the BMW 335i and Benz C350 and provides a high-powered alternative for those who want a step up from the basic A4 sport sedan.
Audi says the S4 shoots past 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a limited 155-mph top speed. Just as the A4, the Audi S4 gets Audi's quattro all-wheel drive, with a power split weighted to the rear wheels, and an optional Sports Rear Differential that vectors power from side to side, give the S4 awesome road-holding potential and grippy feel. Audi's base configuration works well enough to avoid the expensive option.
Leather is standard, along with Bluetooth, a music interface for audio players, keyless entry and ignition, xenon headlamps, and Audi's MMI controller, which operates audio, climate, and navigation functions.
All-wheel drive comes standard and sends 60 percent of the engine's power to the rear wheels.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Audi S4 is a high-performance sedan available with either the Premium Plus or Prestige option packages.
Standard equipment for the Premium Plus includes 18-inch wheels with summer tires, a sunroof, automatic xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights and taillights, foglights, automatic wipers, tri-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power sport seats, leather and faux-suede upholstery, heated front seats, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth, a dash-mounted MMI electronics controller and a 10-speaker stereo with single-CD player, iPod interface, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.
The Audi S4 Prestige adds 19-inch wheels, a rearview camera, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, driver memory functions, keyless ignition/entry, voice controls, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, an MMI controller mounted on the center console and a hard-drive-based navigation system with digital music storage, real-time traffic and HD radio.
The navigation system with rearview camera is optional for the Premium Plus package, as is the upgraded audio system. The Audi Drive Select Package, available for Prestige models, adds adaptive suspension dampers, an enhanced steering system, a sport rear differential that can distribute torque individually to each rear wheel, and selectable driving settings. Stand-alone options include 19-inch wheels, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, full leather seats and a power rear sunshade with manual rear side shades.
The 2011 Audi S4 is powered by a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that produces 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed through Audi's AWD system, which features a torque split of 40 percent front/60 percent rear. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual (S tronic) is optional. A sport rear differential (which varies torque between the rear wheels) is also available.
EPA-estimated fuel economy is above average for this class of car, with 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined with the manual.
Safety
The 2011 Audi S4 comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and hill-hold for the manual transmission. Rear side airbags are optional.
Interior Design and Special Features
The Audi S4's cabin is one of the nicest in this class. The control layout is attractive, if button-happy, and the seats are both supportive and comfortable. The MMI controls are conveniently arrayed around the console-mounted shifter on models equipped with the navigation system.
Driving Impressions
An excellent alternative is the dual-clutch automated manual transmission.
