Topic: CD Article: 2010 Audi S4

[Flinter]

Here is Edmunds review on the new S4.


http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=158446

What Works:
Responsive and powerful engine; all-wheel-drive confidence; roomy backseat.

What Needs Work:
Lacks the feedback of its competition, but does it matter?

Bottom Line:
Quick, handles well, immensely fun to drive. Raises the bar in its segment in many areas, including price.

[vdk]

Apparently the V6 S/C is even better than BMW's TT. 

[Flinter]

Apparently the V6 S/C is even better than BMW's TT. 

Agreed, sounds very promising indeed.

[rrocket]

Wonder if they have a "no-tamper" fitting on the supercharger pulley so you can't up the boost with a pulley swap?

[vdk]

IDK but you can up the boost with a flash...

[rrocket]

"If you thought Audi’s 2010 S4 was fast as it is, you’re in for a treat — The guys over at MTM have worked their magic and were able to up the car’s ante by a full 97HP with nothing more than an updated ECU and underdrive pulley.

This means an Audi S4 with the ~$3,500 MTM tuning kit will be able to produce a full 430HP, 380 pounds of torque and sprint from 0 – 60MPH in just 4.6 seconds. Any takers?"

[Flinter]

IDK but you can up the boost with a flash...

I'm certainly no expert here but I didn't think there was a simple ECU/Electronic way to control boost pressure with a roots type blower like the one used on the S4. I thought the boost pressure produced is purely a function of the RPM of pulley on the supercharger as well as the efficiency of the supercharger itself at a given RPM. You can however dial up the boost using a different pulley ratios as rrocket alluded to.

In a turbocharger, boost control this is accomplished using waste gates to bypass the exhaust turbine which therefore slows the compressor turbine reducing boost. The ECU controls this wastegate and therefore can easily control boost. Of course size and efficiency of the exhaust and compressor turbines and the housings also come into play as well.

Is my basic understanding correct??

[Flinter]

"If you thought Audi’s 2010 S4 was fast as it is, you’re in for a treat — The guys over at MTM have worked their magic and were able to up the car’s ante by a full 97HP with nothing more than an updated ECU and underdrive pulley.

This means an Audi S4 with the ~$3,500 MTM tuning kit will be able to produce a full 430HP, 380 pounds of torque and sprint from 0 – 60MPH in just 4.6 seconds. Any takers?"

I'll buy the kit if you supply the S4. 

[Mitlov]

"If you thought Audi’s 2010 S4 was fast as it is, you’re in for a treat — The guys over at MTM have worked their magic and were able to up the car’s ante by a full 97HP with nothing more than an updated ECU and underdrive pulley.

This means an Audi S4 with the ~$3,500 MTM tuning kit will be able to produce a full 430HP, 380 pounds of torque and sprint from 0 – 60MPH in just 4.6 seconds. Any takers?"

I'll buy the kit if you supply the S4. 

Who gets to keep the finished product?

[johngenx]

Who gets to keep the finished product?

I do.  I'll give it a good winter road power-drifting test of the mods and AWD.

[rrocket]

Is my basic understanding correct??

You are correct.  A supercharger doesn't use a wastegate...which is what the boost controller (or ECU reflash) manipulates to make more boost.  In the case of a supercharger, you need the pulley to make more boost, but also the ECU re-flash to remap the fuel/ignition curves to take into account the extra boost.

[Flinter]

Is my basic understanding correct??

You are correct.  A supercharger doesn't use a wastegate...which is what the boost controller (or ECU reflash) manipulates to make more boost.  In the case of a supercharger, you need the pulley to make more boost, but also the ECU re-flash to remap the fuel/ignition curves to take into account the extra boost.

More air more fuel...that makes sense. Thanks.

[Flinter]

"If you thought Audi’s 2010 S4 was fast as it is, you’re in for a treat — The guys over at MTM have worked their magic and were able to up the car’s ante by a full 97HP with nothing more than an updated ECU and underdrive pulley.

This means an Audi S4 with the ~$3,500 MTM tuning kit will be able to produce a full 430HP, 380 pounds of torque and sprint from 0 – 60MPH in just 4.6 seconds. Any takers?"

I'll buy the kit if you supply the S4. 

Who gets to keep the finished product?

I forgot about that important detail.

[vdk]

IDK but you can up the boost with a flash...

I'm certainly no expert here but I didn't think there was a simple ECU/Electronic way to control boost pressure with a roots type blower like the one used on the S4. I thought the boost pressure produced is purely a function of the RPM of pulley on the supercharger as well as the efficiency of the supercharger itself at a given RPM. You can however dial up the boost using a different pulley ratios as rrocket alluded to.

In a turbocharger, boost control this is accomplished using waste gates to bypass the exhaust turbine which therefore slows the compressor turbine reducing boost. The ECU controls this wastegate and therefore can easily control boost. Of course size and efficiency of the exhaust and compressor turbines and the housings also come into play as well.

Is my basic understanding correct??

OOpsie. Damn blowers... 

[Mitlov]

Got my new C&D today.  S4 beats the BMW 335i in a comparo. 

Audi trumps it in real world handling, acceleration, grip.  They said the BMW is "aging and ready for a reboot".

Oh noez BMW!  They never lose C&D tests.  Hell, just six months ago, C&D declared a steel-wheeled, automatic-transmissioned 323i a winner in a comparison test with Thor's lightning-catapulting schlong.  What happened?! 

In all seriousness, it seems that C&D's test wasn't a total anomaly.

Inside Line: S4 beats 335i

Their main criticism of the S4 was a higher as-tested price (US$59,000 versus US$49,000).  However, the tested models weren't equally equipped (the tested Bimmer needed the following to be similarly equipped to the tested Audi: a $2,000 AWD system, a $2,100 nav system, and a $875 premium audio system), so the actual price gap for similarly-equipped cars is $5,000, not $10,000. 

On the other hand, they liked the Audi's engine better, found the Audi more confidence-inspiring in spirited driving on the street, thought that the Audi's suspension was better than the Bimmer's (there's a first), and found the Audi's back seat much more accommodating. 

Nice showing Audi!   

[rrocket]

^^Yea..and in another mag this month, the Audi TTS beats the 300HP 1 Series by a wide margin...

[Flinter]

I was surprised in the Inside Line comparison test to see the S4 come out on top in the ratings for the Engine, Handling, Fun to Drive categories. All areas where BMW has been traditionally dominant.

Well done Audi!!

[2JDM]

But which one has better interior plastics? and better trunk space? 

[Mitlov]

But which one has better interior plastics? and better trunk space? 

2hondas: 1.  CTC: 0.

[ovr50]

Got my new C&D today.  S4 beats the BMW 335i in a comparo. 

Audi trumps it in real world handling, acceleration, grip.  They said the BMW is "aging and ready for a reboot".

Oh noez BMW!  They never lose C&D tests.  Hell, just six months ago, C&D declared a steel-wheeled, automatic-transmissioned 323i a winner in a comparison test with Thor's lightning-catapulting schlong.  What happened?! 

In all seriousness, it seems that C&D's test wasn't a total anomaly.

Inside Line: S4 beats 335i

Their main criticism of the S4 was a higher as-tested price (US$59,000 versus US$49,000).  However, the tested models weren't equally equipped (the tested Bimmer needed the following to be similarly equipped to the tested Audi: a $2,000 AWD system, a $2,100 nav system, and a $875 premium audio system), so the actual price gap for similarly-equipped cars is $5,000, not $10,000. 

On the other hand, they liked the Audi's engine better, found the Audi more confidence-inspiring in spirited driving on the street, thought that the Audi's suspension was better than the Bimmer's (there's a first), and found the Audi's back seat much more accommodating. 

Nice showing Audi!   

It's musical chairs at the auto mags time which means that as the Audi is new, and the 335i is not, it's Audi's turn to win. Then, in 2011 MY, when the 3 is renewed, it will it's turn to win. The beat goes on. Cynical? You bet. The car mags are fun, but hardly to be taken too seriously. Who are their largest advertisers? Car and car-related cos, so treat everyone somewhat fairly to keep the revenue flowing.

Audi has produced some seriously good vehicles lately, and they are to be congratulated for that. I'm sure the new S4 is an excellant car and likely deserves to win over the 335 at "this point in time".