2011 Audi S4
The BMW 335i may be the contemporary sports sedan of record, but now there is a new kid on the block – the Audi S4. Built on the same platform as its brother, the Audi A4, the S4 comes with a more aggressive exterior styling that is not too subtle to the public eye. The car also comes with standard LED daytime-running lights in the front and bright red LED brake lights in the rear, which can shout out: “You better not mess with the guys in red.” Or, something else of that nature, perhaps. Also, the car comes with something under the hood that would give the BMW 335i and even its competitors such as the Mercedes-Benz C350 and the Infiniti G37 a run for the money – A supercharged 3.0-liter V6 that cranks out 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. of torque; remember, the “T” from the 3.0 “T” does *NOT* stand for “Turbo;” it stands for the acronym TFSI, a special type of direct injection system which puts fuel through the combustion chambers in the engine bay, boosting power and fuel economy simultaneously.
With mentioned 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. of torque, the sporty S4 can rocket from 0-60 mph in just 4.8 seconds-that is, if you can launch it at the right timing with the paddle shifters and your foot on the floor. Gas mileage for a car with this much performance is pretty good; 17 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway; you can achieve even better mileage if you do not use such a heavy foot and weave past other drivers on the 5 freeway during the day.
Of course, like any other Audi model, the 2011 Audi S4 has two basic packages: The Premium Plus package gives you your hands-free Bluetooth, an optional MMI navigation system with Real-time traffic, and heated seats. The upgraded Prestige package adds a Push-Button start ignition, where you do not have to take the key fob out of your pocket (or purse for all you female drivers out there) when you attempt to unlock your door and start your car as well as an upgraded stitching for the leather seats.
Even with the S4’s powerful 6-cylinder engine, the cabin still remains really quiet inside, so I think Audi had done a really great job in the insulation process. Like I have said before, the suspension is really stiff, but not too stiff, so I can take hard U-turns and sharp left turns without a sweat. The S4 drives like a fast V8, but has the efficiency of a 6-cylinder; that is what I loved about the 2011 S4.
With stupendous performance, an array of high-tech safety features such as Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Distribution, and 4-wheel ABS with ventilated discs, I guess it would be safe to say that the new 2011 Audi S4 would be the new sport sedan of record. Sorry, BMW 335i; you’re bumped down to second place.
