Re: Info on A4 Sport (S2?)

[Eliot Lim <eliot@u.washington.edu>]

On Fri, 19 Apr 1996, Ron LaPlace wrote:

> I've heard rumors that there'll soon be a sport version of the A4
> available in North America (ie- A4 w/ sport suspension, 200hp).
> Does anyone out there have further info or specs?  Are we getting
> the Euro S2?  What engine?  What features standard?

the regular A4 will soon get a normally aspirated 30 valve 193 bhp 2.8
V6.  don't know about the suspension.  this engine is already in place
on current european A6s and reviews have been quite positive.

in august we will get the 1.8 turbo with a 5 valve head atop the
evergreen 4 banger.  perhaps this might be marketed as the sports
model since equipment levels will be lower and so will its price.  in
stock form the 1.8 turbo puts out 150 bhp with a torque curve like the
S4/S6.. i.e. maximum torque at below 2000 rpm and flat all the way
through to 4000+ rpms.  while on paper it is less powerful than the
2.8 12 valve V6, the turbo has tremendous potential for aftermarket
tweaks.  there is some question as to whether this engine comes with
an intercooler.  if there isn't one, aftermarket tweaks would be more
expensive/difficult.

there are periodic mumblings about the super duper A4, to be called
either the S4 or RS4.  this will have a twin turbo 30 valve 2.8 V6.
some people claim that its output will be in excess of 300, while the
magazines that i have are quoting a conservative 265.  as far as i
know nothing is confirmed yet about this car and i would be quite
upset if they don't import it to the US.



eliot