New S4 Info

["George Achorn" <coolidge@tidalwave.net>]

I clipped this from the Audi Germany webpage. Check out the information
service section for more info on Frankfurt. LAter-G
08/20/97
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<Picture>The new Audi S4 and S4 Avant <Picture>
<Picture>The underlying concept for Audi's S models is the outcome of
Audi's motor sport activities, an area in which the company blazed many a
trail in the early 1980s. With the memorable suffix "S", turbocharged
engines and the quattro drive principle soon became synonymous with
sports-performance cars designed for everyday driving. 
<Picture>Audi will be presenting the S4 and S4 Avant at the 1997 Frankfurt
Motor Show. These new cars, the latest manifestation of the S concept, are
powered by a newly developed six-cylinder biturbo engine (195 kW, 265 bhp)
in conjunction with quattro permanent four-wheel drive, providing yet
another impressive demonstration of Audi's "competitive edge". 
<Picture>"An Audi S model is made for sports-style driving - but it's
actually suitable for any occasion." This neatly expresses the essential
character of the Audi S4 and S4 Avant. All Audi S models are concepts that
combine superlative power with a reassuring sense of social responsibility,
as a fitting reflection of the times. The new Audi S4 and S4 Avant, in
common with their "S" counterparts in other model lines, assume the
function of leader products which will raise the profile of the marque, and
in particular of the A4 range as a whole. 
<Picture>The biturbo heralds in a new era in the history of Audi's
turbocharged engines, with the combination of six-cylinder power unit,
five-valve technology and the biturbo establishing a world first. The new
2.7 litre six-cylinder biturbo with 30 valves develops a maximum power
output of 195 kW (265 bhp) at 5800 rpm, with peak torque of 400 Nm
available across a broad band of engine speeds stretching from 1850 to 3600
rpm. This immense pulling power even from low down the engine speed range,
coupled with the breadth of the speed range itself, equips the biturbo for
effortless sports-standard performance. 
<Picture>The top speed is governed to 250 km/h. When it comes to
acceleration the Audi S4 can easily match pedigree sportscars: 0 - 80 km/h
in 3.8 (Avant: 3.9) seconds, and 0 - 100 km/h in 5.6 (Avant: 5.7) seconds.
Its overall fuel consumption according to the new European standard
93/116/EC is 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres, a healthy figure for a car of
such potential (98-octane fuel, research method). 
<Picture>The new Audi S models are equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox
with sports ratios. 
<Picture>The quattro drive principle is the ideal soul mate for the biturbo
engine: the result is impressive performance and maximum driving enjoyment,
combined with supreme built-in safety. For pulling away in extreme
conditions, the EDL electronic differential lock regulates the action of
the brakes at speeds of up to 80 km/h, distributing more engine power to
whichever wheels are momentarily producing greater traction. The EBD
electronic brake-force distribution system, an integral feature of the
antilock braking system, ensures that the brake force on the rear wheels is
always kept at an optimum level. 
<Picture>Even at a fleeting glance it is clear that the S4 is designed to
hug the road - thanks to its sports suspension, a standard feature which
means that the body is slung some 20 mm lower. The large air vents in the
extra-low bumper are another unmistakable feature. The Audi S4 has xenon
headlights as standard, with gas-discharge bulbs and a special reflector
design making for even better illumination of the road surface. 
<Picture>These Audi S models deliberately avoid any over-assertive optical
tuning, merely hinting at their special calibre and supreme performance.
This impression is reinforced by the neat but simultaneously highly
evocative design of their interiors. 
<Picture>The extensive standard specification also includes four airbags.
The automatic air conditioning with sunlight-dependent control is available
as an option at no extra charge.