Audi Reveals the 2017 S4 and S4 Avant

2017 Audi S4 (Credit: © Audi)

We have already seen the restyled Audi A4, but the German automaker made us wait a while to get a peek at the new S4 and S4 Avant. Today, at the Frankfurt Auto Show, that wait came to an end, as Audi revealed the peppy sedan and wagon in their entirety.

Like nearly every Audi, the S4 is sporty, but not over the top. The S4 of course carries the signature Audi singleframe hexagon grille, while sill extensions, a sportier rear bumper with a black honeycomb insert, a rear diffuser, and four tailpipes set itself apart from the rest of the A4 lineup. Otherwise, it is very timid looking.

The cabin of the S4 is also pretty timid, but it does have its own helping of sportiness. The dead giveaway that this is a performance rig are the S sport seats, which are wrapped up in pearl Nappa leather and Alcantara. Though these are sports seats, they are quite refined, thanks to their adjustable bolsters, integrated headrests, and pneumatic massage function. Also setting the S4’s cabin apart are the matte brushed aluminum inserts, embossing on the seats, the S4 start screen, and the illuminated S4 doorsill plates.

2017 Audi S4 (Credit: © Audi)

For buyers looking for more cargo room than the 17 cubic feet that the base S4 sedan offers, there is the Avant. This wagon stores anywhere from 17.8 to 53.3 cubic feet of cargo, depending on whether the rear seats are upright or folded. Unfortunately for us folks in the U.S., the Avant will not be available to us.

Powering the S4 is Audi’s 3.0-liter TSFI V-6 engine. This injects 354 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque – 21 horsepower and 44 pound-feet more than the 2015 S4 — into the sedan and wagon. Thanks its peak torque coming in at 1,300 rpm and hanging around until 4,500 revs and its standard quattro all-wheel drive, the S4 is a potent rig off the line. It launches to 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds and its top speed rings in at 155 mph.

Handling the shifting duties is an eight-speed tiptronic transmission that delivers fast shifts and can also help extend fuel economy thanks to its freewheeling option.

2017 Audi S4 (Credit: © Audi)

Speaking of fuel economy, this drivetrain is surprisingly fuel efficient, as Audi claims it is rated at the NEDC equivalent of 31.8 mpg. That’s a pretty impressive number for a powerful V-6, so I am willing to bet this falls a bit once EPA testing is complete.

Taking care of carving up canyon roads is a newly developed five-link suspension system for the front and rear. This system is 0.9 inches lower than on the A4, and the continuous damping control shocks help deliver precision performance when needed and a soft ride when you want it via the standard Audi drive select system.

At the corners are 245/40R18 tires mounted on five-spoke wheels as standard. Buyers can opt or a set of 19-inch rollers if they so desire.

The 2017 Audi S4 will arrive in U.S. dealers some time in 2016, but Audi did not pinpoint an approximate date. Stay tuned for a more exact date and pricing details.