Top 3 extras you should fit to a new Audi S4
The face-lift of the B9-generation Audi A4 and S4 is about to go on sale in South Africa. Here are three optional extras you should add to your S4 order.
The story so far
The B9 version of the Audi A4 was unveiled in June 2015, and became the fifth model to wear the A4/S4 insignia. Designed by Frank Rimili, it is the ninth generation of the Audi 80/A4 series. Audi unveiled the B9 at the Frankfurt Motor Show (remember those?) in September 2015. The B9 has bigger dimensions than the B8, but Audi managed to reduce the new model’s overall weight by about 120 kg, compared to its predecessor. It went on sale in 2016, so a 2020 face-lift for the A4 and S4 is right on schedule.
At launch, the S4 was supplied with a 3.0-litre V6 turbo petrol engine with 260 kW and 500 Nm. This gave it the ability to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds, while returning consumption of 7.5 l/100km on average. This was the consumption figure achieved under ideal circumstances, while 9 – 11 l/100km (depending on driving style and chosen routes) was more realistic.
Related: Is the Audi S4 good for families? Here’s our verdict.
The next Audi S4 runs on diesel
But this is all about to change, as Audi starts to shift its S cars to the diesel camp, a move led by the Audi SQ5. So, the rejuvenated S4 that will debut here later this year (2020) will run a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, that delivers 255 kW and 700 Nm to all four wheels, in quattro fashion. The transmission is an 8-speed Tiptronic, and the car sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 4.8 seconds. It has the same 250 km/h top speeds as the ‘old’ petrol S4.
To help limit harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x) by as much as 80 percent, the new S4 will use AdBlue, a mixture of urea and de-ionised water. This is stored in a separate tank and fed into parts of the exhaust system in small amounts. The process converts NO x into nitrogen and water. This is a valuable standard-equipment item, but the following gadgets and luxuries will require additional expense.
Related: Is the Audi S4 good for new drivers?
1. Matrix LED headlights
LED lights are standard equipment, but a car of the S4’s stature deserves Audi’s amazing Matrix LEDs. Audi Matrix LED technology provides precise illumination of the road while reducing the risk of affecting the vision of other drivers. “Using information from the vehicle’s sensors, camera and MMI Navigation, Matrix LED calculates the appropriate lighting required and automatically dips or turns off individual lighting diodes, creating corridors of lights either side of the vehicle or the object in front of it,” Audi explains. Apart from approving the driver’s forward vision, the headlights give a bit of a light show when the vehicle is unlocked or locked. The price for Matrix lights on the S4 is yet to be announced, but R15 000 should cover it.
2. Front sport seats
What is a sports sedan without sports seats? The optional S sport seats have attractive “diamond” stitching and the S emblem, while seat side bolsters keep the driver and front passenger in place when cornering. The price of this option is about R10 000, but if you choose it, the configurator forces the addition of Audi’s Fine Nappa leather, at R20 000. While we are on the inside: Illuminated door sills with aluminium inserts and S emblems are standard features.
3. Audi Adaptive Cruise Control
The Audi Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is a “hands-on” system that enhances comfort, particularly on long journeys, by assisting the driver with acceleration and braking plus maintaining speed and following distance – even in traffic jams. As Audi USA says: “On our radar, off your nerves.” Here’s an Adaptive Cruise Control video to illustrate how it works.
ACC will cost in the region of R16 000. We could see Audi making a safety pack available that will also include lane assist, pre sense (to help avoid collisions) and related features.
