Audi announces first-ever diesel S4 duo

AUDI has brought turbo-diesel power to its S4 mid-size performance sedan and wagon range, with the addition of a 3.0-litre oil-burning V6 engine, however the S4 TDI is unlikely be coming to Australia.

GoAuto has contacted Audi Australia for confirmation, but given the turbo-diesel performance versions of the mechanically related S5 revealed in April were not in the company’s future plans, it is likely the A4-based duo faces a similar fate.

Australian customers will instead continue to be offered the petrol-powered S4 sedan and wagon combo, which employs a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 that pumps out 260kW/500Nm and teamed to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Comparatively, the S4 TDI makes use of a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel with mild-hybrid technology, pumping out 255kW at 3850rpm and 700Nm from 2500-3100rpm, driving all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic auto.

The oil-burning six pot also makes use of an electric-powered compressor that doubles as a supplementary turbocharger, helping to eliminate turbo lag and provide up to 7kW of boost at low engine speeds.

As a result, the S4 TDI can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 4.8 or 4.9 seconds for the sedan and wagon respectively, matching the acceleration of its petrol Avant counterpart while being 0.1s slower in sedan guise.

Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h, while fuel consumption is pegged at 6.2-6.3 litres per 100km and emissions at 161-165 grams per km of CO2.

Fuel consumption is kept down thanks in part to a 48V on-board electrical system with a belt-driven starter alternator that can allow the car to coast between 55km/h and 160km/h for up to 40 seconds at a time.

It also means the car’s idle-stop system can kick in at speeds as high as 22km/h.

Up to 8kW and 60Nm of power can also be fed back into the electrical system through regenerative braking capabilities.

Befitting its performance status, the S4 TDI range features Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive with a self-locking centre differential, five-link front and rear suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels and visual enhancements, such as quad-exit exhaust pipes and a specific bodykit.

Being both potent and practical, boot space in the S4 TDI ranges from 420 litres in the sedan to as much as 1435L in the Avant with the second-row seats stowed, however storage space in the diesel S4 is down compared to its petrol counterpart.

Sales of Audi’s A4 range have climbed by 13.8 per cent through the first four months of 2019, from 441 units to 502.

It sits third in the premium mid-size segment behind its compatriots and main competition, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2465) and BMW 3 Series (774).