When it comes to outstanding interactive performance, a regular old manual transmission is - according to my often-flawed
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| Although power delivery in the S4 is very linear, the 6-speed gearbox enabled me to keep engine revs in the powerband's sweet spot. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
logic - the ideal way to properly connect a power source to the spinning tires. And in the S4 a 6-speed manual box does just that, unless of course the 6-speed autobox featuring Tiptronic is selected. Fortunately the good folks at Audi ensured the S4 issued to yours truly was equipped with the manual mix-master. The short throw shifter in this car notched its way into each of the six forward gears with world-class exactitude, virtually eliminating the possibility of missing a shift or adding a pound of metal filings to the bottom of the gearbox casing. Although power delivery in the S4 is very linear, the six cogged gearbox enabled me to keep engine revs in the powerband's sweet spot, which I found to be above 3,500 rpm. This is where the extra kick from the variable valve timing can be detected and thoroughly enjoyed. Also, the tall gear ratio found in 6th gear promotes peaceful, engine loafing highway cruising while maximizing fuel efficiency.
Almost frightening is the S4's formidable road-adhering traction. Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive technology seamlessly connects all four wheels with the S4's 4.2-liters of visceral thrust. Unless slippery road conditions exist, wheelspin is near impossible, and if the weather truly is unfavorable this is the best of the breed to be saddled with. The S4 launches itself with
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| Thanks to Audi's impressive quattro all-wheel-drive technology the S4 stays glued to the road with amazing control. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
amazing control and propulsion, even when the launch is midway through a turn. Apart from pavement searing grip, I sensed none of the symptoms that sometimes accompany all-wheel-drive systems such as torque steer or sharp turn jumpiness. Steering inputs are accurately responded to with immediacy. Adding a little throttle at the apex of a curve will induce just enough predictable understeer to enhance control and inspire confidence. Never did I experience oversteer or twitchiness in the S4's handling, which might make it less enticing to truly talented professional performance drivers. Just the same, I'm a regular Joe in comparison and therefore found its chassis to be wonderfully neutral and perfectly balanced, regardless of the centrifugal forces applied against it.
