I'm in love with the gearbox that the motor is connected to, a performance six-speed manual designed by
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| I'm in love with the gearbox that the motor is connected to, a performance six-speed manual designed by Getrag. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
Getrag and the perfect mate for this engine. The transmission is well oiled and the throws are short. Smooth forward progress is only hampered by a finicky clutch which is difficult to modulate, requiring utmost skill and concentration to smoothly slip out of the friction point. With so much torque available so low down in the rev range, first gear is almost too short. On the far end, the sixth cog is perfect for lazy highway cruising; the engine hushed to within 2,500 rpm at around 120 km/h. It's to be expected that a high percentage
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Like all other S4s, the Cabriolet rides on a performance-tuned version of the B6 chassis that features lightweight aluminum multi-link suspension setups in front and back. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)
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of S4s will be ordered with the six-speed automatic, but I'm a traditionalist and a manual's a must for me.
Like all other S4s, the Cabriolet rides on a performance-tuned version of the B6 chassis that features multi-link suspension setups in front and back, comprised of lightweight forged aluminum. The S4 differs by featuring stiffer springs and dampers as well as uprated anti-roll bars. The former lower the ride height by approximately an inch, while the entire setup further works to reduce body roll and keep lateral movements in check.
