Hang on, Rover
You need a fast car. No, wait, you need a rocket. The winter cottage up north always seems too far away, and you're anxious to get there so you can hit the ski trails and then relax in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. But Rover the castrated Golden Retriever has to come along, too; after all, he's a member of the family, isn't he?
What vehicle should you choose? An SUV is the trend, but this type of vehicle is really starting to gain an environmentally-unfriendly image, and you don't want that. So a station wagon is the way to go, so Rover can tag along. No way that dog's gonna be sitting on the seats, or they'll be beige hair everywhere. And, more importantly, this wagon's got to have some serious firepower under the hood. The answer is the Audi S4 Avant.
Fast but not furious
It's surprising to see how Audi succeeded in cramming a 4.2-liter V8 in the little A4's shnoz. With 340 horsepower on tap, 100 km/h is attained in only 5.7 seconds. In addition, the V8 benefits from a throaty and addictive roar; the sound of the barking exhausts is ever-present.
While we're giggling with the pedal to the metal, the S4 guzzles 18 to 19 L/100 km. At a more relaxed cruising pace, though, the engine makes do with 13.8 litres of super unleaded for 100 km.
And with this beautiful snow that has littered the scenery, this Audi is a weapon of choice; the Quattro all-wheel drive activates the rear wheels under normal driving, but when wheel slippage occurs, the system can send up to 50% to the front. Shod with winter rubber and a traction control system that's not too intrusive, the S4 is unflappable on snowy roads.
Subtle and discreet lines
It takes a keen eye to distinguish a S4 from an A4, especially those with the S-line package. Still, there are small details that can help us: bigger wheels, quadruple exhaust tips, bright badges and Rover that's flattened even wider against the rear window.
So, in this case, discretion is a good thing, since it prevents us from being easily noticed by the radar-gun triggerhappy cops. Just avoid exterior colors such as Bright Red and Imola Yellow.
You need a fast car. No, wait, you need a rocket. The winter cottage up north always seems too far away, and you're anxious to get there so you can hit the ski trails and then relax in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. But Rover the castrated Golden Retriever has to come along, too; after all, he's a member of the family, isn't he?
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| The Audi S4 Avant pricing starts at $71,850. |
What vehicle should you choose? An SUV is the trend, but this type of vehicle is really starting to gain an environmentally-unfriendly image, and you don't want that. So a station wagon is the way to go, so Rover can tag along. No way that dog's gonna be sitting on the seats, or they'll be beige hair everywhere. And, more importantly, this wagon's got to have some serious firepower under the hood. The answer is the Audi S4 Avant.
Fast but not furious
It's surprising to see how Audi succeeded in cramming a 4.2-liter V8 in the little A4's shnoz. With 340 horsepower on tap, 100 km/h is attained in only 5.7 seconds. In addition, the V8 benefits from a throaty and addictive roar; the sound of the barking exhausts is ever-present.
While we're giggling with the pedal to the metal, the S4 guzzles 18 to 19 L/100 km. At a more relaxed cruising pace, though, the engine makes do with 13.8 litres of super unleaded for 100 km.
And with this beautiful snow that has littered the scenery, this Audi is a weapon of choice; the Quattro all-wheel drive activates the rear wheels under normal driving, but when wheel slippage occurs, the system can send up to 50% to the front. Shod with winter rubber and a traction control system that's not too intrusive, the S4 is unflappable on snowy roads.
Subtle and discreet lines
It takes a keen eye to distinguish a S4 from an A4, especially those with the S-line package. Still, there are small details that can help us: bigger wheels, quadruple exhaust tips, bright badges and Rover that's flattened even wider against the rear window.
So, in this case, discretion is a good thing, since it prevents us from being easily noticed by the radar-gun triggerhappy cops. Just avoid exterior colors such as Bright Red and Imola Yellow.
 |
| The S4 badge tells you that there are 340 ponies under the hood. |