(September 16, 2015) FRANKFURT, Germany — Audi is launching the new S4 and S4 Avant at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. Audi says the top models from the A4 series are ahead of the competition — with intelligent lightweight design, powerful engines, an extensive package of the latest technologies, and 354 horsepower that translates to 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.7 seconds.

The all-new A4 and S4 are expected to go on sale in the U.S. market in 2016. The Avant is not planned for the U.S. market.

“At Audi, we have more than 20 years of expertise in developing our sporty S models,” says Professor Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Audi Board of Management for Technical Development. “From day one, our formula for success has been a combination of outstanding quattro performance, restrained design, and state of the art drive train, suspension, and infotainment technology. The new Audi S4 and S4 Avant impressively continue this sporty tradition.”

The heart of the S models is a newly developed V6 engine with direct injection and turbocharging. The 3.0 TFSI has an output of 354 horsepower; its 368.8 lb-ft of torque is available across a wide range of speeds from 1,300 to 4,500 rpm. The engine outstrips its predecessor in terms of power and torque, while simultaneously offering significantly lower fuel consumption and weight.

The engine can accelerate the Audi S4 from 0 to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, and the electronic limiter kicks in at 155.3 mph. Despite its considerably improved performance, Audi says the V6 is extremely efficient.

The new eight-speed tiptronic transmission is highly efficient and provides fast, comfortable and spontaneous gear changes. Whenever the driving situation allows, it switches to freewheeling to save fuel.

As on every Audi S model, the power of the 3.0 TFSI is transmitted to the road by quattro permanent all-wheel drive. During normal driving, the self-locking center differential funnels 60 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front. Depending on the operating situation, it can distribute up to 70 percent to the front axle or up to 85 percent to the rear. The wheel-selective torque control based on an intelligent software function rounds off the quattro drive train.

For dynamic cornering, the wheels on the inside of the bend are slightly braked before they can slip. This makes handling more precise, agile, and stable. A sport differential available as an option improves the handling further by actively distributing the forces between the rear wheels.