Audi Unveils Supercharged V6 for 2010 S4
Date posted: 06-27-2008

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INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi today announced an upcoming supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine that could put the venerable V8 engine configuration one small step closer to the endangered species list.

Our sources tell us that come fall of 2009, this new supercharged V6, called the 3.0 TFSI, will replace Audi's familiar and fantastic 4.2-liter in the 2010 S4 sport sedan. And while the S4 is the vehicle we're most excited about, the engine will first appear as the optional upgrade engine for a face-lifted A6 sedan. That model, which will arrive in the U.S. market early in 2009 as a 2009 model, will still offer a naturally aspirated V6 as its base motor.

While Audi has not officially released all of the new engine's applications, the company was specific about a number of technical aspects of the motor. The engine is a 90-degree 3.0-liter V6 with the company's FSI direct-fuel injection system which will allow for a high 10.5:1 compression ratio. The company says that in its initial application, the motor will pump out 290 horsepower at a bit less than 5,000 rpm and a thumping 310 pound-feet of torque at a mere 2,500 rpm. The blower is a Roots-type with twin four-vane rotors, similar to the units found in the upcoming Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette ZR1. The 290 hp will be made using 11.6 pounds of boost. The company estimates that in "virtually all" applications, the 3.0 TFSI-powered cars should achieve about 24 mpg. (That, presumably, is a highway figure). That would represent a 3-4-mpg improvement over the current V8-powered S4.

Our sources indicate that, depending on U.S. market emissions testing, the 3.0 TFSI in the '09 A6 will make right around 300 hp. That will match BMW's acclaimed twin-turbo inline-6 that sees duty in the 1, 3 and 5 Series cars.

For use in the S4, the motor will be cranked up to about 330 or 340 hp and will be mated with a six-speed manual transmission or a dual-clutch automated manual and will, of course, send power to all four wheels. Our sources say there's capacity to make much more horsepower out of the engine. The company does not want to upstage the 354-hp V8-powered S5 coupe, though. Eventually, the S5 will be powered by the supercharged V6 as well, at which point we hope to see what the engine is really capable of.

What this means to you: Better fuel economy with no loss of performance? We can live with that. We will miss the V8 sound, though. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit


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power seems to be a bit low for the S4.. I guess the next RS4 will be going after the AMG and M

supercharged, 3L, Direct FI, 6spd... and only 24mpg!! Must be the Quatrro

I can manage 26+ cruising at 65 and my car is 7 years old with a 5spd auto.

While I like the idea.. I think supercharging is the wrong way to go in terms of fuel efficiency and power, but its much safer than turborcharging in terms of reliability.

I would not mind a A6 Avant with this motor for the wife! Add a smaller pulley, FM HE and would be a nice family car.

I think the current S4 produces about 330-340 hp too, so that number seems about right.

The RS4 is always the beast of the pack; I'm sure we'll see something big when the next one hits showrooms.

Is it just me or do these number seem low for a NEW engine design

Why would I want to buy a new car that makes less power than my seven year old engine design

Come on AUDI, BUMP it up a notch, BAMM!

See yeah

The S4, while a performance sedan, is not their AMG competitor. Like I said above, I'll bet the next gen. RS4 will have the power you desire.

Weird, just when we thought the trend was towards turbocharging for efficiency, this comes out.

I bet we can assume 425hp+ for the RS4, considering that we can do that with our 7 year old engines.

not really that impressed with the hp numbers...for something that's coming out in 2010. perhaps the current fuel crisis is influencing their decision to have better fuel economy at the expense of higher hp numbers?

on a side note, if the S4 isn't a competitor to the C AMG, what is it's competitor?

The RS4 (Man, I love that car).

It seems that A is Audi's regular line, S is their sports line, and the RS is for competing against AMG and M series.

If you are asking what is a competitor of the S4, I would think the C350 would be while the lower numbered C's would go against the A4.

The S kinda doesn't fit...

The C350 "competes" with the V6 powered A4 (3.2 V6?). The S4 is more expensive that the C350, but cheaper than the AMG C. It also performs somewhere in between.

The German makers have been shifting their lineups around. The earlier S4 (2000-2004) went toe-to-toe with the M3; while the V8 S4 was very comparable to the C32/C55. But MB took the C63 up a notch to follow the M3; while Audi left the S4 behind and brought over the RS4 to run with the new C63 and M3. Maybe MB should have kept a more modest V8 C-class around. The gap from C350 to C63 is huge.

Audi has got a LOT of ground to make up with the next RS4. All of the magazine tests put the RS4 as a clear and distant third place behind the C63 and M3.

the gaps between the c320/350 and the 32/55 were pretty huge too

I'd argue that the S4 is equivalent to the C350, perhaps the 335i moreso. With the SLK350 getting a HP bump this year, I bet the C350 will soon enough to be similar.

This is true, although I think some of that had to do with Audi's weird (now defunct) RS model schedule. The RS models were supposed to be released in the last two years of the model cycle and the B7 RS4 kinda fell in-between the C55 and C63 and the e46 and e92 M3 (as the RS4 will be discontinued the year that those cars are newly released).

Audi seems to fall behind on these model releases but hopefully that will change with the B8 RS4, which is supposed to be released within the next couple of years (or so rumors say).

The 2008 335i BMW EPA gas mileage is 17 in the city & 26 on highway.

The 2008 135i (AT) BMW EPA gas mileage is 18 in the city & 26 on highway.

If the Audi claim of 24hpg on the highway is true, then it is poorer than the current BMW 335i.

For a NEW car they should be trying 19 in the city & 28 on highway, like the BMW 128i. The Lexus GS350 gets 19 in the city & 27 on highway.

One needs high static compression to get good efficiency.

If they bump the C350 output, AND they make it available with a 6 speed manual (or a quick-shift auto), AND give it a full sport package, then it could be a great car. But I sure hope they don't call it the "AMG" package.

they probably decided to go with the supercharger because it takes up less engine space and is cheaper to maintain.

In the past audi, like to put there engines as far up in the front as possible to offer more interior space at the cost of high understeer. Last couple of years they moved away from this.

One of the reasons, i didn't buy a b5 s4 is because of all complaints of the high cost of replacing turbos thats gone bad since you had to tear apart half the car to get to the turbo.

As a modder, I would have preferred a turbo. But i understand why they went with the supercharger.

I believe there was article awhile back, there going to make the s4 a 335i competitor and leave the rs4 as the m3 and c63 competitor.