17.04.2009
In recent years Audi has made some staggering advances in terms of drivers cars – the RS4 and RS8 are stand-out products, but if you say the word ‘Audi’, we still naturally think of one word – ‘understeer’.
Well this is the new Audi S4 and beyond anything else, we would quite like to know if Audi have quelled the understeer of past RS and S models and finally built a mainstream Audi that can oversteer.
Chris Harris took an Audi S4 Avant along to Silverstone to find out.
Take a look at the video and let us know your thoughts.
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16 Comments
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
April 17, 2009Posted on DR: New video: Can you make an Audi Estate oversteer? http://bit.ly/cEH2C
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
April 17, 2009Posted on DR: New video: Can you make an Audi Estate oversteer? http://bit.ly/cEH2C
Mike
April 17, 2009How does the S4 (sedan/saloon or avant) compare to the S5? I know they are both on the new MLP, but I remember reading in a Top Gear mag review the dynamics/chassis engineer himself said the S5 understeered too much thanks to the marketing people interfering with his job to prevent traditional Audi customers from being alienated. He was also quite outspoken in EVO’s A5 review. So, is the S4 as “bad” as Audi’s own engineer says the S5 is, or did he get his way with the S4?
Mike
April 17, 2009How does the S4 (sedan/saloon or avant) compare to the S5? I know they are both on the new MLP, but I remember reading in a Top Gear mag review the dynamics/chassis engineer himself said the S5 understeered too much thanks to the marketing people interfering with his job to prevent traditional Audi customers from being alienated. He was also quite outspoken in EVO’s A5 review. So, is the S4 as “bad” as Audi’s own engineer says the S5 is, or did he get his way with the S4?
JethroBovingdon
April 18, 2009I think Chris answers that one in the vid. It’s a cracking car with an awesome drivetrain and a very impressive chassis. I drove the S5 Cab recently (which has the V6 motor instead of the V8 in the coupe – I guess they’ll change that very soon), and it felt very good too – with the Sport Differential etc. Much better than the S5 Coupe with the older V8 and without the trick new diff.
JethroBovingdon
April 18, 2009I think Chris answers that one in the vid. It’s a cracking car with an awesome drivetrain and a very impressive chassis. I drove the S5 Cab recently (which has the V6 motor instead of the V8 in the coupe – I guess they’ll change that very soon), and it felt very good too – with the Sport Differential etc. Much better than the S5 Coupe with the older V8 and without the trick new diff.
Mike
April 19, 2009Thanks, Jethro. I would like to who the brilliant Auto Union executive was that decided to switch DKW and Audi cars from rear to front wheel drive in the first place. Given the Auto Union’s involvement in racing, it seems somewhat silly.
Mike
April 19, 2009Thanks, Jethro. I would like to who the brilliant Auto Union executive was that decided to switch DKW and Audi cars from rear to front wheel drive in the first place. Given the Auto Union’s involvement in racing, it seems somewhat silly.
Steve
April 19, 2009@Mike – The best handling Audi by a very long way is the R8 (no surprise there!), but there are some highlights in their mainstream models that are truly rewarding to drive.
This new S4 with its sport differential provides a neutral balance, yet pointy response to steering inputs that would be quiet alien to its brethren of the past two decades, and I know that Jethro was impressed with the new S5 Cab when he drove it recently.
There are still a few old-school Audi’s, but my personal favourite is the TTS which is a real joy to drive quickly even for those people weaned on a RWD BMW.
The real proof of the pudding will come in the next generation of RS models – The RS5, TTRS and then RS4 will surely confirm just how high Audi’s ambitions really are.
Steve
April 19, 2009@Mike – The best handling Audi by a very long way is the R8 (no surprise there!), but there are some highlights in their mainstream models that are truly rewarding to drive.
This new S4 with its sport differential provides a neutral balance, yet pointy response to steering inputs that would be quiet alien to its brethren of the past two decades, and I know that Jethro was impressed with the new S5 Cab when he drove it recently.
There are still a few old-school Audi’s, but my personal favourite is the TTS which is a real joy to drive quickly even for those people weaned on a RWD BMW.
The real proof of the pudding will come in the next generation of RS models – The RS5, TTRS and then RS4 will surely confirm just how high Audi’s ambitions really are.
Mike
April 19, 2009I’m really looking forward to the RS5. Looking at today’s and even classic and vintage Audis and other Auto Union cars, I have to say, I quite like them. Even seeing a 190SL pass by on the other side of the road today does little to change that. I truly admire the cars that come out of quattro GmbH, but standard Audis don’t seem to receive that giftedness. Reviews of standard Audis have become too predictable: nose-heavy, understeery handling; harsh, brittle ride; and a beautifully constructed interior. And why is the company with the slogan “Truth in Engineering” letting marketing monkeys overrule their engineer? My point is, when it comes to the standard, “affordable” Audis, their beauty is only skin deep.
Mike
April 19, 2009I’m really looking forward to the RS5. Looking at today’s and even classic and vintage Audis and other Auto Union cars, I have to say, I quite like them. Even seeing a 190SL pass by on the other side of the road today does little to change that. I truly admire the cars that come out of quattro GmbH, but standard Audis don’t seem to receive that giftedness. Reviews of standard Audis have become too predictable: nose-heavy, understeery handling; harsh, brittle ride; and a beautifully constructed interior. And why is the company with the slogan “Truth in Engineering” letting marketing monkeys overrule their engineer? My point is, when it comes to the standard, “affordable” Audis, their beauty is only skin deep.
Neville Contractor
April 21, 2009So an Audi Estate will oversteer will it? Providing you have a very wide section of track and an absolute top class driver in it, I’m sure it will. But I doubt most normal people will be jumping into their new S4 and giving it a go on the local roundabout!
Very good video Chris, the speed you entered into the initial corner of the sequence looked rather impressive.
Any interesting outtakes you’d like to show?!
Neville Contractor
April 21, 2009So an Audi Estate will oversteer will it? Providing you have a very wide section of track and an absolute top class driver in it, I’m sure it will. But I doubt most normal people will be jumping into their new S4 and giving it a go on the local roundabout!
Very good video Chris, the speed you entered into the initial corner of the sequence looked rather impressive.
Any interesting outtakes you’d like to show?!
chris harris
April 24, 2009I think the cone-slaughter at the end works better than any outtakes…..
chris harris
April 24, 2009I think the cone-slaughter at the end works better than any outtakes…..