Geneva show: Audi uncovers S4 Avant

AUDI has unveiled its A4-based S4 Avant high-performance wagon that is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms in the fourth quarter of the year.

The load-lugging version of the S4 uses the same powertrain as the booted version, which is a 3.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol V6 engine producing 260kW of power and 500Nm of torque from 1370-4500rpm.

Accelerating from zero to 100km/h takes 0.2 seconds longer in the Avant compared with the sedan, covering the same distance in 4.9s – a 0.2s improvement over the outgoing go-fast wagon.

Audi says the 1750kg Avant has a combined-cycle fuel-economy figure of less than 7.5 litres per 100km – the sedan is 7.5L/100km – which represents a 0.9L/100km improvement over the previous version. CO2 emissions come in at 175g/km.

The S4 Avant uses an eight-speed tiptronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and has Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard, with power typically heading rearward unless the driving circumstances require the balance to shift.

The wagon has torque vectoring for improved handling and stability, a five-link front and rear suspension set-up, optional dynamic steering and a 23mm lower ride height compared with standard A4 variants.

The S4 rides on 18-inch wheels with 245/40-section tyres as standard, but there is the option of 19-inch hoops. Brake callipers are offered in red or black.

Luggage capacity for the Avant is 505 litres with all seats raised, increasing to 1510L when the rear seatbacks are folded down.

As with the S4 sedan that was revealed at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, the S4 Avant gains sportier exterior styling compared with its more sedate A4 siblings, with unique bumper, air inlets and side sills with distinctive contours, a black honeycomb grille on the rear bumper, aluminium diffuser and quad tailpipes. In terms of connectivity, the S4 Avant features an 8.3-inch monitor with MMI navigation plus and MMI touch, an integrated Wi-Fi hot-spot, the Audi connect app that allows access controls such as locking and unlocking the car, operation of the heating and locating a carpark via the user’s smartphone.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also accessible, while various high-end audio and more advanced connectivity technologies are offered as options.

The S4 will be the performance flagship of the mid-size A4 range until the arrival of the full-blown RS4 next year. The RS4 is yet to be revealed but could surface at the Paris motor show later this year.

Audi launched the initial variants of the fifth-generation A4 in Australia last week, with the S4 and Allroad versions all expected to land by the end of the year.

Rivals for the S4 Avant include Mercedes’ recently announced 270kW/520Nm twin-turbo V6 AMG C43 – an alternative to the high-performance C63 models – although the C43 Estate wagon is not yet locked in for an Australian launch.

In BMW’s just refreshed 3 Series range, the closest competitor is the 185kW/350Nm 330i Touring.

Also on the Audi stand at Geneva will be the Q2 crossover that will slip in below the Q3 as the company’s entry-level SUV, and the Q7 diesel-electric e-tron that will arrive in Australia before the end of 2016.