Audi has unveiled its new S4 TDI – a diesel-powered version of its sporty saloon and estate that has embraced electrification to help cut running costs.
It’s the first S4 to ever use diesel power and takes on new technologies such as an electric powered compressor that aim to wave goodbye to lag that is traditionally a side effect of turbocharged engines.
The S4 is no longer offered with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol, rather now a new 3.0-litre diesel unit producing 342bhp and a huge 700Nm of torque. This enables it to sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.6 seconds and continue to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph.
It also utilises a mild-hybrid system, which can harvest energy when coasting and decelerating and store the energy in a 48V battery to help reduce fuel consumption. This means that the S4 TDI is surprisingly efficient for a performance saloon, with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 45.5mpg possible, or 44.8mpg in the case of the Avant estate model. CO2 emissions range between 161g/km and 164g/km.
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The mild-hybrid system is the same as what has been adopted on Audi’s other recently-announced ‘S’ models – including the S5, S6, S7 and SQ5. Other global markets will continue to get the same petrol S4 before, but Audi has turned to diesel for its S models in order to meet tighter emissions regulations in Europe.
There is no indication of when the S4 will go on sale in the UK, although a starting price around £50,000 is likely.
