New Car Review: 2005 Audi S4 Cabriolet
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
WITH CAREY RUSS
How can excellence be improved?
Audi's A4 cabriolet has
established
a benchmark for structural rigidity among drop-top
automobiles.
It is subtly different from its sedan stablemate in styling, with smoother, more rounded lines that show a kinship to the company's TT sports cars. Its three-layer convertible top provides insulation from heat, cold, and noise that compares favorably with any sedan. And, with the no-hands power top down, it provides a pleasant open-air experience that no sedan can approach, no matter how large the sunroof.
The A4 Cabrio is a wonderful and sporty luxury
touring car,
but it is not and was never meant to be a sports car. And
that's fine,
because now there is a seriously high-performance alternative.
Meet
the recently-introduced 2004 Audi S4 Cabriolet.
Audi's ``S'' cars are the company's performance
flagships.
Unlike some of their German rivals, they have no pretensions to
race-car ambiance - they are designed and built for road use.
Fast but safe and secure road use, in luxury comfort, as can
best be
done on the German Autobahn. The S4 lineup previously
included both
sedan and Avant (Audi's term for sport wagon) models. Just in
time
for summer, they are joined by the S4 Cabrio.
Although it looks little different from the A4 Cabrio, the
S4
ragtop has a considerably stronger powertrain, with a
340-horsepower
V8 driving all four wheels via Audi's quattro(r) all-wheel
drive system.
A six-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed
automatic with
Tiptronic(r) manual mode and steering-wheel mounted shift
paddles
emphasizes the engine's power. The suspension is firm enough
for
serious sport driving, but supple enough for long-distance
comfort.
And, like its less-powerful brethren, commendable chassis
rigidity,
the three-layer power top, and typically Audi excellent
interior
design give it a fine combination of sport handling and luxury
comfort.
Audi has built cars that illustrate the old saying ``an
iron fist in a
velvet glove'' better than any other manufacturer for a while
now, and
the S4 Cabriolet merely improves that reputation.
APPEARANCE: At a glance, there is very little to tell
the S4 Cabrio from its A4 cousin. And why mar the Cabrio's
smooth lines with boy-racer wings, spoilers, and add-on fender
flares? A discerning eye will note the larger, 18-inch, wheels
with ultra-low profile 235/40 ZR18 tires immediately, followed
by the extra air inlet in the front bumper fascia that hints at
Audi's racing heritage, emulating the look of the Auto Union
Grand Prix cars of the 1930s. The xenon headlamps have
titanium-colored surrounds, and the rearview mirrors are
finished in aluminum. At the rear, the A4's single exhaust is
replaced by the S4's dual exhausts.
COMFORT: As outside, the S4 Cabrio's interior builds
on that of its A4 counterpart. Here this means ``S''
instrumentation with gray-faced dials and unique needles, gray
birch or optional carbon fiber trim, and 12-way power
adjustment for both front sports seats. Nappa leather adds to
their comfort, as can optional heating. The rear seat is one of
the roomiest in a contemporary convertible, with ample space
for two medium-sized adults. Top-up visibility is better than
average for a convertible, helped by the heated glass
backlight. Top-down there is just enough wind in the hair for a
pleasant experience, but it's never overpowering, especially
with the available wind deflector (which does, alas, cover the
rear seat, reducing passenger capacity). With the top down, the
aluminum trim that surrounds the passenger cabin is readily
apparent, and adds considerably to the Cabrio's looks. Top-down
luggage capacity is tight, but with the top up there is a touch
more. The top goes up or down quickly, at the touch of a
button, with no manual latching. There are times when a
convertible's top needs to be up, and its three-layer
construction ensures quiet, well-insulated comfort in
temperature extremes, and, with quattro traction, helps the S4
Cabrio to be an all-season car.
SAFETY: The S4 Cabrio has a strong, rigid body
structure with front and rear crumple zones and side impact
door beams, front and side head-and-thorax air bags, reinforced
windshield pillars, and an automatic rollover protection system
that is deployed if the air bag sensors detect potential
rollover to help protect its occupants.
ROADABILITY: Bone-jarringly stiff suspensions have
their place - on a smooth racetrack. In the real world, even
luxury sports cars have to traverse poorly-paved roads. So,
while the spring and damping calibration of the S4's Cabrio's
fully-independent four-link front / trapezoidal link rear
suspension is softer than some of the more hard-core German
sports cars, it is still firm enough for excellent handling in
real-world driving. Lightweight aluminum suspension components
decrease unsprung weight, for faster and more precise response.
And, although it has a much firmer ride than the A4 Cabrio, it
is compliant enough for fatigue-free long-distance travel. The
unibody chassis is one of the most rigid ever for a
convertible, due to extra reinforcement to the lower chassis
structure and extensive use of high-strength steel. This
improves handling and safety, and decreases noise. Even over
poor surfaces, there is virtually no cowl shake.
PERFORMANCE: Any power deficiencies of the A4 Cabrio
have been addressed in the S4. Even though the reinforced
convertible structure makes for a heavier car than the S4 sedan
by over 250 lbs, the 4.2-liter, 40-valve twincam V8's 340
horsepower and 302 lb-ft of torque ensure quick acceleration.
It's strong off the line, but strongest in the midrange near
the 3500 rpm torque peak. It likes to rev - maximum horsepower
is developed at 7000 rpm. License preservation is the only real
reason to keep the revs down. But it's not high-strung, and can
happily loiter in traffic at idle speeds. The six-speed gearbox
has quick, smooth linkage, and quattro all-wheel drive sends
all that power to the wheels that can best use it. Yes, raw
acceleration is slightly less than the S4 sedan - by about half
a second to 60 mph - but the view is far better.
CONCLUSIONS: Audi has improved upon its excellent A4
Cabrio by adding serious levels of sports handling and power to
make the S4 Cabrio.
SPECIFICATIONS - 2005 Audi S4 Cabrio
Base Price $ 53,850
Price As Tested $ 58,595
Engine Type 40-valve dual overhead cam V8
Engine Size 4.2 liters / 254 cu. in.
Horsepower 340 @ 7000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 302 @ 3500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 104.5 in. / 180.0 in.
Curb Weight 4090 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 12.0
Fuel Capacity 16.6 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline
Tires P235/40 ZR18 Continental ContiContact 2
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc,
antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent four-link /
independent trapezoidal link
Drivetrain front engine, all-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 15 / 21 / 16
0 to 60 mph 5.8 sec
OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Premium Audio Package - includes:
Bose(r) premium sound system,
XM(r) satellite radio $ 1,000
Premium Package - includes:
Homelink(r) remote transmitter, auto-dimming
interior and exterior mirrors, memory for
driver-side seat and mirror positions, light
sensor package, wind deflector $ 875
Heated front seats $ 450
Gas guzzler tax $ 1,700
Destination charge $ 720
PRICES, SPECS, COMPARAGRAPHS, FUEL USAGE