@wheelsaustralia 57
REVVED UP TOUCHY FEELY FULL BELLY
BMW 340i
$89,900
Cheaper than the S4, but once
you start adding stuff the S4 gets
standard, the 340i approaches
parity. Strong turbo straight-six is
sweeter than Audi’s V6, though (like
S4’s optional ‘dynamic’ steering) the
340i’s ‘sport’ steering is flawed.Jaguar XE S
$105,350
The most expensive yet arguably
the least convincing of Jaguar’s
great-handling XE range. Ageing
supercharged V6 packs a punch but
doesn’t sound like it should, and it’s
thirstier than the S4 and 340i. But
we love the XE’s left-field appeal.ORTRY
THESE...appeal of Audi’s attractive
load-lugging line-up,
just 15 percent of Aussie
buyers are expected to opt
for the S4 Avant wagon
over its sedan alternative.
As for the S4 model itself,
it previously made up less
than three percent of total
A4 sales, however Audi
hopes the new-gen S4 will
expand that to as much as
five percent.
At 1675kg, the S4 Avant
is heavier than the sedan,
and 0.2sec slower to 100.
But it’s luggage capacity
is well up – 505 litres
under the luggage cover
(compared to 480) and
1510 litres seats dropped.01 02 03
S4’s embellished A4 cabin doesn’t
disappoint – it’s fabulous. The test
cars featured diamond-stitched
leather, carbonfibre trim and,
on the pictured sedan, a round
steering wheel! There’s a flat-
bottom alternative, however, so
here’s hoping our Aussie-spec S4s
don’t cop the poseur version.Our S4 will be chocked with gear,
for similar money to the old car.
Expect 19s, adaptive dampers
and a kick-to-open bootlid to be
standard, but you’ll pay extra
for Matrix LED headlights, sport
differential, dynamic steering,
S Sport seats, Audi Phone Box
(inductive charging) and the
‘black pack’ (pictured).A new screen in the S4’s Virtual
Cockpit display (expected to be
standard in Oz) places the tacho
dead-centre with a digital speed
reading inside, while Audi’s
optional head-up display is
arguably the world’s prettiest.01
02
Avantguard
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