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The Audi S4 is a strange beast, indeed. Compared to the other “sport” lines offered by its competitors, such as the 425-horsepower BMW M3 or the 451-horsepower Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, the S4 falls short with “only” 333 horsepower. It is, in fact, more in line with the BMW 335i and Mercedes-Benz’s C400 4Matic, yet it has a much more aggressive stance and style. Audi decided there is a market — a middle ground — for drivers who want fantastic performance machines without the weapons-grade engine under the hood. That combination of style and performance, as well as relative affordability, makes driving the 2014 Audi S4 ($48,100) an exciting prospect.
OTHER GREAT CARS: Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG | | Want This, Get This: Audi A8 L TDI or BMW 328d xDrive
There are drivers who love flash — cars that tip you off to their tire-melting performance just by their ribbon-thin sidewalls, big air intakes and aggressive cut lines — and there are those who prefer subtle sleeper hits that mask their badness until it’s too late for the competition. With the S4, Audi seeks to appease the latter party: the exterior looks only slightly different from the run-of-the mill $35,500 A4, with a more aggressive fascia, S4 badging and an optional “Black Optics” package. Our model showed off the package, a worthwhile $1,300 upgrade, with some of the best 19-inch wheels on the market, a signature Black Optics grille with high-gloss single frame, glossy black window treatment and mirror housing to match the body paint rather than Audi’s S-line traditional silver coloring.
By The Numbers:
17/26/20 MPG City/Highway/Combined
333/325 horsepower/lb-ft torque
4.9 seconds: 0-60 time