Unfair Advantage? Independent Testing Pegs Audi's S4 With Around 400 REAL HP!

Then why doesn't it accelerate better. The BMW 335 accelerates at about the same rate as the S4 but with 100 less hp. OK 70 less hp, we all know that the 335's are underrated in regards to HP from the factory. Still… What gives?

Either way, for the Audi to get 400hp out of the thing and still get good fuel mileage is great accomplishment. I'm starting to warm up to the S4.

18/27 mpg is good?... by no means is it horrible, but good?

"Then why doesn't it accelerate better."

-AWD
-Gear ratios


Just some possible factors.

18/27 is really good for a vehicle of S4's size and weight and horsepower. The S4 does out accelerate the 335i. And people say that the 335i puts out 350 horsepower. German manufacturers prefer to overdeliver rather than come up short like some brands.

Another way to see that the S4 makes more than 333 horsepower is to compare the S4's acceleration and that of the G37. The heavier AWD S4 is quicker with the same amount of horsepower. Of course this could come from the fact that the G37 is no quicker than the G35.

It's funny when the GTR has it's hp figure at the wheels it was criticized for under rating it's numbers by german fanboys. Now it seems to be praised.

They need all that power to make the HEAVY S4 compete with the 335.

The BMW 335 does 275 hp and 300 lb-ft at the wheels. 350 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque at the crank.-numbers from automobile mag.

I guess BMW has the most potent ponies.

i guess this just makes 3 series more impressive than they already are. S4 is a great car, but with 400 horse and all wheel drive, it should blow 335 away,heck, it should have blown M3 away.

I knew something was up. The car seemed too fast for the hp it advertised. I'm liking this though. 400hp is pretty nice for the money :)

Whats so unfair about the S4 putting out 400 horses when we all know the 335 is putting out more than its advertised amount also. Since the A4 is at a weight advantage, I would think its fair to put out more power than the bmw and still perform almost evenly.

The point is the new S4 was supposed to be lighter than the previous model when in reality its the same or more. Now take off 3-400 lbs and imagine the results....

"Now take off 3-400 lbs and imagine the results...."

This is why I never trust performance comparisons of cars driven by Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson.

What's interesting about this is to think about all the tuners' claims of increased horsepower. ABT Sportsline, for example claims a bump to 435 from Audi's advertised 333. Makes you rethink what you're really getting from them and whether or not this understatement of horsepower is part of a general corporate strategy to make cars appealing to those who want a car that can be appreciably tuned. Think about it, those who don't care about HP get the car for other reasons and then gearheads get it because they can squeeze an "extra" 102 HP out of it. Brilliant.

Interesting theory, but in reality a minuscule % of S4 buyers will actually tune the vehicle. It may seem like a lot more because those enthusiasts that will tune are the one's on these types of sites to begin with.

why would this be an "unfair advantage"? Cars routintely put out more power than the official numbers. Bottom line -- the car costs what it costs and it performs how it performs (which is why it's a 335 competitor, not an M3 competitor). The power figures don't mean anything unless it's producing LESS than they say. "Fair" has nothing whatsoever to do with it.

Why would anyone complain??? While a 335i owner myself, the new S4 is a beautiful vehicle with a superb engine. I love getting more than I paid for.

It should be noted that the comparison test between the S4 and 335i was using the RWD version of the 3. X version is quicker to 60 due to AWD.

None-the-less, bravo Audi.