The S4 cabriolet is but one of several Audis, including the new A6 range and additional A3, TT, and A8 models, which will arrive in South Africa this year, says Audi SA spokesman Rudi Venter.
The S4 cabriolet is but one of several Audis, including the new A6 range and additional A3, TT, and A8 models, which will arrive in South Africa this year, says Audi SA spokesman Rudi Venter.
“The S4 cabriolet is likely to be launched in South Africa by the third quarter of the year,” Venter told CARtoday.com. “There will be two models, the six-speed manual and tiptronic, and prices will probably range from about R550 000 to R600 000.
The new Audi S4 Cabriolet can be distinguished from other A4 cabriolet models by the large air inlets in the bumper, titanium-coloured surrounds for the xenon headlights, aluminium-finish outside mirror housings, a pair of enlarged tailpipes (one on each side) and S design 18-inch cast aluminium wheels.
Inside, the instrument cluster has grey dials and three-spoke leather-covered sports steering wheel with S emblem. There is a choice of carbon fibre, piano finish, brushed aluminium and birch wood for the inlays. The Alcantara/leather sports seats are electrically adjustable (including thigh support).
An automatic electro-hydraulic hood closes in under 30 seconds and the side windows move down and up again to aid the process. No locking handle needs to be to be released manually or tonneau cover to be detached.
But the biggest difference between the S4 ragtop and its A4 siblings lies under the bonnet: The Audi S4 Cabriolet’s 4,3-litre V8 engine develops 253 kW at 7 000 r/min and 410 N.m of torque at 3 500 r/min. And according to Audi, the sporty cabriolet will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,9 seconds and reach an electronically-governed top speed of 250 km/h.
A six-speed tiptronic transmission with dynamic shift, additional Sport program and shift paddles on the steering wheel will be offered as an optional extra.
Under the skin, the S4 Cabriolet’s chassis is made from lightweight aluminium and carries four-link front and trapezoidal-link rear suspension. The Ingolstadt firm’s famed premanent four-wheel drive (quattro) system is standard.
The steering column mounting has an additional support, with the module cross-member linked to the cross-beam below the windscreen and high-strength and ultra-high-strength panels account for more than fifty per cent of the body’s weight. A bolted-on subframe at the front, with additional diagonal struts at the front and rear, further reinforces the body, Audi said.
In addition, Audi SA will also roll out its gizmo-packed new A6 executive saloon at the Auto Africa Expo at Nasrec in Johannesburg (October 26 to 31), Venter said.
CARtoday.com reported last month that the new A6, which broke cover at the recent Geneva Motor Show, borrows from the conservative looks of its big brother, the A8. According to Audi, the wheelbase of the new Audi A6 is up by 83 mm over its predecessor, shoulder room at the front is up by 23 mm, with an extra six millimetres at the rear.
To read more about the A6 range and its features, click here.
Audi’s new A3 range will soon get an optional DSG gearbox for the TDI (already available with a conventional six-speed manual). The 2,0 FSI (direct petrol injection) version arrives in the second quarter, with a choice of six-speed manual and Tiptronic boxes, and the 3,2-litre V6 (6-speed manual or DSG) goes on sale in the third quarter.
Further up the range, the 3,2-litre version of the TT, which was featured on CARtoday.com will be available from the second quarter.
Later, the new Audi A6 will enter the SA market with three power units mated with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions, Venter added. Petrol-engined derivatives will include the 4,2-litre V8 producing 246 kW and 420 N.m and 2,4-litre V6 (130 kW and 230 N.m). The three-litre TDI V6, which produces 165kW and 450N.m, will be the Audi A6’s initial diesel model.
“The 3,2-litre V6 FSI (which produces 188 kW and 330 N.m) and two-litre TDI (103 kW and 320 N.m) models may be added to the lineup at a later stage,” he added.
Earlier this year, Audi South Africa launched the A8 4,2-litre quattro derivative, which was first seen on our shores at the 2002 Auto Africa show. Recently, Audi AG announced a new flagship to its range, the A8L 6,0 quattro sporting the same 336-kW six-litre W12 engine used in Volkswagen’s Phaeton and the Bentley Continental GT.
The W12 engine produces 580N.m and should propel the long-wheelbase A8 from zero-100km/h in 5,2 seconds. The top speed will be electronically limited to 250km/h.
Any chance of the flagship, set apart from its A8 siblings by a single-frame grille with an outer chrome ring, grey cooling fins and horizontal chrome strips, in South Africa?
“Not in the near future,” said Venter, “However, the A8 range in South Africa will soon be expanded to include a diesel derivative.”
The 4,0 litre TDI diesel fitted in the A8 produces 202 kW and 649 N.m of torque at 1 800r/min and, according to reports, it will propel the model from zero to 100 km/h in 6,4 seconds and on to 246 km/h.