Test Drive: 2011 Audi S4

Audi have been making great cars for years, but in the past they’ve often fallen short in the driving dynamics and performance department when compared to their chief rivals from Bavaria. That gap has been narrowed considerably in the last few years, as Audi has stepped up their game in building cars that appeal to true driving enthusiasts. The high-end R8 sports car has contributed significantly to Audi’s sporting image along with all those wins with the prototypes in ALMS and at Le Mans, but Audi is also making great driver’s cars in the $50,000 range – cars like the S4 sedan you see here.

One of the best four-door sport sedans I’ve driven in the last five years was the 2007 Audi RS4, which had a fantastic 4.2-liter V8 under the hood that put out a robust 420hp. While Audi hasn’t said anything about an “RS” version of today’s A4 sedan, today’s S4 has plenty of performance and dynamic abilities to thrills it drivers. To make the S4 both fast and frugal, Audi installed a supercharged 3-liter V6 that features twin intercoolers and puts out 333hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. These numbers may not sound that impressive in today’s world where 300+ hp sedans are fairly common, but the S4 starts making peak torque at a low 2,900rpm and can get to 60mph in a very respectable 4.9 seconds while delivering 27mpg on the highway. 

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SCI Interview: Allan McNish

Two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, three-time Sebring 12 Hours winner and two-time American Le Mans Series champion Allan McNish has been an Audi factory driver for the past seven years, and the Scot will very soon be tackling his eleventh Le Mans 24 Hours. Teamed up with fellow veterans Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello in one of three of the German manufacturer’s all-new R18 TDIs, McNish will be an instrumental part of the fight against the three works Peugeots in what is being billed as one of the closest Le Mans ever. SCI recently had the opportunity to char with Allan about his recent appearance as a steward at the Monaco Grand Prix, his thoughts on the physical and mental demands of racing and other sports, and the state of play between Audi and Peugeot as the last-minute preparations go into overdrive…

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Audi shows the world how it's done... again.

It was supposed to be yet another “battle for the ages” between the factory-entered Peugeot 908 HDI and Audi R15 Plus TDI prototypes. Two proud manufacturers squaring off against each other with their $75,000,000 (or more) annual budgets to demonstrate supremacy in the world’s most famous - and important - endurance road race… the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

But there was more to the subplot going into this race too. Much more. Stung by Peugeot’s decisive victory in last year’s running of the French endurance classic - even though it had won the event a staggering eight times over the last decade - the upper management at Audi and its board of directors were none too pleased. After all, the classic German “way” of going motor racing - especially if you’re a factory with the prestige and motorsports accomplishments of Audi - is not to just show up and do well, but to crush the opposition into submission with a dizzying display of absolute power, speed and efficiency. Understanding that mindset, it’s clear that winning isn’t enough. It’s never enough. Total domination is the only way to go about it. Which is why Audi team leader Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich had to plea for the financial wherewithal from Audi management to wage a properly-funded campaign against the burgeoning threat from the French automaker.

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Stupidity reigns and an opportunity is lost at Sebring.

The Audi team was nowhere to be found at Sebring during the race week for the classic 12 Hour endurance race. Oh, they were in Florida alright - rested and ready, as a matter of fact - as they had tested at Homestead Miami Speedway the previous week. And they were also going to participate in two days of testing at Sebring Monday and Tuesday (the 22nd & 23rd) of this week with Patron-Highcroft Racing, Corvette Racing and the Sebring-winning Peugeot team.

What’s wrong with this picture? Plenty.

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Slipping Quietly Through the Night

Photos by Rick DoleThough they are not scheduled to participate in this year’s running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, Audi Sport quietly pulled into Sebring this week to do some testing on the legendary air field. Of course, Sports Car Insider had people on the ground.

Rick Dole sent over a few spy shots of the updated Audi R15 Plus and the Audi R8 GT3 slated to run compete in the FIA European GT3 Championship. The R8 is also rumored to be coming to ALMS GTC in 2011.

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Sports Car Insider - Five Questions With Allan McNish.

If you truly love sports car endurance racing, then you most likely are a fan of our guest for Five Questions,  Allan McNish. Racing since the age of 11, McNish can lay claim to achievements not shared by many others. Having started in karting, he then progressed through the junior formula, Formula 3, Formula 3000 en route to Sportscar racing, Le Mans 24 Hours and F1. Allan has twice been winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, three times winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring, three times American Le Mans Series Champion and he is a four time winner of Petit Le Mans. And, as you’ll find out, he’s not done.

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Inside Audi’s R15 TDI

© Copyright Audi MotorsportOn Monday, Audi unveiled its newest weapon, the R15 TDI. The public launch of the second-generation diesel-powered prototype actually came a week earlier than expected, as the German automaker had originally planned to take the wraps off the car just prior to its race debut at Sebring. But instead, the R15 TDI debuted on a deserted test track in Ingolstadt, with Lucas Luhr handling the driving duties aboard the fully liveried No. 1 machine.

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