High performance Audi S quattro models to be showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show

In these times of heightened environmental concerns Audi has made its contribution to the green movement by ditching the glorious 5.2 litre naturally aspirated V10 engine for a 4.0 litre bi-turbo V8 engine. Petrolheads across the world will be regretting Audi’s decision for a turbo charged engine can never have that linear power delivery and more is always better in the petrolhead’s dictionary. But technology has moved on and in this day and age smaller engines deliver the same if not more power than the bigger naturally aspirated engines they replace. Also, turbo charged engines use variable geometry turbo chargers or two turbo charges, as is the case with Audi this time, to overcome turbo lag and have a more linear power delivery. 

The Audi’s new engine is 25% more efficient than the outgoing V10. The new engine also features a new cylinder deactivation system which cuts out four cylinders under partial throttle to decrease fuel consumption. The quattro system now has a locking centre differential with torque vectoring to make sure each wheel is rotating at the right speed around a corner and receives just enough torque to negate wheel slippage. 

2011 Frankfurt Motor Show: Hot launches & brilliant concepts, click here

The smallest Audi in the S line-up is the S6 joined by its station wagon sibling, the S6 Avant. The 4.0 litre V8 engine will produce 414 horse power and 550 Nm of torque which takes the car from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, that is supercar territory!  Combined with the quattro all-wheel drive system the new S6 like all the other S6 models will be a hoot to drive. This being the most compact of the Audi S line-up will be the most lively to chuck around corners at insane speeds.

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The Audi S7 Sportback is undoubtedly the best looking of the S quattro line-up. With that swooping rear roofline and sleek front end with the funky A-pillars it looks like nothing else on the road. The 4.0 litre unit produces the same amount of power as it does in the S6 models. The S7 hits 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and is limited to a top speed of 248 km/h just like the S6 and S6 Avant. The S7 features a hybrid aluminium construction which makes it 15% lighter than having a steel body, this increases the power to weight ratio of the car, increases structural rigidity which betters handling. The seven-speed S tronic transmission delivers a smooth surge of power.

The new Audi S8 which is essentially a performance version of the A8 L luxury limousine. The S8 gets the same 4.0 litre bi-turbo unit but power output is bumped up to 512 horse power which is 69 hp over the outgoing V10 engine. 0-100 km/h is dealt with in a scarcely believable 4.2 seconds which is astonishing for a car with all the luxury and gizmos that the car comes with. The car has an electronically limited top speed of 248 km/h. The new S8 will come with an Active Noise Cancellation system (ANC) developed by Audi to reduce noise and vibrations. ANC uses four microphones integrated into the roof lining of the car to record cabin noise which is analysed by a computer that detects intrusive sound elements and plays antiphase sound thought the speakers to cancel out cabin noise from engine vibrations. The there are active engine bearings which use counter pulses to negate low frequency vibrations from the engine. 

All the S quattro models get adaptive cruise control with stop and go system, Audi pre sense safety system, Audi side assist, active lane assist, speed limit display, night vision assist which highlights pedestrians, adaptive air suspension, wireless internet connectivity on the MMI interface can be connected via a mobile phone and a host of other options are available for spicing up your Audi S quattro. As for the ANC system and active noise bearings, they are a mind blowing load of technology which are class leading in the never ending quest towards making a refined car. 

2011 Frankfurt Motor Show: Hot launches & brilliant concepts, click here