squeeq

Audi break their long tradition of turbo-charged S and RS models with their new 2009 Audi S4. For the first time ever with civil Audis, a supercharger will be built onto the V6 FSI of the new sports car. The last two versions of the S4 featured a V8 FSI with 343 horses pulled from capacity, so there is a question mark on why the manufacturer of the most popular family sports cars downgraded to the new supercharged V6 FSI with only 333 horses.

The answer is quite simple: Efficiency and the world-wide eco-trends. The latter enables the S4 to take in 26% less gas than the old V8 models. This trend is present with most of the manufacturers showing their newest models at the Paris Autosalon. Fortunately, the new S4 still goes faster from 0-60 than his predecessors and the design is updated to the latest model range, so it has more of a down-shift than a down-grade to it.

Update: Audi S4 driving video

[via Audi]