2003 AUDI S4 Avant 4.2L V8 quattro 6MT AWD (344 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Introduced in 2003 as a sedan and a station wagon, the S4 represented the third generation of the performance-oriented version of the A4 lineup, and, unlike its main competitors, it was all-wheel drive.

The horsepower race in Europe started decades after the U.S. market dealt with that in the muscle-car era. Europeans looked more focused on fuel efficiency and even improving the diesel technologies. Yet, the customers asked for more power, and those who didn’t deliver were doomed to low sales figures. But the S4 Avant was something different. It provided not only a high-performance version but also a large trunk in the back.

With the S versions, Audi dared to challenge the M and the AMG versions from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, respectively. By 2003, it already had a more than two-decade tradition, and that made the carmaker bolder than before. With the S4 Avant, the carmaker emphasized the front fascia with projector lenses on the headlights, chromed trims around the upper and lower grilles, and silver-painted door mirrors. As a tradition, it kept the six-spoke Avus-style alloy wheels. At the back, on top of the tailgate, the carmaker placed a roof spoiler. Under the rear skirt, a dual exhaust system with chromed tips completed the car’s sporty image.

Inside, the S4 Avant carried over the front seats from its sedan sibling, with high-bolstered bucket seats. But, unlike the sedan, it offered a split-folding rear bench that enlarged the trunk up to 1,495 liters (52.8 cu. ft.).

Under the hood stood the acclaimed 4.2-liter V8 naturally-aspirated powerplant, which replaced the previously used turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 from the former second-generation S4. A six-speed manual was fitted as standard, while a six-speed Tiptronic (automatic) with sequential shifting was available as an option. Power went in all corners.