Audi Australia has introduced its new Audi S4 Avant with its unique combination of style, sporting exclusivity and spacious versatility.

The ultimate practical sportswagon, the fire-breathing S4 Avant is Audi’s newest high-performance machine with the added benefit of a large load-carrying area.

The all new S4 Avant is available with the choice of a 6-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed tiptronic gearbox, priced at $133,100 and $136,100 respectively.

The heart of the Audi S4 Avant is its eager 4.2-litre V8 engine, producing an eyebrow-raising 253 kW of power and maximum torque of 410 Nm.

The S4 Avant completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds (6-speed manual), and has a top speed that is governed to 250 km/h.

Audi Australia’s managing director, Graham Hardy, believes this latest addition to the S4 model range will win the hearts of those Australian customers who prefer a more practical approach to their sportscar driving.

“Audi’s “S” model vehicles have been gaining favour in Australia as an increasing number of customers come to understand and appreciate their design subtlety, absolute luxury and genuine high-performance,” Mr Graham Hardy said.

“The S4 Avant, with its permanent quattro four-wheel drive and sports-tuned high-performance suspension, ensure that the power from its new V8 engine can be converted into maximum forward propulsion and driving responsiveness.

“Yet the clear benefit of this new variant is the flexibility and versatility that is afforded by its capacious load-carrying area. Whether you have a family, a variety of sports equipment, a surfboard or a dog, the Audi S4 Avant allows you to indulge these passions without compromising on performance with your choice of vehicle,” Mr Hardy added.

The S4 Avant boasts a new 4.2-litre V8 engine which is impressive thanks to its compact design. Its dimensions – especially the length of only 464 millimetres – enable the installation of a V8 for the first time in an extremely slim engine compartment.

To make this compact feature possible, Audi’s engine developers installed a chain drive for camshafts and ancillaries on the engine output side, making it possible to reduce the length by no less than 52 millimetres.

The entire V8, with a gross weight of just 195 kilograms, is just as light as its predecessor in the previous S4, a twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 engine, resulting in major benefits for the weight balance and handling characteristics.

In practice, the V8 engine is spontaneous and responsive to every movement of the accelerator pedal.

Power is transferred to the wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox of the latest generation, notable for its closely spaced ratios and extreme precision, with short sports-style shifts, and quattro permanent four-wheel drive. A 6-speed tiptronic gearbox with Dynamic Shift Program (DSP) and sporty “S” mode is also available for Australian buyers.

The only car in its class with permanent all-wheel drive, the S4 Avant, like its sedan sister, is able to convert its engine output into propulsive power efficiently at all times and reaches new heights of superiority through the handling capability of its aluminium chassis.

The lightweight aluminium suspension, based on the much-praised axle design of the A4 series, provides the ideal basis for maximum agility and driving pleasure.

Four-link front suspension and trapezoidal-link rear suspension enable maximum steering precision and clearly defined handling with excellent cornering stability. Ride comfort also benefits from this ingenious axle design because a low unsprung mass also makes for a particularly sensitive response from the suspension.

The superiority of the Audi S4 Avant is reflected in its deliberately restrained appearance, differing quite subtly from the other members of the model line.

The powerful-looking, fully painted bumpers with large air inlets, xenon headlights with contrasting titanium-coloured inner housing and polished aluminium exterior mirrors indicate to those in the know that they are looking at an unique variant.

Powerful exhaust tailpipes on both sides and a discreet rear spoiler on the saloon are characteristic features of the Audi S4 Avant.

Inside this highly practical vehicle, the instrument cluster features the grey dials and special needles that are characteristic of all “S” models. The three-spoke sports steering wheel with leather trim and “S” emblem also emphasises the vehicle’s sporting character. Tiptronic variants also feature Le Mans-style shift paddles on the steering wheel.

The new generation of electrically-adjustable Recaro sports seats provide firm lateral support and excellent comfort on long journeys.

Australian specification vehicles boast high levels of standard equipment including exclusive “S” model badging, brushed aluminium mirrors and trim strips, a high-performance braking system, acoustic parking, servotronic ‘sports-tuned’ speed sensitive steering, sports suspension, 18” alloy wheels of Avus design, xenon headlights, Recaro electric front seats with electric lumbar support, leather and alcantara upholstery, split-fold rear seats and Symphony sound system with 10 loudspeakers and CD changer.

Sales of the S4 Avant from launch until the end of 2004 are expected to number 35 to 40 units. For the full year 2005, the company expects sales of around 5 to 6 units per month.

The Audi S4 Avant and sedan will be joined by an all-new S4 Cabriolet in the final quarter of 2004.