I'm actually looking forward to the new B6 S4. I used to think that the new A4 was ugly until I saw it in person. The B6 platform doesn't photograph well, but I think that the S4 should be a good looking car. Outside of the heavier weight (seem like 50-100 lbs) more than the B5 S4, ther are many aspects of this car that are better:
Importantly (to me at least):
1) a more rigid body
2) better suspension and driving dynamics. - If you've driven a new A4, you'll notice that the car tracks much better on curves.
3) larger - I like that there is more rear seat space. I had to sell my 2000 S4 cause the baby seat would hardly fit in the back seat.
Engine:
I think that the lightweigh V8 is a good match to the new S4. It'll be faster that the old stock S4, and probably a chipped only B5 S4, but no where close to a heavily modded S4. Preliminary numbers seem to indicate that the B6 S4 is slightly slower than the current M3. For those to which the stats really matter, my guess is that magazines will test that the 0-60 will come in at ~4.9-5.2 seconds, 0-100 in ~12-12.5 seconds and the 1/4 mile in ~13.4-13.7 seconds. The numbers a couple of ticks behind M3. I'm surprised that there are rumors that the S4 outperformed the M3 on some track in Germany.
In the real world, we'll get a car with more low end torque, the confidence of AWD.
I think with a couple of mods, the 334 hp (344 DIN) can be brought up to 360 hp...(chip=10-15hp,+some torque), (exaust+intake=10hp). There'll probably be a supercharger for the hardcore 2-3 years down the road for big hp gains.
Price:
Hopefully the base will be at ~$43K.

Countdown: 30 months to lease end. I waited 3 years to buy the previous S4 (after reading about it in 1997)...I think I can wait 1 1/2 years after the release before I get mine. Hopefully the new car glitches and quirks will have been worked out by then.

and when it's become common enough, it will be accepted as standard.......just like the 6ft. 98lb. bulemic, semi-pedophilic Super Model.

Accepted as the "standard" for Women.


But all the guys are still subscribing to Playboy!

different bumper. Just some very small grills that differentiate the 2. That's not right. anyway...............

The extra displacement will make a huge difference after 0-60 mark, I'd wager the new S4 should outperform the M3 in 1/4 and it's
0-200kph is already faster, it's actually no suprise that new S4 one on the nurburing, once the new S4 get's moving it's going to be hard for the M3 to keep up. It's like the VW Pheaton W12 sure that car is heavy as hell, and only does 0-60 6 sec, but it also has a top speed of greater than 200MPH.

Yes, the power of inertia is a beautiful thing.

The only thing current M3 should have over the new S4, is the 0-60, but after that, it's all B6 S4 baby.

As far as I'm concerned, the MORE it looks like an A4 the better. I really like the fact that the S4 doesn't stand out in a crowd. The last thing I want is a car that catches the attention of police officers or thieves.

Frankly, I prefer my car in winter, with 16" snow tires and Ronal R-28s, over the summer look with the 17" AVUS wheels. The stealthier, the better.

I came SOOO close to buying an S6 when they were first released. The idea of a boring station wagon with that honking V8 ... And now I'm going to be able to get the same V8 in the smaller body.

This is one voice saying that Audi got it right with the next S4. I've owned 8 quattros so far, dating back to a 1986 4000 CSQ. I intend to own the first V8 S4 in town.

DMoore
'01 S4

Don't care too much about performance compared to an M3. No matter how one puts it, 334 HP is plenty enough for most road drivers. I'd be tempted to mod it, but they will mostly be mods that personalize my car such as rims, exhaust, sound system, and maybe lower it an inch or so.

i swear this is just like the backlash when the new A4 first came out.

to this day i have yet to see a B6 A4 that I think looks good in a picture, but when I see them in person I think "that's a nice looking car."

Oscar

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/s6withronals.jpg">

<img src="http://www.audiworld.com/model/s6/gallery/pressphotos/s6990002.jpg">

...uhhhhh - 'cause it looks like ****e. Hopefully the best thing about the B6 S4 for the B5 S4 owners will be increased resale value. But something tells me it won't help :(

Are you nuts? I have been waiting my whole life for a car with those.

[Cue Monty Norman riff as Jimmy drives new B6 S4 into Lake Travis] "What? Oh crap, they fold down for ice only!"

Later,

more torque at 1400 rpms lower.
That torque will be the decider, not the tiny horsepower difference.

Plus if you take out the 50lb spare like BMW does, then it's only 5.6% heavier. hehe.

Go Audi!

0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds!