I don't think this will be THE ONLY engine for the B6 S4. Unlike the B5, this S4 is starting at or near the beginning of this body style. Remember, the A4 was Audi's "image rebuild" by my Piech. The B5 S4 came in the final years of that particular body style. With Audi's FSI and other stuff, I think we'll see some engine evolution throughout this body style.

It looks as if Audi is doing just enough to be close or equal the M3. Of course, this contradicts their "Lead never follow" theme, but there are other things about the Audi that add value. Quattro and interior excellence would be two of them.

If bimmer puts a faster M out, we will probably see some retuning of the S4. Or maybe Audi is leaving that to the RS4. With bimmer, you get a choice of 3/M3. It looks as if Audi is giving us A/S/RS. Mabye a better spread.

Just some thoughts.

Amro

but it's a helluva lot more expensive than the RS4.

you'd buy the car, is it?

I think the power of the Audi lies in AWD, and the power of the BMW lies in NOT having AWD.

AWD makes it more real-world applicable, every day car that you can have a lot of fun with. The M3 for me, would be more of a weekend car that I'd have even more fun with :P Because RWD is just so much more fun than AWD :P

Not everyone knows skid pad ratio's, etc ... of the top of their head, traditionally cars that could go fast (exclude funny cars ... etc) had to have the ability to handle all that power. So, 0-60 is picked cause it's a ok indicator of power, and one assumes cars with X amount of power, are more sport oriented, hence handle better than non-sport oriented cars. But, this again, is all the perception. But, I don't think everyone qoutes 0-60 cause it is the end all be all.

Is that the number on your rear window I see? My gosh!