The new S4 arrives as a '10 model.

I expect that it will have at least 1 year of exclusivity in the A4 line.

Even after that, there is no guarantee that we'll see that gb in the A4 in the US. It's likely to come down to cost and reliabilty. I suspect that new longitudinal S-Tronic is more expensive than the current Tiptronic.

I don't really have an interest in an A4 without one. I don't like tiptronic (which I have on my current S4) and I live in LA, so a manual can be a real PITA. And we won't be geting the S4 avant here, so I guess the A3 line is my only choice for DSG w/ a wagon.

The transverse layout A3 isn't an option for me now, but that could change.

And I'm not alone in that thinking.

IF the new S-tronic is significantly more expensive to produce and support than the Tip, Audi MAY choose not to ever use it in the A4 for North America for cost reasons.

Note: I said "IF" and "MAY".

In my opinion, the B8 A4 is already nearing the price limits that the U.S. market will bear.

Hopefully, I'm wrong.

And I have nothing to back up my speculation. Just pure gut feeling.