The 2010 edition of Audi's iconic S4 sees many subtle revamps from the previous year's model. While on the surface it may appear to be a minor refresh, under the bonnet there are some big changes afoot with the powertrain. Apparently even the stalwart German sports car manufacturers aren't immune to the cries of consumers being worn down at the gas pump by their fun and throaty (yet aggressively thirsty) V-8's. In a return to form, Audi has downsized from the 8 to a newly designed supercharged V-6 that cranks out 333-horsepower. While that's a 7 hp decline from the previous model, Audi makes a strong argument for getting a lot more in the trade. While a 7hp drop may sound steep, they jump to 324.5 lb-ft of torque, a gain of almost 23 lb-ft. And you get that torque at lower revs. Add that to the weight savings from dropping those two cylinders and you have a more nimble power plant that gives you all the S4 thrills you've come to expect while turning what used to be a sucker punch at the gas pump into more of a light open-handed slap across the face. Audi aficionados might remember the 6-cylinder from older generations of the S4, but unlike the old twin-turbo V-6, this model relies on a single supercharger. So you can rest assured in the knowledge that Audi knows a thing or two about forced injection. While the 2010 Audi S4 claims to compete against BMW's M3 and Mercedes' C63 AMG, that's a bit more swagger than substance. The Bimmer and the Mercedes both top out at more than 400 hp, but those German juggernauts are notoriously thirsty. For a comfortable compromise of heavy-footed fun and marginal fuel efficiency, the 2010 Audi S4 lets you cut loose with less juice.

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