Bada Bing

Your post wasn't clear on whether AoA is saying that 2.0T is the only engine offered on the A4 going forward or they are simply saying the 3.2 will not be offered for 2010. The latter leaves the door open for a stronger V6. I am predicting that they will drop in the 300-hp, 310 lb-ft 3.0T from the A6 in the A4 for 2010. It would be crazy not to do this. They would be trying to compete in a segment where nobody else is coming in with a 4-cylinder. It's not like the 2.0T quattro tiptronic at 21/27 mpg is offering some kind of fuel efficiency benefit that people will forgo all the 6-cylinder offerings on the market to settle for a lot less horsepower just for a couple of city mpgs.

Yes, it creates a problem with the S4 making only 33 hp more, but I am thinking they can market the S4 as a performance variant of the A4 line with a little more power, Recaro seats, unique gauge faces, standard 19" wheels, Sport Differential and ADS. What they should have done in the first place was offer an S4 with 350 hp (in this day and age, which automaker offers a new model that makes less power than the outgoing version?), but that's water under the bridge.

Now I realize that if AoA were to do this, they would not be making the announcement right now when there's plenty of 2009 3.2 stock to be sold over the next 4-5 months. Come September when all the 2009 inventory is cleared, I bet you they will annouce the 3.0T

pierreb

no 3.2 in 2010. that's all that's 'known' so far. order guide is subject to change.

Spacecadet_CC

This was not directed at me, and I am probably not the right guy for all the right info, but...

Over in the Canadian section of some unnamed, blocked forum, one of the Audi reps posted model guides for the S4 and A5 2.0T, with additional comments of A4 3.2 being gone, A5 3.2 being gone. It was also mentioned that there would be a 'standard' S4 and a premium one. He also suggested a couple of times, although not confirmed, and also still rumored, that the S4 standard would come in the low-mid 50s (which is just a shade higher than the 3.2 is up north here). In previous years, an S4 has been high 60s, low 70s. I do not know what the difference between standard and premium trim levels are, other than a few extra fancy options in premium.

I imagine, as has been the case for most (all?) Audis that actual, real pricing will not be announced until a couple days before the first models arrive at the dealership. Well, maybe not quite that bad - a week or two before. 8-)

I have no idea if this is a North American thing or just a Canadian thing (3.2 is not a big seller here).

I also have no idea if Audi plans on springing a new engine variant in the next few months to replace the 3.2. Remember that Audi officially denied that there would be an A4 2.0T until something like June or July - two months AFTER I had put a deposit down on this 'non-existent' engine.

But it would seem to me that if they do this they would be addressing one of their achilles heels. They would finally have a performance AND price competitor for the 335. I have never been able to come to terms with a CAN$20K price difference between A4 and S4. Let alone the RS4 which is CAN$96K - DOUBLE that of an A4.

The rumored pricing, though, seems weird to me. I think that it is bang-on what is needed, but that does not seem to be Audi's style. That is a HUGE drop in price from the current S4, regardless of engine. The devaluation of the B7 S4s would be enormous. It also sets the precedent for adjusting the RS4 pricing. So a lot less money per car would be made.

But maybe it is a shift in thinking for Audi and it is about reorganizing the A4/S4/RS4 brands. If the prices are that low, then I would imagine that Audi will sell (literally) boat-loads of the S4. My A4 was MSRP $48K for 2.0, man and sport. If I could pay an extra $5-6K and get an S4, throw in the sport dif and 19s, then it would be a no-brainer (oh well - 47.8 months to wait!). It would start to cheapen the S4 brand, though, as there would be a lot more on the road. This also seems weird that Audi would actually do that and leads me to think that it is unlikely.

Bob58

That simply doesn't make any business sense right now.

KrustyClown

I've been going through the same thought process as spacecadet, and agree with his thinking.

I have a feeling that Audi will not want to cheapen the brand by coming down to mid 50's (even though I'm hopeful), but at the same time realize that very few S4's will be sold if it takes $70+ CDN to buy one... there is just too much competition (IS-F, C63) that will have far more power (I recognize that this is only one facet of performance, but an important statistic) for the $$$.

If Audi can bring down the price to perhaps high 50's or 60, I think they can still have a decently loaded car for $67 ish and remain somewhat competitive.

pierreb

I am firmly convinced the B8 S4 pricing will be the same (within a thousand or two) as the current S5.

you can get very close (within US$5-8k) to the S5 by loading up an A5 today.

I see no likelihood for that to change. Audi is on record as saying their prices in the US are too low. It's by far their lowest-margin market.

AofC_RR

There is NO 3.2 for MY10 as i said in the A4. The A5 will only get the 3.2 in automatic form. There are zero plans to put the 3.0T in the A4. It's only going in the S4. So yes there will be no V6 offering in the A4 line other than the S4.

mktt

when will the 2010 A4 be on the showroom floors in the States?

AofC_RR

September as usual most likely.