By Mike Gotez

Last year Audi launched the all-new A4 — longer and wider than its predecessor. The new car is no slouch, when powered by either its standard 2.0-litre I4 turbo (211 hp) or optional 3.2-litre V6 (265 hp).

But more poke and sizzle can be had by moving up to the just-introduced S4, which made its Canadian debut at the Toronto show.

Photo: Isaac Adams-Hands

The previous S4 was packing a V8. But the new S4 gets the all-new 3.0-litre V6, which features Audi’s direct injection system (TFSI), plus supercharging. Net result: 333 hp, 324 lb-ft of torque, and a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.2 seconds. Fuel consumption is down to 9.7 litres  — a 26 percent improvement over the V8 model.

Optional is a seven-speed S Tronic automatic and a special differential. The latter works in concert with the Quattro all-wheel drive system, to automatically boost torque and wheel speed to the necessary corner, to control understeer. The package is rounded out with cosmetic upgrades and bigger wheels and bigger brakes.

S4 can be had both in sedan and Avant (wagon) formats, and expect sticker prices to start around $60,000, when it shows up at Canadian dealers this summer.