All right, so it may not quite be as “all that” as a fully-fledged RS model, but after a week in Audi’s new S4 we can tell you that it’s not half bad either, although some of our discoveries did cause us to question the efficiency improvements of this supercharged 3.0-litre V6 as opposed to the old 4.2-litre V8 model.

But lazy, as the previous-generation V8 was, is isn’t. In fact the V6/supercharger combo delivers a killer punch anywhere in the rev range, which combined with the optional Sports Differential makes poking this cars tail out easier than any Audi I’ve ever driven. The danger comes afterwards, when you’re trying to get it all straight again.

For full details on the Drive and the S4s dynamic capabilities, read the test in the January edition of the magazine. But for now we have to comment – it’s an immediately appealing-enough car for other JHB road users to get so insanely jealous they’ll deliberately crash into it! Seriously, that’s exactly what happened to us, some imbecile in an Isuzu truck scarred the electric-blue Audi on the rear fender just behind the rear, driver’s side door on our second day with the car, a classic example of the Green-Eyed Monster at work methinks.

Then finding a police station that would actually take our report wasn’t the easiest, and when we eventually did find one they weren’t at all interested in helping us lay a charge of reckless driving against the gutless perpetrator, who had proceeded to flee the scene as soon as traffic allowed. “Well, if no-one was injured we aren’t going to investigate it anyway…” was the reasoning given.

Makes you feel a right spanner though, returning a press demo with an injury, albeit a minor one, in evidence. And were it actually an accident, you can brush it off as one of those blind moments we all have behind the wheel. But this disgruntled little nobody had quite obviously done it on purpose, which makes it harder to brush aside.

Anyway the new S4 is just one of the brilliant, enthusiast-targeted cars we’ve tested this month for the January issue, to be sure to read the full article as we move into the New Year!

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