Audi, like rivals BMW and Mercedes, has done well with high-performance versions of its mainstream cars. Anything bearing the letter S before its designation is, you can be sure, a crisp-handling fire breather.
On the other hand, if there's an S somewhere later in the designation, you've stumbled on something else that Audi does well, selling cars with all the show, but not the go, of the high performers.
This is the S line, an upgrade package that's partly functional, partly for looks. Conventional wisdom is that "look-faster" packages such as these are best avoided because their advantages are few and their cost, plenty. But I'm not so sure if this can be said of the S line pack offered on the newly upgraded Audi A4.
I've been driving the 1.8 Avant wagon with the S line stuff and although it adds $6500 to the bill, I'd be ready to tick the appropriate box.
On the A4 Avant the package comprises leather sports seats with S line embossing, leather-covered armrests, brushed alloy inlays, door sill and interior badging, black headlining, a sports steering wheel, different alloys and bumpers, and front and rear spoilers.
