New B10 Spy Shots (Interior and Engine Included)

[JohnEnglish]

A B10 S4 Avant was recently caught testing. They were able to get some interior photos since the car had over heated its front brakes and was pulled over with the doors and hood open.

For the interior it looks like there are two "iPad stuck on dash" type screens; one for the gauges and one for the MMI. In this car, there is another screen in front of it but you can see the actual MMI screen sticking out from behind it on the left side. The shifter is gone and there's now a push button transmission control like in the new A3, 911, and Golf. The HVAC controls are hidden but it doesn't look like there's a second screen like the A6, A7, and A8. Hopefully it'll still have physical controls like the e-tron GT. The steering wheel now has capacitive buttons. As well, there's a large capacitive button panel on the drivers door (presumably to adjust the mirrors). The windows still seem to be controlled by physical switches.

The engine still seems to be an EA839 based V6. Even though the engine cover isn't painted you can see 3 polygon shapes on either side for a total of 6 like the current EA839 (3.0 and 2.9) engine covers. I know there was some discussion that Audi may drop the 3.0 and switch over to a detuned 2.9 for the S4 and S5 like Porsche did, but this test mule still seems to have the 3.0. The inlet hose doesn't seem to branch off into two intakes like the 2.9 inlet since it has two turbos. This just seems to be a dingle inlet hose suggesting a single turbo.

https://www.carscoops.com/2022/06/20...eals-interior/

Test Mule with Overheated Front Brakes



Interior



Engine

[Lensch09]

Interesting - Taillights/headlights appear to be some form of new design language. Looks very Mazda-ish.

-DL

[XSWG]

Looks like a Hyundai Elantra hopefully the S and RS models look better with more aggressive appearance packages.

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[JohnEnglish]

Looks like a Hyundai Elantra hopefully the S and RS models look better with more aggressive appearance packages.

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This is a S4.

[Audi_Andrew19]

I saw these photos on Instagram not too long ago. Design looks decent enough but that steering wheel has got to go IMO. Hoping that’s just for testing. Also hoping it gets the power boost it deserves (400HP) to make it more class-competitive.

[XSWG]

This is a S4.

I'm aware and I see the Audi logos everywhere.. I was saying what the design language reminds me of.

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[JohnEnglish]

I saw these photos on Instagram not too long ago. Design looks decent enough but that steering wheel has got to go IMO. Hoping that’s just for testing. Also hoping it gets the power boost it deserves (400HP) to make it more class-competitive.

That's one of Audi's new steering wheel design.

I'm aware and I see the Audi logos everywhere.. I was saying what the design language reminds me of.

Oh yes, I agree. The wide grille reminded me of that too.

[slec]

Everyone: Give us the heated option on a flat bottomed steering wheel

Audi: the wheel now has a flat top too. No heating

[JohnEnglish]

Everyone: Give us the heated option on a flat bottomed steering wheel

Audi: the wheel now has a flat top too. No heating

The new VW Golf has a heated flat bottom steering wheel so they have the technology.

DB2020AU00160_small.jpg


vw heated.jpg

[Lensch09]

I'm aware and I see the Audi logos everywhere.. I was saying what the design language reminds me of.

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Somehow still better than the new 3/4 Bimmers...

-DL

[XSWG]

Somehow still better than the new 3/4 Bimmers...

-DL

Idk about that. One of my other cars is M850 which is a beautiful car even though it's not an M8 and I'd take the G82 M4 over the spy shit B10 honestly but it's a whole different price range. For right now in my opinion B9 > B9.5 >B10 from appearance

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[SHCKR]

Idk about that. One of my other cars is M850 which is a beautiful car even though it's not an M8 and I'd take the G82 M4 over the spy shit B10 honestly but it's a whole different price range. For right now in my opinion B9 > B9.5 >B10 from appearance

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I second your appearance evaluation

[Lensch09]

Idk about that. One of my other cars is M850 which is a beautiful car even though it's not an M8 and I'd take the G82 M4 over the spy shit B10 honestly but it's a whole different price range. For right now in my opinion B9 > B9.5 >B10 from appearance

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Not a 3/4, not comparable

Ms 3/4 are absolutely hideous. They're manageable with a drop and sexy time wheels, but stock... Ew.

-DL

[XSWG]

Aint an M, bro.

Ms are absolutely hideous. They're manageable with a drop and sexy time wheels, but stock... Ew.

-DL

Nevermind. The way you typed it was confusing. You meant M3/M4. Have you seen the G82 in person? It's a beautiful car even with the huge nostrils. I think most cars that aren't super cars are ugly stock. Still wouldn't buy an Audi that looks like a Hyundai

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[Liquid Smoke]

Looks like it's going to use design cues from the A6 eTron concept. i'm really hoping the spy fit and camo are just hiding it very well, and maybe that's not the production bumper, would hate to have that hyundai look lol. but i think safe to assume this is a very rough version and hopefully there will be a lot of styling changes to make it more sporty and aggressive and this is just to keep it looking low key on the road.

[JohnEnglish]

Looks like it's going to use design cues from the A6 eTron concept. i'm really hoping the spy fit and camo are just hiding it very well, and maybe that's not the production bumper, would hate to have that hyundai look lol. but i think safe to assume this is a very rough version and hopefully there will be a lot of styling changes to make it more sporty and aggressive and this is just to keep it looking low key on the road.

It’s supposed to be released later next year so I’d imagine that the styling is locked in.

The refreshed 3 series is using a similar “tablet on the dash” design for the gauges. Here is a facelifted M3.

https://youtu.be/uRG8oVDVJ3M?t=265

[ninjamanRS5]

Nevermind. The way you typed it was confusing. You meant M3/M4. Have you seen the G82 in person? It's a beautiful car even with the huge nostrils. I think most cars that aren't super cars are ugly stock. Still wouldn't buy an Audi that looks like a Hyundai

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Hyundai is no joke these days. They've stepped up their game with all 3 of their brands (Genesis, Hyundai, Kia). I believe their head conceptual designer formerly worked for Bentley and I believe they also have a designer from Audi/VW. The thing about Koreans is they definitely don't settle with just getting by with the bare minimum in their cars. It's not the early 2000's or the 90's any longer and they've definitely caught up and surpassed many competitors...

[JohnEnglish]

Hyundai is no joke these days. They've stepped up their game with all 3 of their brands (Genesis, Hyundai, Kia). I believe their head conceptual designer formerly worked for Bentley and I believe they also have a designer from Audi/VW. The thing about Koreans is they definitely don't settle with just getting by with the bare minimum in their cars. It's not the early 2000's or the 90's any longer and they've definitely caught up and surpassed many competitors...

They’ve also hired head of BMW’s M Division and the head engineer for Audi Sport (the guy who developed the Sport Differential).

[Tommy@Nemesis]

I saw the B10 A4 in S-Line trim and silver paint 2 months ago in Munich. The final product was amazing and a huge step up from previous A4/S4 generations. This is one model that does have an interesting take on the single frame grill and the grill "mesh" has very, very large (as yoiu see here in the photos). However, the way the entire design tied together really worked and it exceeded my expectations. I also saw the future RS4 sedan, and the styling aggressiveness took a revolution forward, not an evolution...

[JohnEnglish]

That sounds promising and exciting.

[CurvesAhead]

Hyundai is no joke these days. They've stepped up their game with all 3 of their brands (Genesis, Hyundai, Kia). I believe their head conceptual designer formerly worked for Bentley and I believe they also have a designer from Audi/VW. The thing about Koreans is they definitely don't settle with just getting by with the bare minimum in their cars. It's not the early 2000's or the 90's any longer and they've definitely caught up and surpassed many competitors...

The Hyundai N Vision 74 could be built:

[Turbanator]

Didn't see this on AZ but I found a newer spy sighting from a few days ago, and this time with a better view of the interior: https://www.carscoops.com/2022/07/20...est-spy-shots/

I guess this confirms what most people already suspected; the RS4/5 will be a plug-in hybrid. No idea though if this is the 3.0T or the 2.9TT (we know it'll be a V6 based on the S4 from OP's article), but that's clearly a PHEV sticker on the back. The spy also claims the car was very loud, meaning it won't become silent with the transition most likely.





Also notable, a few weeks ago Doug Demuro (among a few others) spotted an S4 Avant mule in LA, which while certainly not confirmation could be a sign that B10 may mark the return of the Avant to NA. I've heard from a few others as well that the S4 Avant and RS4 Avant would be coming to the US (but not the A4 Avant, due to the Allroad) thanks to the reception to the RS6 Avant, but take this with a massive sack of salt of course.

https://twitter.com/DougDeMuro/statu...11046432231424

[JohnEnglish]

Didn't see this on AZ but I found a newer spy sighting from a few days ago, and this time with a better view of the interior: https://www.carscoops.com/2022/07/20...est-spy-shots/

I guess this confirms what most people already suspected; the RS4/5 will be a plug-in hybrid. No idea though if this is the 3.0T or the 2.9TT (we know it'll be a V6 based on the S4 from OP's article), but that's clearly a PHEV sticker on the back. The spy also claims the car was very loud, meaning it won't become silent with the transition most likely.

That's an A4, not a S4 or RS4. You can tell by the exhaust pipes. Even on the test mule cars, it'll have the correct exhaust pipes. The S4 and RS4 will both have quad exhaust pipes with the RS4 having the large oval tips. Plus, the fenders aren't flared. If you look at spy shots of the B9 RS4 and RS5 test mules you'll see that they either had the proper body work with fender flares or bolted on plastic fender flares on earlier test cars. It also has regular brakes; not the larger calipers and rotors found on S and RS cars.

The article itself says so:

The photographer noted that this particular test car was extremely noisy, and wondered if it is an early RS4 prototype. The small “PHEV” sticker on the rear window tells us it’s a hybrid, and it seems very likely that Audi will turn the next RS4 into a plug-in to target the new 671 hp (680 PS) Mercedes-AMG C63 PHEV. But since this test car has a simple twin-pipe exhaust system and what looks like basic sliding-caliper brakes, it’s probably something less spicy.

[Turbanator]

That's an A4, not a S4 or RS4. You can tell by the exhaust pipes. Even on the test mule cars, it'll have the correct exhaust pipes. The S4 and RS4 will both have quad exhaust pipes with the RS4 having the large oval tips. Plus, the fenders aren't flared. If you look at spy shots of the B9 RS4 and RS5 test mules you'll see that they either had the proper body work with fender flares or bolted on plastic fender flares on earlier test cars. It also has regular brakes; not the larger calipers and rotors found on S and RS cars.

The article itself says so:

Ah you're right, I guess I skimmed over that line regarding the brakes and pipes. I thought I had seen somebody mention that the S4 mule in your OP doesn't have the same brakes you'd see on a real S4 which is why the driver had to pull over in the first place. Though I should have known from the fenders themselves being the same as the S4.

I can't help but wonder though why they'd be testing a PHEV version of the A4 though. The base A4 isn't exactly wanting for power, so I doubt they'd need to supplement it with a PHEV system like the A7 TFSIe, and even then I'd expect it to be quieter than other A4 models, not louder. As for lower emissions, would that not be accomplished with the inevitable A4 e-Tron anyway?

[ninjamanRS5]

They’ve also hired head of BMW’s M Division and the head engineer for Audi Sport (the guy who developed the Sport Differential).

I'm eyeing one of their future electric sportscars.

[ninjamanRS5]

The Hyundai N Vision 74 could be built:

Yeah that's the one I'm paying some attention to. I love the retro/modern mashup.

[CurvesAhead]

Yeah that's the one I'm paying some attention to. I love the retro/modern mashup.

I could drive that too, no problem at all!

[RudyH]

Idk about that. One of my other cars is M850 which is a beautiful car even though it's not an M8 and I'd take the G82 M4 over the spy shit B10 honestly but it's a whole different price range. For right now in my opinion B9 > B9.5 >B10 from appearance

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then why are you trying to make your B9 look like a B9.5?

I also dislike the B10 paint job, looking forward to seeing better paint. I am though already writing off the B10 because of the massive tablet idea Audi has. It's was I disliked about how they did the B9 as well.

[XSWG]

then why are you trying to make your B9 look like a B9.5?

I also dislike the B10 paint job, looking forward to seeing better paint. I am though already writing off the B10 because of the massive tablet idea Audi has. It's was I disliked about how they did the B9 as well.

Your comment sounds dumb.. It's a retrofit of a B9 RS4 front end on the B9 S4..

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