Forbidden fruit: The Audi S4 Avant wagon

By Stephen Edelstein Published May 17, 2016

After successive attacks by minivans and crossovers, the station wagon has become an endangered species in the U.S. And its new-found rarity, along with purer styling and nicer driving dynamics, has turned the wagon from an uncool family hauler to an object of enthusiasm.

That’s why American car fans look with a sigh at cars like the Audi S4 Avant, which is set to debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. Audi mentioned the Avant when it unveiled the S4 sedan at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show last fall, but we’re only just getting to see this hot rod wagon now.

Like the sedan, the S4 Avant switches to the new Audi A4 platform, with lots of changes under styling that doesn’t look very different at all. In place of the old 3.0-liter supercharged V6, a new 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 sits under the crisply creased hood. The turbo engine produces 354 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, increases of 21 hp and 43 lb-ft. over the supercharged V6.

Unlike the previous S4, the new model is only offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission, so fans of manuals will have to look elsewhere. At least it’s quick; Audi says the S4 Avant will do 0 to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, which is 0.2 second behind the sedan. Both versions are limited to 155 mph.

The S4 Avant also gets a trick version of Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. The default torque split is 40/60 front/rear, but the system can send up to 85 percent of the power to the rear wheels, or 70 percent to the front wheels, if it feels like it. S4 models ride 0.9 inch lower than A4 models, and get larger brakes and optional adaptive suspension.

While the S4 is supposed to be a sportier, more driver-focused version of the A4, Audi didn’t throw away the luxuries and tech. All of the car maker’s latest tech features, including the “virtual cockpit” display, MMI infotainment system, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot (in Europe, at least), are available, along with safety features like traffic-jam assist and lane-keep assist. The S4 Avant also gets a power tailgate.

The S4 Avant probably won’t be sold in the U.S. because Audi knows most Americans would rather buy a crossover. The S4 sedan will show up here eventually, though, offering all of the wagon’s performance, but with less of its practicality.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.