Skip to main content

Next Audi S4 to debut at 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show?

We’ve already seen the next-generation Audi A4, and are hoping the sporty RS 4 model will finally return to the U.S., but what about the middle-child S4?

For the past few years, the S4 has been the sportiest A4 variant sold by Audi in the U.S., and like the rest of the lineup, it’s getting redesigned. The new model will likely debut alongside the standard A4 at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and could feature a very interesting powertrain.

Recommended Videos

That powertrain could include the first production application of the electric turbocharger Audi has been hinting at for the past several months, according to Auto Zeitung. That means the current model’s 3.0-liter supercharged V6 powertrain would be kaput.

The electric turbo will also reportedly be harnessed to a 3.0-liter V6 to produce around 348 horsepower, which is a notable upgrade over the current car’s 333 hp. Naturally, Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system will be standard.

Turbochargers typically use exhaust gases to drive a fan that pulls more air into the engine, allowing for more combustion. However, an electric turbo uses an electric motor to spin the fan, which should make it more responsive.

Traditional turbochargers come with turbo lag, the delay caused by the need to build up enough exhaust-gas pressure to get the turbine spinning at the necessary speed. There’s no waiting with an electric motor, though, meaning the extra power provided by the turbo is available lower in the rev range, where it’s more useful.

Audi first demonstrated electric turbocharging in a modified RS 5, which had its 4.2-liter V8 swapped for a 3.0-liter diesel V6. In that prototype, a small electric turbocharger was teamed with a larger, conventional one. The small turbo was used to provide power at lower revs, and was bypassed at higher engine speeds. It’s possible Audi will use a similar setup in production.

It was originally thought that the first production Audi to get an electric turbocharger would be the SQ7, a rumored performance version of the redesigned 2016 Q7 SUV. While it’s hard to sneer at a fast vehicle that can seat seven, the S4 has already proven itself as a driver’s car, so perhaps it will be a better platform to debut this technology.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Buy Now, Upgrade Later: Slate’s $25K Truck Flips the Script on EVs
many hybrids rank as most reliable of all vehicles evs progress consumer reports cr tout cars 0224

A new electric vehicle startup—quietly backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos—is building something bold in Michigan. Not just a car, but a whole new idea of what an EV company can be. Slate Auto is a stealthy new automaker with one mission: ditch the luxury-first EV playbook and start from the affordable —which most drivers actually seek.
The start-up has been operating out of public sight since 2022, until TechCrunch found out about its existence. Of course, creating a little mystery about a potentially game-changing concept is a well-tested marketing approach.
But Slate truly seems to approach EVs in a very different way than most: It isn’t debuting with a six-figure spaceship-on-wheels. Instead, it's targeting the holy grail of EV dreams: a two-seat electric pickup truck for just $25,000. Yep, twenty-five grand. That’s less than a tricked-out golf cart in some neighborhoods. Slate is flipping the Tesla model on its head. Tesla, but also the likes of Lucid, BMW, and to a certain degree, Rivian, all started with high-end vehicles to build brand and bankroll future affordable car. But Slate wants to start with the people’s pickup—and letting it grow with you.
This isn’t just a cheap car. It’s a modular, upgradeable EV that’s meant to be personalized over time. Buy the basic model now, then add performance, tech, or lifestyle upgrades later—kind of like building your own dream ride one paycheck at a time. It’s a DIY car for a generation raised on customization and subscriptions. The company even trademarked the phrase: “We built it. You make it.”
Backing up this idea is an equally bold strategy: selling accessories, apparel, and utility add-ons à la Harley-Davidson and Jeep’s MoPar division. You’re not just buying a vehicle; you’re buying into a lifestyle. Think affordable EV meets open-source car culture.
Slate's approach isn't just novel—it's almost rebellious. At a time when other startups risk folding under the weight of their own lofty ambitions, Slate is keeping things lean, scalable, and customer focused. The company reportedly plans to source major components like battery packs and motors from outside suppliers, keeping manufacturing costs low while focusing energy on design, experience, and upgrade paths.
Sure, it’s all been kept under wraps—until now. With plans to begin production near Indianapolis by next year, the wraps are about to come off this EV underdog.
While, at least in spirit, the U.S. market has been dominated by high-end EVs, Slate’s “start small, scale with you” philosophy might be just the jolt the industry needs.

Read more
Kia EV9 and EV6 now fully qualify for the $7,500 tax credit – except for one trim
Kia EV 9

As Kia reported record first-quarter sales, Eric Watson, Kia America VP of sales, made a point of painting a rosy picture for the future: Now that the latest versions of its two best-selling electric vehicles, the EV9 and the EV6, are in full-scale production at Kia’s plant in Georgia, the road is paved for further sales growth.
After all, when Kia announced it was switching production of the EV9 to the U.S. from South Korea in 2023, it largely based its decision on its EVs being eligible for the $7,500 tax credit on new EV purchases offered under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
But the EV9’s battery still came from South Korea and China, which meant it would only receive a partial tax credit of $3,750. Starting this year, the EV9 can qualify for the full $7,500 credit, as Kia switched the sourcing of its battery to its Georgia plant.
As for the EV6, 2025 marks the first time its production takes place stateside, and most of its trims have also become eligible for the full tax credit.
However, there are notable exceptions: Both the EV6 and EV9 GT trims, which are known for providing more horsepower - ie, being faster – and offering a “more aggressive styling and accents”, won’t qualify at all for the tax credit: That’s because production for those vehicles remains based in South Korea, according to CarsDirect, which cited a Kia bulletin to its dealers.
The full credit should still be available for those who lease the vehicles, as leasing does not have the same sourcing requirements under the IRA.
Another big unknown for the GT trims is whether the U.S.’ 25% tariffs on all imported vehicles will again be applied. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump paused most tariffs announced in early April for 90 days.
While prices for the new EV6 and EV9 have yet to be revealed, the combination of the tariffs and the inegibility for the tax credit could seriously dent the appeal of the GT trims.

Read more
AR driving at last – this Android Auto feature could mean navigation on smart glass
AR driving

A heads-up display while driving has always been the dream use of AR glasses and now it looks like that could soon become a reality.

Looking at a screen for navigation while driving is undoubtedly a hazard. So overlaying guidance on glasses, that let you keep focused on the road, makes a lot of sense.

Read more