C&D B9 S4 Review

[blackfunk]

Car and driver reviews the new B9 S4. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review

Interesting to note that the flat bottom steering wheel is dead.

[jonpark]

They might bring it back when facelift come out. B9.5 lol

[mystik4l06]

Not dead at all. Some reviewers on youtube have them and others dont. One mentioned its an option with one of the packages. Most likely the diamond stitched bucket seats which have a static headrest...etc

[dbuxton13]

Most definitely not dead, just an option. The one I saw at Frankfurt had it, and it's been shown in several other photos.

[Dazman63]

Have you guys seen this video of the S4 Avant?

https://youtu.be/JMK2oCNbnOg

[breyton490]

Not a big fan of the new dash layout. Looks very much like the utilitarian BMW layouts. Not a fan of the LCD display on the center console.. Just looks like its stuck there and not part of the layout. It will be a few years before I move off my B8, so maybe my thinking will change, but I am a pass for now and would be looking at a the M2/M3 as other options.

[turdzi]

I am not a big fan of VC either and would rather have analogue dials but VC comes in package with MMI plus and in fact you have to pay more for less if you don't want it.Shucks

[dbuxton13]

Haha, B8 owners finding excuses not to like it. It's okay, just ignore it. I like all the things you don't.

[turdzi]

I buy a car not an iPad ;) maybe I'm kind of old school guy but I prefer a par of nice old school gauges.
I had b9 to times on the weekend and I find it irritating. It is just a bit to much of everything.

[dbuxton13]

I fly a large jet aircraft with 20 year old "old school" digital instrumentation just like the VC. Cars are just finally getting with the times. Digital instruments are better for a long list of reasons, but if you don't like them, that's okay. As always, people are free to hold whatever opinion or preference suits them.

[Jet Jockey]

Haha, B8 owners finding excuses not to like it. It's okay, just ignore it. I like all the things you don't.

LOL... The B9 is a much better car than its predecessor. If people don't like the new dash then stick to the older version, you don't have to get the tech package.

Having flown aircrafts that had steam powered gages to the latest and greatest with HUD and EVS, there is no doubt which one I like better for very obvious reasons.

People just need the time to adapt to the newer technologies (as long as they improve things).

[Fantasiamon]

Have you guys seen this video of the S4 Avant?

https://youtu.be/JMK2oCNbnOg

I would chop off my left arm if it would help Audi bring the S4 Avant stateside.

[Mitchfin]

Being both a B8 and B9 owner I can say that I don't think I could ever go back to analog displays, the VC is so much more adaptable, it is 10X easier to read than analogs. I keep it in the classic mode when I'm aggressively driving with the map in between and it helps me anticipate turns and keeps the revs and speed so much more prevelant, then when I am leisure driving I just leave it on the album art and small dials, just so intuitive, I hate when I have to use the MMI Screen. But the MMI screen doesn't feel like Mercedes iPads, if is high build quality and it looks great. New idea, if you haven't seen it in person, used it, felt it, you don't get to complain about it.

[VAG GUY]

I went to check out the B9 A4 recently to start deciding what kind of features are worth thinking about when I order the S4. I fell in love immediately with how immersive and intuitive the VC system is. I originally chose my B8 over a E90 335xi for obvious reasons, but one of them was that I felt the interior was designed to be much more user (driver) friendly.

Just from a 20 min. test drive I realized how the VC becomes apart of your every day drive. Almost every piece of vehicle info or navi directions, or media selection can be controlled and accessed without having to take your eyes very far off the road.
Its brilliant! Every auto maker will go that route eventually.

Mercedes is putting a form of VC in their upper sedan lines already.

It's the future

[dbuxton13]

LOL... The B9 is a much better car than its predecessor. If people don't like the new dash then stick to the older version, you don't have to get the tech package.

Having flown aircrafts that had steam powered gages to the latest and greatest with HUD and EVS, there is no doubt which one I like better for very obvious reasons.

People just need the time to adapt to the newer technologies (as long as they improve things).

If you don't mind me asking, which aircraft have you flown with EVS? I have only flown a gulfstream full motion G280 sim fitted with that tech (simulated, so not as mindblowing). I think I would probably be overwhelmed with joy using it in actual IMC :)

Audi's night vision assistant in the A6 and A8 is a very dumbed down inexpensive version of this, but it's something. For those curious, check out this short video on EVS from gulfstream:

https://youtu.be/qjsCpwHXxSM

Might not ever be critical enough for cars to have tech like that, but sure would be nice!

[Jet Jockey]

If you don't mind me asking, which aircraft have you flown with EVS?

Our company operates two Global Express aircraft with both HUD and EVS. Our aircrafts are of the "first generation" which means they have a Honeywell avionics suit coupled to the HUD and EVS system of that generation.

The newer/latest versions of the Global Express 5000 and 6000 and soon to be 7000 and 8000 (completely new aircrafts with FBW and side sticks) are the first aircrafts in the world along with the new C Series airliners to get fantastic new Rockwell Collins "Vision/Fusion Cockpit" which IMHO is way better than the latest "Epic" cockpit by Honeywell.

The Rockwell "Vision/Fusion" cockpit uses a much better and bigger HUD and much improved EVS system but it also adds another incredible feature... "Synthetic Vision" another first in the industry.

Picture of the Global Express 7000’s Vision/Fusion cockpit by Rockwell Collins…



Check it out some videos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GXsKAShKRA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ISvrO3j9SU

[dbuxton13]

Thanks for sharing, very nice setup. I was poised to go fly a military reconnaissance variant of the Global Express 5000 (BD-700, photo below) in Afghanistan, but instead received orders to a position in Germany. Definitely nice to live in Europe for a few years, but I also would have enjoyed flying the Global Express (seriously doubt they have the newer interiors though).



In Air Force terms, it's called the E-11. http://www.military.com/video/aircra.../2707782986001

[Jet Jockey]

Thanks for sharing, very nice setup. I was poised to go fly a military reconnaissance variant of the Global Express 5000 (BD-700, photo below) in Afghanistan, but instead received orders to a position in Germany. Definitely nice to live in Europe for a few years, but I also would have enjoyed flying the Global Express (seriously doubt they have the newer interiors though).



In Air Force terms, it's called the E-11. http://www.military.com/video/aircra.../2707782986001

Actually from the serial number and date of built, that's not a 5000 but one of the original versions of the Globals with the first generation of avionics with probably no HUD and certainly no EVS. The original Globals, the XRS version and now the latest version, the 6000 all have the same fuselage (99' and 5" long). The difference between the original Global and the XRS variant was more fuel and upgraded systems and avionics for the XRS and a higher GW (99,500#). The 6000 is basically the same as the XRS except for that new cockpit by Rockwell Collins.

Now the 5000 was a shorten version of the Globals (original/XRS/6000) by about 32" (a fuselage plug forward of the wing) and carries less fuel (~10,000# less). Again there are 2 versions of the 5000, the first version is basically the same aircraft as the XRS but shorten. The new 5000 is exactly the same but with the new Rockwell Collins cockpit.

The Global's normal cruise speed is M0.85 with long range at M0.82 and high speed at M0.88. It likes to fly between FL410 and FL470 (I have been to FL490 with it) although it is certified to FL510. It has extremely good takeoff and landing performance and at low landing weights a Vref of about 110kts coupled with an amazing auto brake system with very powerful Carbon Fibre brakes it can decelerate and stop on a dime!

[dbuxton13]

You're right, I too hastily grabbed a screen shot without looking closer. It turns out that photo is from the testing phase on an older model. Below is an actual production model (writeup says 5000/6000, which I guess means they have several models that use either), although once again tax payer dollars are at work here, so no HUD/EVS I'm afraid:



You're obviously the expert on it. The jet I have the most time in is a heavy recce jet (322,000 lbs), the RC-135V/W:



And now, after completely hijacking this thread and turning it into awesome jets, here is an attempt to get back on course... the Audi VC +HUD! Yaaayy!

[turdzi]

And tell my why do you need to displays one above the other showing pretty much same information and third screen 5 cm on the right. its a car not a jet.I just don't get it.

Still would go for analogs with HUD.They er just lovely.

[dbuxton13]

Analogs can't do what this R8 VC does (watch from the 7:00 to 7:40). https://youtu.be/JsSopYW6Vag?t=418

And the HUD puts the info outside where your eyes are. So you don't run over bikers, children or small underpowered cars. Any other questions?

[[email protected]]

The flat-bottom is an option, but you can always add one later too:

Steering Wheel | S-Line Flat-Bottom

Then eventually the S4 wheel will come out which will be all smooth leather with some colored stitching options.

There is also a smooth leather flat-bottom wheel now which comes in black, grey or brown leather as well. Inquire if interested anytime via PM or email: [email protected]

Cheers,

[turdzi]

Analogs can't do what this R8 VC does (watch from the 7:00 to 7:40). https://youtu.be/JsSopYW6Vag?t=418

And the HUD puts the info outside where your eyes are. So you don't run over bikers, children or small underpowered cars. Any other questions?

He he it won't :P only R8 and RS models does that :)

Well we can argue about that to the end of the world.You like it I don't , I don't like BMW either even thought they er better drivers cars than Audie's so let's leave it there. Probably I will end up with VC anyway not becourse I like but becours most people like you love gadgets and car without VC will lose on value quicker but that's my problem.

[Dazman63]

If you don't mind me asking, which aircraft have you flown with EVS? I have only flown a gulfstream full motion G280 sim fitted with that tech (simulated, so not as mindblowing). I think I would probably be overwhelmed with joy using it in actual IMC :)

Audi's night vision assistant in the A6 and A8 is a very dumbed down inexpensive version of this, but it's something. For those curious, check out this short video on EVS from gulfstream:

https://youtu.be/qjsCpwHXxSM

Might not ever be critical enough for cars to have tech like that, but sure would be nice!

The EVS looks a lot like the airborne IR systems I've operated.