Audi reveals new A4
Making its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the new A4 is built on the latest version of Audi’s MLB platform and brings slightly larger dimensions of 4.73m long and with a wheelbase of 2.82m in saloon guise.
Boot space has also increased and brings 505 litres – said to be class leading – for the Avant rising to 1,510 litres with the rear seats folded down and loaded to the roof. The electric luggage compartment cover and electric tailgate are standard equipment. An optional extra is sensor control for opening and closing the tailgate.
Despite its larger dimensions the model’s weight has been reduced significantly – by up to 120kg depending on the engine – thanks to its lightweight construction.
The new Audi A4 and A4 Avant will launch with seven engines – three TFSI and four TDI – with fuel economy improved by up to 21% whilst CO2 dips below 100g/km in the 2.0 TDI ultra Saloon.
Petrol models include the 2.0 TFSI ultra with 190hp, which uses an absolutely new combustion method that makes it especially efficient. A g-tron version that can use natural gas or the sustainably produced Audi e-gas as fuel will follow later in markets with the appropriate infrastructure.
The powertrain and the chassis of the new Audi A4 and A4 Avant have been completely redeveloped. The six-speed manual transmission, the seven-speed S tronic (now also available for front-wheel drive) and the eight-speed tiptronic have been redesigned; the automatic transmissions now offer a fuel-saving freewheeling function. Wheel-selective torque control supplements the work of the front-wheel drive and the quattro drive. For the most powerful TDI, Audi will offer the sport differential on the rear axle as an option from 2016.
The A4 also brings redeveloped five-link axles and electromechanical power steering as well as optional dynamic steering with two settings: sports or comfort. Both of the suspension settings are included in the Audi drive select driving-dynamics system, which is standard equipment in the UK.
Standard kit builds on the previous model and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, the Audi smartphone interface, keyless go, a Bluetooth interface, Audi drive select, a 7-inch MMI colour display and three-zone climate control.
New technologies include the latest Audi MMI display and control concept as well as the Audi virtual cockpit, the Audi Matrix LED headlights, the Audi smartphone interface, the Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D sound, the Audi phone box with wireless charging, the head-up display, and new driver assistance systems and Audi connect services.
Driver assistance systems include the predictive efficiency assistant to help drivers to save fuel, Audi active lane assist and Stop&Go adaptive cruise control. One special feature of traffic-jam assist is its control strategy. Also available are parking assist, rear cross-traffic assist, exit warning, collision avoidance assist, turn assist and the Audi pre-sense systems, along with camera-based traffic-sign recognition.
The two new Audi A4 models will be available to order in the UK later this summer – deliveries of the saloon will begin towards the end of the year and the Avant will follow in early 2016.
Natalie Middleton
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
