First look: Fwoar, it's Audi's new A4!

AUDI’S redesigned A4 has officially broken cover after images of it were bandied around on the internet this week, and Australia’s fastest growing luxury brand has announced it will debut locally at the Sydney motor show on October 11.

As both Audi's volume-selling model and the most eagerly anticipated new Audi in recent years, the all-new A4 represents the German maker’s most serious attempt yet to further erode the dominance of BMW 3 Series in the mid-sized luxury car market.

Set for its global public premiere at the Frankfurt motor show on September 11 and its Australian debut a month later, the new A4 goes on sale in Europe from late November as is earmarked for local release in April 2008.

A resurgent Audi boldly claims the new model, which is based on an all-new platform that also underpins the A5/S5 coupe twins due on sale here in October, will not only be the best-handling A4 ever, but “will take up the mantle of sportiest saloon in the midsize category”.

In line with current pricing policy that undercuts both the 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz’s new C-class sedan, which was launched last month with lower entry-level pricing, the new A4 sedan is not expected to increase significantly in price over the current model, which opens at $47,300.



The next A4 is longer overall at 4.7 metres (a substantial 180mm longer than the 3 Series and 120mm longer than the C-class), but a direct result of placing the steering rack behind the front axle, rather than ahead of it as before (an arrangement that was targeted as the culprit for the A4’s Achilles heel: rattly, lifeless steering) is a drastically reduced front overhang.

Audi says that a trading of places between the front differential and the clutch (or torque converter, in automatic versions) has allowed the front axle to be moved forward by no less than 154mm. According to Audi, this and the fact most front suspension components are now aluminium, “ensures ideal axle-load distribution”, which is now presumably closer to BMW’s claimed 50/50 front/rear weight split. The A4’s wheelbase is now 48mm longer than that of its two most direct rivals, delivering a claimed 20mm of extra interior length and 36mm more legroom than before, as well as greater head and shoulder room. A longer bonnet and wheelbase maintain the front-wheel and all-wheel drive A4’s now familiarly stylish profile, but a more aggressive wheel-at-each-corner stance and sportier body cladding provide a new level of aesthetic agility, and an aerodynamic drag co-efficient of 0.27Cd.

New technology includes Audi drive select, which varies the engine, automatic transmission, steering and suspension damping characteristics, while the Audi dynamic steering system is a vehicle speed-dependent variable-ratio steering system.

Twin front, front side and side curtain airbags (for a total of six) will be standard across the range, with rear side airbags to be available as an option.

Australian engine options and specifications won’t be revealed until closer to launch, but expect the new model to continue to offer petrol and diesel power, with all engines featuring direct fuel-injection.

Five engines will be available in Europe, ranging from a 105kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel to a 195kW/330Nm 3.2-litre petrol V6 for the A3 3.2 FSI flagship, which claims 0-100km/h acceleration in 6.2 seconds.

In between, the A4 3.0 TDI even faster at 6.1 seconds and is powered by a 176kW/500Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6. The entry-level A4 will once again be powered by a 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, this time offering 118kW/250Nm, although the 140kW/400Nm 2.7-litre turbo-diesel option is unlikely to be sold here.

They will be mated to either six-speed manual, six-speed Tiptronic automatic or eight-speed Multitronic continuously variable transmissions, and the A4 will continue to be available in front-wheel (1.8T, 2.0 TDI and 2.7 TDI) and Quattro all-wheel drive (3.2 FSI and 3.0 TDI) configurations, with the latter claimed to have been “subjected to intensive development work that has made its performance even more dynamic”. “The all new A4 will be a great addition to our range. It offers a superb combination of stylish design, sophisticated technology, precise balance and handling and of course it will offer an excellent alternative for luxury car buyers when it arrives here next year,” said Audi Australia managing director Joerg Hofmann.

“We expect the arrival of this new model to continue the exceptional growth to-date of Audi in Australia.”