NEW STYLING AND TECHNOLOGY IN AUDI A4 UPGRADE

Audi A4 sedan

Audi A4 sedan

Audi has launched an updated version of its popular mid-sized A4. With over 75,000 local sales since it arrived in Australia 25 years ago the A4 sedan and its A5 hatchback sibling have long been the German manufacturer’s biggest seller here only dropping down the company’s sales chart as SUV alternatives grew in numbers.

We’ll look at the A4 here, and examine the Audi A5 models in a separate news story.

Across the range there have been design changes including some bodywork tweaks as well as a new grille and lighting. The single frame grille and the air intakes that flank it are both lower and wider. The side panels are all-new and provide a sleeker appearance with narrower C panels and a steeper rake to the rear roofline in the sedan.

Both A4 sedan and wagon variants are now 24 mm longer and 5 mm wider than their predecessors.

All models get stylish new LED headlights with LED daytime running lights atop them. There are 19-inch alloy wheels with differing styles according to the variant.

Also standard is contactless opening for the boot in all models with the Avants adding contactless closing for the rear door. A timely feature in these Covid-19 times.

Another clever feature is that the storage blind in the Avant’s boot closes automatically when the boot lid is closed or added security.

Audi A4 allroad

Audi A4 allroad

The Audi A4 allroad gets an extra 46 mm of ground clearance compared with the standard Avant as well as five vertical bars across the grille as are used in most of the Audi SUV range.

Boot space in the A4 sedans is 460 litres and 495 litres in the Avant and allroad.

Improvements in technology include a new infotainment system with touchscreen, AudiConnect Plus and a tenfold increase in computer power.

As before Audi A4 comes in three body styles: sedan, Avant station wagon and semi-SUV allroad quattro wagon. The latter is based on the Avant but with extra ground clearance, as well as added body and underbody protection.

There are six model variants: 35 TFSI sedan; 35 TFSI S line sedan; 45 TFSI quattro S line sedan; 45 TFSI quattro S line Avant; allroad 40 TDI quattro wagon; and allroad 45 TFSI quattro wagon. Prices range from $55,900 to $72,900 plus on-road costs.

The quattro tag is used by Audi to identify all-wheel drive. Both 35 TFSI models have front-wheel drive.

Audi A4 Avant

Audi A4 Avant

Power comes from a choice of three 2.0-litre engines, two petrol and one diesel. The 2.0-litre in the entry-level 35 TFSI sedan replaces the previous1.4-litre turbo and generates 110 kW and 270 Nm. The 45 TFSI is available in all three body types and produces 183 kW and 370 Nm while the 140 kW / 400 Nm 40 TDI diesel only comes in the allroad.

A significant improvement is the addition to both petrol engines of mild hybrid technology through a 12-volt lithium iron battery. We’re told reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.3 litres per 100 kilometres.

Fuel consumption is listed at 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the 35 TFSI models; 7.1 L/100km in the 45 TFSIs and 5.2 L/100km in the TDI.

Transmission in all variants is through Audi’s seven-speed S tronic automatic.

Standard safety features include eight airbags; autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection; active bonnet; hill hold; side assist lane; change warning; exit warning; rear cross traffic alert; parking sensors; driver inattention alert; reversing camera; pre-sense rear and tyre pressure warning.

Advanced features such as adaptive cruise control; active lane assist; Audi pre-sense front; collision avoidance assist; high beam assist; and turn assist can be added to the entry-level 35 TFSI within a $1900 Assistance Package.

These features plus head up display, park assist and a 360-degree camera are included in a $2900 Assistance Plus Package available with the higher-specced variants.

There are also a $2100 S line Interior Package is available in the 45 TFSI and allroad models and a $2900 Carbon and Black Package only in the 45 TFSI sedan.

Contact your local dealership with further details on these and a range of other individual options.

The outstanding Audi connect plus feature is standard. It uses a high-definition 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen provide a range of driving, infotainment and connectivity functions. The 3D satellite navigation system can be set either directly or through the myAudi app or Google maps traffic information. Features include online traffic and parking information, weather reports, fuel locations and prices and Google services.

Security and Assistance services include car finder, remote lock and unlock, emergency services contact and online road service assistance.

We’ve been able to test each of the Audi A4 variants and will report on our experience once the embargo expires next week.

MODEL RANGE
35 TFSI sedan: $55,900
35 TFSI S line sedan: $59,900
45 TFSI quattro S line: $68,900
45 Avant TFSI quattro S line: $71,400
allroad 40 TDI quattro: $69,900
allroad 45 TFSI quattro: $72,900
Note: These prices do not include dealer or government charges. Contact your local Audi dealer for drive-away prices.

About Alistair Kennedy

Alistair Kennedy is Automotive News Service and Marque Publishing's business manager and the company's jack-of-all-trades. An accountant by profession, he designs the Marque range of motoring book titles, operates the company's motoring bookshop on the NSW Central Coast and the associated web site, as well as its huge digital and hard copy database. Whenever we can escape from the office he does so to cover new vehicle releases and contributes news stories. Alistair's other interests include cricket and family history on which he has written three books.
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