New Audi A4: The Official Release

Motoring Channel Staff - 28/August/2007

Ingolstadt, Germany — Update: Scheduled to arrive in Australia in April 2008, with it's international market launch occurring in November 2007, Audi has confirmed that the new model will be on display at the 2007 Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Sydney.

It's first official showing was at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, where it's unveiling was accompanied by none other than Canadian rock legend Bryan Adams.

The new model is longer and wider, with totally new body work, six airbags as standard on all models, an electronic park brake, and a clever new adaptive drive system. As mentioned in the 'leak' article, the new Audi A4 gets a new set of headlights that tie in closely with the German automaker's current hero car, the mid-engined Audi R8. 

Where the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has tried an all-new design that has polarized opinion, Audi seems to have approached one of its best-sellers with more respect to past models, retaining clear visual links.

On the back of a surge in sales both in Australia and globally, Audi isn't slowing down for anyone and the new A4 benefits from increased levels of research and development.

Audi released its official statement that reads "...this latest generation Audi A4 is new from the ground up and will take up the mantle of sportiest saloon in the midsize category".

Audi Australia hasn't confirmed local pricing or specification, but in Germany prices will start at €26,000 (A$43,000). Joerg Hofmann, Audi Australia's managing director, said the new model will continue to grow the brand, offering style, luxury, and positive driving dynamics.

He said: "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. We expect the arrival of this new model to continue the exceptional growth to-date of Audi in Australia."

All 2008 model Audi A4's will be fitted as standard with direct fuel injection engines, both petrol and diesel, and the Germany marque is spruiking the cars driving dynamics, saying "The new Audi is a new way to drive".

Initially five engines will be offered with the new Audi A4, ranging from 105kW (143hp) to 195kW (265hp), and the new model will be offered with 'Audi drive select'. This feature ties the engine, automatic transmission, steering and suspension damping characteristics "to suit the driver's preferences at any given moment" says the German automaker. Adaptive steering, electronic suspension damping, gear change points, and throttle response will all combine to create a more involved drive claims Audi.

Audi drive select has three modes, comfort, auto or dynamic, which are chosen via switches on the centre console. However, if the car is equipped with the MMI control system, a fourth custom mode is also accessible, which allows users to tweak the system through 24 configurable settings.

The new design may look similar to the previous A4, but don't be fooled. The body panels are completely new, and the car is now almost 12cm longer and more than 5cm wider than the current model, with a substantially shorter front overhang that provides for a more dynamic stance (the front axle has been moved forward by 154mm). 

The body shell is also about 10% lighter than before, with the new Audi A4 1.8 TFSI weighing 1,410kg.

Together with all-new body panels, the 2008 Audi A4 also features new look head and tail lamps. If xenon headlights are specified, the daytime driving lights are made up of 14 white light-emitting diodes, giving the car a futuristic appearance. New look brake lights also feature prominently at the rear of the car. 

The sporty S line exterior package will return too, and options for the new models will include things like a rear parking camera, a lane departure warning system, and radar-based cruise control.

The Audi A4's ESP has been updated to add steering input to avoid losing control. "If the A4 threatens to oversteer, for instance after an abrupt
avoidance manoeuvre, the steering performs slight corrective impulses in the direction needed to reduce this tendency. Such corrective action takes place faster than even an experienced rally driver could react," reads the Audi document.

Audi will offer the 2008 A4 in both quattro (AWD) and front-wheel drive guises with a range of gearbox options, including 6-speed speed automatic (tiptronic), 6-speed manual, and multitronic (CVT) transmissions. The five engine types, two petrol, three diesel, are as follows:

Petrol:

• 1.8 TFSI: 118kW (160hp), 250Nm
  0-100km/h in 8.6 secs, 225km/h top speed
  7.1L/100km fuel consumption

• 3.2 FSI: 195kW (265hp), 330Nm
  0-100km/h in 6.2 secs, 250km/h top speed
  9.2L/100km fuel consumption

Diesel:

• 2.0 TDI: 105kW (143hp), 320Nm
  0-100km/h in 9.4 secs, 215km/h top speed
  5.5L/100km fuel consumption

• 2.7 TDI: 140kW (190 hp), 400Nm
  0-100km/h in 7.7 secs, 226km/h top speed
  6.6L/100km fuel consumption

• 3.0 TDI: 176kW (240hp), 500Nm
  0-100km/h in 6.1 secs, 250km/h top speed
  6.9L/100km fuel consumption

Previous Story: The new Audi A4 has been leaked, which gets a new set of headlights that tie in closely with the German automaker's current hero car, the mid-engined Audi R8. Where the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has tried an all-new design that has polarized opinion, Audi seems to have approached one of its best-sellers with more respect to past models, retaining clear visual links.

Just one photo of the new A4 has been leaked, and there is some conjecture in this office about so-called 'leaks', and whether or not they could be precisely timed media releases in disguise. We're beginning to think that a Web Wombat/Motoring Channel Forum would be very useful.

Very little is known about the new A4 models, and if our theory about precisely timed 'leaks' are correct, we may see the official press release in a couple of days, accompanied by many more photos.

We do know that the basic engine line-up won't be hugely different, but there will be a 1.8-litre TFSI engine outputting about 120kW (160hp). The 3.2-litre V6 FSI will return for active duty, as will 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre turbo diesels, 4- and 6-cylinder layouts respectively.

As well as the updated headlights, we can expect new brake lights, improved standard features such as 6 airbags standard on all models, and revised interiors with new materials and design cues.

Stay tuned for more on the new Audi A4.

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- Audi RS 4 (Road Test)
- Audi Cross Coupé quattro (2007)
- Audi A5 (2007)
- Audi S8 (Road Test)
- Audi R8 (2007)
- Audi Q7 V12 (2007)
- Audi S6 (2007)