The all-new Audi A4, based on the A5 platform, has arrived and sensibly, in these times of financial crises, the group is offering the smaller engines first: – a turbocharged petrol and a turbodiesel.By Peter Palm
The petrol engine sounds very familiar, and even exciting, as we all remember the first turbocharged 1,8 GTI Golfs. But the latest version has been rebuilt from scratch with the ever-evolving goal of cutting mass and improving efficiency. This one produces 118 kW at a low 4 500 r/min along with 250 N.m of torque at an equally low 1 500 to 4 500 r/min.
Unusually for a 1,8-litre, twin balance shafts make sure that everything is super smooth. The oil pump now delivers only as much pressure as is needed and the water-cooled Borg Warner K03 turbocharger has new geometry to spool up to maximum boost in only 1,2 seconds. The intercooler sits low down ahead of the radiator. New, six-hole injectors work at a higher, 150-bar pressure. Resultant fuel consumption shows a 13 per cent improvement over the previous engine.
The 2,0-litre TDI engine is tuned for torque, which is 320 N.m between 1 750 r/min and 2 500 r/min and tops out at 105 kW at 4 200 r/min. Eight-hole injectors handling 1 800 bars of highly atomized oil, and a variable vane turbine help to improve fuel consumption by eight per cent. Gearboxes are a choice of six-speed manual or multitronic (continuously variable) auto.
Styling, as we have mentioned previously, is evolutionary, with pleasing lines, an attractive lower crease line that rises towards the rear and an upper line that slopes gently, combining to a shape that should appeal to most. The car is visibly larger than its predecessor (120 mm longer and 50 mm wider) and definitely offers more interior space, especially in the rear seats, where legroom (up by 29 mm) is now sufficient to keep everyone happy. The boot is also larger, according to Audi, but a space saver spare is standard which will worry some customers. Although the new A4 is wider, the frontal area has been reduced, thus decreasing the drag coefficient to only 0,27 again helping fuel consumption. The highly distinctive curved LED light strips in the front headlamps is an option combined with the Xenon lighting (at R7 200 extra) but all models do come standard with a straight strip of globes for daytime running.
All models now feature a central screen, with a monochrome display for the Attraction models and a colour display for the more expensive Ambition versions. The Ambition models include a leather-clad steering wheel with multifunction controls and a slightly more upmarket sound system and cruise control as standard. From there on you have the usual extensive list of added cost features including a B&O audio system, wood trim, S-line kit , sports seats, larger (than 16-inch) wheels, navigation system, sun roof, lane change warning, rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitor.
The ride and handling of the new A4 are difficult to fault and the improvement can be felt in the driving experience. The steering that used to be too light before, now starts of light at parking speeds, but very soon stiffens to a spot-on weighting. This has been achieved by relocating the steering rack to just ahead of the front axle instead of the usual positioning of behind the axle. This allows a more direct link to the hubs. Available as an option is dynamic steering, which uses a variable ratio for quick response to input at lower speeds.
Also on offer is Audi drive select which changes damper settings that can be set via buttons on the facia to choose either comfort, dynamic or an automatic setting. We had the chance to try this system out, and it does work. We only got to drive the manual versions and both petrol and diesel versions are thouroughly enjoyable to drive, with light and quick cog-swopping, lively engines considering that these were the least powerful models that will be available. It is sometimes easy to stall the 2,0-litre diesel engine, but we had no trouble with this one, it pulls cleanly from low down once the turbo has picked up some speed. Sound deadening is also excellent and the diesel engine is hardly noticeable inside the car.
A gear change indicator informs you what gear you are in and also what gear the engine management system feels you should be in. It is small enough not to be an anoyance. Five-star euro NCAP status with front, side and curtain airbags take care of safety.
The big guns will be launched later in the year, kicking off with the 3,2-litre FSI Quattro Tiptronic in August 2008 and followed by the 132 kW petrol Turbo and 125 kW TDI models in October 2008. A five-year/100 000 km freeway plan is included.
Prices for the present line-up are as follows:
1,8 T FSI Attraction R269 000
1,8 T FSI Attraction Multitronic R284 000
1,8 T FSI Ambition R285 000
1,8 T FSI Ambition Multitronic R300 000
2,0 TDI Attraction R289 000
2,0 TDI Attraction Mutitronic R304 000
2,0 TDI Ambition R305 000
2,0 TDI Ambition Multitronic R320 000