The summer days are fast approaching, and Audi have unleashed details of its new A4 cabriolet, with fresh styling and a host of fresh features, including three engines…
The summer days are fast approaching, and Audi have unleashed details of its new A4 cabriolet, with fresh styling and a host of fresh features, including three engines…
With its clean and uncluttered styling bearing the Audi hallmark along with the large single-frame grille, the new A4 cabriolet will be launched with four engines.
Three of these engines will be offered on the Audi A4 Cabriolet for the very first time, representing FSI, turbo FSI, and TDI technology already tested in the A4, A6 and A8 saloons.
Other than a comprehensive range of occupant protection systems, including two stage front and side airbags, and the latest version of ESP, features specific to the cabriolet include improved side impact protection and an active roll-over protection system with two bars raised behind the rear seats.
Very importantly, the A4 cabriolet uses a fully automatic, electro-hydraulic roof that can be operated at speeds up to 30 km/h. Well insulated and using a glass rear window, Audi promises a car with saloon-like noise levels, though by using fabrics with an even greater material density, an optional acoustic hood can be ordered for reduced noise levels. And the cavernous 315 dm3 luggage space is reduced to a still-healthy 246 dm3 with the roof down.
However, the car’s most noticeable characteristic is its single-frame grille and new headlights to bring it in line with the rest of its siblings. Taut shoulder lines extend to the rear end, which is distinguished by new lights with a clear glass look. A new rear spoiler hints at the car’s sporting tendencies.
To complement the car’s exterior look, the cabin gets a new steering wheel with a trapezoidal, grill-inspired hub. Keeping with modern trends, the interior is peppered with aluminium inserts, which can be substituted with a range of fine wood finishes for the more conservative buyer.
However, these additions and features are merely perfunctory when compared with the promised shooting power now offered with two modern FSI petrol engines and a cutting edge TDI turbodiesel engine.
According to Audi, the flagship 3,2 FSI V6 produces 188 kW and 330 N.m of torque to propel the car from zero-to-100 km/h in 6,8 seconds, and on to a top end governed to 250 km/h.
The turbocharged 147 kW 2,0 TFSI, seen in sister company Volkswagen’s Golf 5 GTI and most recently in the A3 range, produces a healthy 280 N.m of torque to deliver a zero-to-100 km/h sprint time of 7,9 seconds, and a top speed of 238 km/h.
The TDI uses a six-cylinder 3,0-litre V6 with common rail technology and piezo injectors to deliver 171 kW and peak torque of 450 N.m available between 1 400 and 3 150 r/min.
With the turbodiesel, the A4 cabriolet races from standstill to 100 km/h in 7,3 seconds and has a top speed of 242 km/h.
The new engines will be accompanied by the existing 120 kW 1,8T powerplant.
Customers can choose from either the five- or six-speed manual gearboxes, six-speed tiptronic (for quattro models) or continuously variable multitronic to drive the front wheels or all four wheels, where equipped with quattro permanent all-wheel drive.
Dynamically, the car uses a four-link front and self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension borrowed from the new A6 and S4, but completely modified for the A4 cabriolet. Extensive changes have been made to the elastokinematics and the spring and shock absorber settings to deliver a more absorbing driving experience, while stopping power has been enhanced with brakes tweaked to suit the promised power of the engines. The steering has also been adjusted to give the driver greater control and more feedback from the road.
Equipment levels befit the luxurious cabriolet with its electronic roof mechanism, automatic air conditioning and sophisticated safety systems including inertia-reel seatbelts with pretensioners and belt-force limiters, and airbags.
Optional features include xenon headlights with an active cornering function, light/rain sensors to activate the headlights and windscreen wipers when necessary, and a heated glass rear window with a time switch.
The DVD navigation system with its MMI operating logic is similar to the system seen on the A8 and A6 saloons and Audi boasts user-friendliness and ergonomics unmatched by rival systems.