New Audi A4
- Evolutionary, slippery styling (0.23 saloon, 0.26 Avant)
- Lighter 15kg per bodyshell
- Choice of three headlight designs
- Saloon and Avant revealed at the same time, although saloon will be launched first in the UK
- Avant has 505-litre boot
- 24mm more headroom
- 23mm more rear legroom
- 2.0-litre TDi Ultra boasts 95g/km
THIS is it, the Audi designed to take the compact executive crown, from the recently launched Mercedes C-Class and the incoming face-lifted BMW 3-Series – the all-new sixth-generation A4.
It is due to make its international debut at the Frankfurt Motorshow in September, with the UK launch of the saloon scheduled soon after in October. Business Car Manager got a very early look at saloon and Avant estate versions of Audi’s new challenger last week in Germany and bring you all the highlights.
In what seems to be the Volkswagen Group way, both in saloon and Avant form, the exterior styling of the new A4 is evolution rather than revolution. Having said that, you can’t argue with the 0.23 and 0.26 drag coefficient figures for the new models, that Audi claim are benchmark for this class of car.
What’s even more impressive about the new A4’s design, is that if you remember the short-lived, but equally ground-breaking A2 supermini from 2001, it had a 0.25 drag coefficient figure – it just shows how far design has come in the last 14 years!
So we know the look for the new A4 is evolutionary, but slippery – but primarily it’s also 15 kilograms lighter and there are still some neat design touches over the current version.
Generally, the new A4’s exterior styling has a much more masculine look than the old model. Starting at the front, the single frame front grille has grown – it is now wider and lower, giving a straight line across the front of the car. There will be a choice of grilles, the S-Line that we saw, being the most sporty – for now!
Audi has previously set a trend with its headlights and their use of LEDs and it looks like they’ll move the game on again with the new A4. This time around, it’s a winged signature, that’s supposed to emphasise the new car’s character and we understand it will be rolled out to other new Audi models, such as the next A5. Xenons are standard, with LED and Matrix LED headlights available as options. Audi’s clever sweeping indicators also feature and the winged signature carries on to the rear lights too.
