By Ralph Morton
Normally Swedes are laid back, calm, and often exceptional at rallying. I can’t verify the latter, but I do know the former is true of Audi’s A4 product manager Hannah Fahlgren.
I caught up with Hannah at a launch event for the updated Audi A4 range, which goes on sale on the first of March. All 110 variants of them!
But I wondered if Hannah had thrown all her toys out of the pram when she found that the most fuel efficient Audi A4 in the updated range – the 2.0 TDIe 136ps model – had not quite matched the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics on CO2 (Audi 112g versus BMW 109g).
But no. Hannah was typically Swedish – cool and rational. “We do constantly push back at the factory to make them understand the importance of company car taxation on the business car market in the UK, and how closely CO2 is linked to taxation. So we’re very pleased to see an 11per cent reduction in CO2 emissions across the range.
“It’s what this mid-life refresh on the Audi A4 is all about. But we’ve achieved these reductions without it being noticeable to the driver or affecting the driver experience.”
That’s something which I can corroborate. I drove that 112g/km car expecting something slightly anaemic, but was really surprised by the mid-range power surge and the sportier driving experience. There’s little that’s sacrificed in the quest for greater efficiency – and the payback was 48.7mpg. Apparently one motoring scribbler managed over 55mpg, which I’m sure is achievable especially if you include long motorway runs.
However, one other aspect I didn’t understand was the reasoning behind two power outputs for the TDIe versions with differing CO2 levels. There’s the 136ps (112g/km) car I drove and a 163ps version (115g/km).
“The reason we have both is that some business car drivers prefer to trade a tax band up for the greater power,” Hannah explained.
“In fact some people have asked why we have so many 2.0 TDI engine options, and the reason is just choice. The bigger wheels of the S line trim, for example, can’t be accommodated within the low emissions of the ‘e’ grade.”
So what do you have if you want a diesel Audi A4 business car? Well, there’s the following (figures for manual versions with company car tax bands for 2012/13 tax years alongside ):
- A4 2.0 TDIe 136ps manual, 112g/km CO2, 16% company car tax
- A4 2.0 TDIe 163ps manual, 115g/km CO2, 17% company car tax
- A4 2.0 TDI 143ps manual and automatic, 119g/km CO2, 17% company car tax
- A4 2.0 TDI 177ps manual and automatic, 120g/km CO2, 18% company car tax
And if you are thinking of ordering a new Audi A4 as your next business car, then Hannah has a good tip. Sidestep the SE and go for the SE Technik. It’s been designed for business use, and for the £1100 upgrade price the spec includes leather, satnav, front and rear parking sensors plus the Audi Music Interface, which means you can plug in your iPod or MP3 player.
It’s worth it – you’ll miss those extra toys if you just plump for the SE model. And used car buyers expect that sort of specification.
You’ll save money in the long run, too, in terms of company car management. I drove with Richard Crosthwaite, Glass’s prestige car editor, whose job is to value cars like this. “The Technik will be worth between £1500-£2000 more at one year old, and £1200-£1500 more at three years. It’s a no brainer.”
So there you are. Be money efficient like the cars. The SE Technik it is. Which diesel is up to you.