Nothing basic about new A4

21:46, Dec 14 2011 First Drive - Audi A4 by Bruce Booth, drivingforce.uk.net

IT doesn’t seem more than a few months back since Audi introduced the seventh-generation model of its highly-successful compact executive express. The star performer of the premier saloon segment and Audi’s standard-bearing model with sales pushing towards 10 million in various guises since it first appeared as the Audi 80 nearly 40 years ago, what has evolved into the A4 range is about to get even better. For next March sees the arrival of new models which, on the outside, have taken on a sharper edge thanks to a new bonnet, grille, bumpers, headlamps and tail lights. While these exterior tweaks are aimed solely at keeping the A4 looking fresh, major changes have been reserved for the chassis, suspension and engines, so the car rides and handles better especially while cornering at high speed, while emissions have been cut and fuel consumption also reduced. Audi has earmarked no fewer than nine engines for the new A4 – six common rail TDI diesels and three TFSI petrol units. However, it will be one of the four two-litre, front-wheel-drive oil-burning machines that will be the choice of the masses, if not just for their 60-plus mpg combined fuel consumption figures when mated to the standard six-speed manual gearbox. Four-wheel-drive quattro and multitronic automatic gearbox models just miss out on hitting this magical figure, but are still good for consumption figures up in the mid 50s With two-litre TDI power outputs of 136PS, 143PS, 163PS and 177PS, even the lead-in model, priced at £26,555 in SE trim, makes a great purchase with it refined overall performance, superb driveability, decent acceleration and sharp handling. The TDIe 136 engine carries over from the outgoing A4, but changes to the flywheel makes for smoother engine running throughout the rev range. Audi has also introduced a new electromechanical power steering system which gives a more precise response while on the move. It also eliminates the need to draw on engine power while moving in a straight line, thus improving fuel economy and reducing emission. Engine stop/start and recuperation technology have also been fitted as standard throughout the new A4 range, boosting economy figures even further. For the TDIe 136 model, this means emissions drop to 112g/km while fuel economy is now 65.7mpg. Audi has always produced top-quality interiors and the new A4 carries on that tradition. Switchgear, plastics and fabrics are typically Audi and it’s great to see there has been no skimping in quality in order to save a little here or a little there. Equipment-wise, the new Audi ticks all the right boxes and with SE trim leading the charge – followed by SE Technik, S Line and Black Edition – there’s nothing basic about the A4. The high equipment level includes 17-inch alloy wheels, 10-speaker CD sound system, part-leather upholstery, cruise control, ESP, climate control, electric windows and rear parking sensors. However, owners can also personalise their new car with a host of optional comfort and hi-tech safety features. These include adaptive lighting where the headlights follow the movement of the steering wheel, a lane-departure system, adaptive cruise control which brakes the car if it gets too close to the vehicle in front, blind spot warning and a highly-refined MMI navigation plus infotainment programme mated to a seven-inch, high-definition screen. The system uses 3D mapping from Google Earth which offers a bird’s-eye view of the area in which the vehicle is situated while the chosen route is then projected over the map. The programme can also be set up to provide a WiFi hotspot within the vehicle, capable of connecting up to eight individual devices simultaneously to the internet, allowing passengers to surf the net, chat on Facebook or send and receive emails while on the move. Audi also offer a servicing and maintainance package. For a one-off fee or for £32 per month, it covers all servicing and maintenance for three years, including the first MOT, and extends the warranty to five years or 90,000 miles.