The new car is larger than its predecessor and gets a line-up of upgraded engines.
Audi has lifted the veil off of the fifth generation of its A4 prior to its global debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September this year. The new car gets revised styling inside and out and is larger, lighter and more efficient than the outgoing model.
In regards to the styling, the main changes include a wider single-frame grille, newly shaped headlights with restyled LED DRLs, clamshell-style bonnet along with larger wheelhouses, a flatter roof and more prominent shoulder with a deep swage line running the length of the flanks. It also gets new sharp tail-lights which are a take on Audi’s traditional LED graphics.
In the department of physical size, the new car at 4,726mm long, 1,842mm wide and 1,427mm high is 25mm longer and 16mm wider than its predecessor while the height remains unchanged. Also increased is the wheelbase of the new car which is now larger by 12mm. The increase in size has been met with a decrease in weight with the new car undercutting the old model by 150kg.
Inside, the new car gets a roomier interior with an additional 24mm of headroom, 11mm more shoulder room up front and a 23mm increase in rear legroom. The car’s seats have also been re-designed to reduce weight.
In terms of features, the new car gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, an 8.3-inch monitor, inductive mobile phone charging pad, sensor control opening for the boot, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, tablet-based rear-seat entertainment and Audi’s latest MMI system with LTE network. Sadly we can’t what will make its way to the India spec car.
Under the hood, the new Audi gets a range of turbo-petrol and diesel engines ranging from four to six cylinders. The current 1.8-litre TFSI motor is replaced by a 1.4-litre TFSI motor pumping out 148bhp. The 2.0-litre TFSI has been reworked and is available with outputs at 187bhp and 248bhp.
For the diesel motors, the 2.0-litre TDI engine is now EURO 6 compliant and comes in two states of tunes – 148bhp and 187bhp. The car also gets a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with power output rated at either 218bhp or 272bhp. The car is offered in front wheel drive only save for the top spec V6 diesel that gets all-wheel drive.
The four-cylinder motors are offered with a six-speed manual gearbox that uses magnesium and hollow shafts amongst other things to reduce overall weight. The Multitronic automatic gearbox is replaced by a seven-speed double-clutch automatic gearbox for the lower powered V6 and an eight speed automatic on the top spec V6.
The car makes its debut at Frankfurt this year before going on sale internationally.
Source: Autocar India