A popular accusation against Audi is that the models did not change visually enough when there was a generation change. The A4, which has now been lifted halfway through its construction phase, is a small counter-reaction to it.
The lifted Audi A4 will go on sale in autumn with a significantly modernized look. The mid-size sedan, the station wagon and its rough road variant Allroad look like complete new editions, but the Ingolstadt-based company has only renovated the well-known model. Exceptionally comprehensive, however. There are also electrified drives and a diesel sports model. The prices start at 33.600 euros.
The reason for the maximally invasive intervention: The most important Ingolstadt series in terms of sales did not go as well as hoped for recently. The design looked a bit old-fashioned right from the start; in addition to the new Audi models A6 and A8, the younger brother recently looked almost dusty. For the facelift, there is now a new and sharper-cut wardrobe. Only the roof component, the trunk lid and the bonnet remained unchanged. An unusually strong intervention; In the regular model maintenance, the details are usually only refined and a new headlight may be fitted.
The A4 also has modified lights on its streamlined face. More important is the grille that has slipped further towards the street, which gives the front a sportier look. The lower shoulder line and the more striking modeled parts above the fenders also push the rest of the car onto the road. Overall, the sheet now spans the contours that have hardly changed in length, width and proportion. The Audi has not become another car, but it looks significantly more modern and present than last. For the first time, the new chief designer, Mark Lichte, created a hand - the old model had been designed before the start of his term. No wonder that the renewed A4 is now again on par with its larger brothers, who are from the Light Age.
The changes in the interior are also comparatively extensive. The predecessor's cockpit was finely crafted as usual, but it still came from the analogue era and has now taken the step into the digital age. Instead of using buttons and switches, the driver gives his instructions via a touch-sensitive screen that is mounted in front of the dashboard. In return, the rotary pushbutton in the center console is eliminated. Alternatively, it can be operated using the multifunction steering wheel or using a voice command - the system is said to have become significantly more understandable and, of course, understand spoken language at a level similar to that of its competitors Mercedes and BMW.
Audi is increasingly relying on electrical help for the engines. There are different concepts: The three 2,0-liter four-cylinder petrol engines available at the market launch (110 kW / 150 PS, 140 kW / 190 PS and 180 kW / 245 PS) are supported by a starter generator when starting and accelerating. The auxiliary engine draws its power from the conventional 12-volt electrical system. Shortly after the market launch, two 2,0-liter diesels with the same technology and 100 kW / 136 PS and 120 kW / 163 PS followed. There is more electric thrust in the S4, which gives the starter generator more power via a 48-volt on-board system and also supplies an electric compressor. Even more important: Audi is switching from gasoline to diesel in its sports model - for the first time in a sedan series. The 3,0-liter six-cylinder diesel delivers 255 kW / 347 hp. A petrol engine is only available on export markets. The drive range is completed by two non-electrified diesels: a 2,0 liter engine with 140 kW / 190 hp and a 170 kW / 231 hp 3,0 liter engine. For the power transmission - depending on the model to the front tires or all four wheels - automatic transmissions with seven or eight stages and a six-speed manual transmission are available.
The prices have not increased fundamentally compared to the previous model. The basic model of the sedan with front-wheel drive, manual transmission and a 110 kW / 150 hp petrol engine costs from 33.600 euros, the cheapest diesel (100 kW / 136 hp) is on the list at 38.900 euros.