The Audi A4 gets a brand-new face and minor but vital tweaks as it gets ready to face the competition
There is constant action in the premium car segment and of late audi have been creating the most flutter. They launched the game-changing, compact sUV, Q3, recently and, prior to that, also raised the luxury bar with the all-new a8 and a6. the Mercedes-Benz c-class went under the scalpel a few months ago and the brand-new BMW 3 series will be launched in india within the next two months. all this has caused peer pressure on the audi a4, which was struggling with its mid-life crises.
It was about time the ingolstadt-based car-makers refreshed the a4. it’s not just the usual nip and tuck, but the sedan has now been laden with some new innovation that has improved the car in various areas, though the biggest change must be the external one. it now gets a strikingly different face from its predecessor. the large hexagonal grille hints at the a6 design, while the brilliant new headlights, inspired by the a5, are equipped with an LeD daytime running light strip. adding aggression to the front styling are the flared air ducts on the lower edge of the bumper. the side profile remains similar to the last generation car, though the tail-lights get the new-age audi design treatment and now feature a cluster of LeDs. although a lot has changed on the outside, the new a4 is still distinctly an audi.
The cabin quality and fit-and-finish of the a4 have been among the best in the segment. though these have been subtly upgraded, chances are that you might not notice them if in a hurry. audi have worked on the ergonomics and used some new material. For instance, the MMi infotainment system now has just four buttons, while the ignition start button, which was earlier on the far left of the centre console, has been integrated into the key-slot. there is generous use of chrome on most of the controls, the dashboard is of dual tone and you get an all-new, multifunctional steering wheel. it still retains the comfortable seats and the luxurious cabin space.
Powering the front wheels is a 1.8 tFsi petrol motor that works on a combination of economical direct injection and turbo-charging. the motor now gets a new turbo and has integrated the exhaust manifold into the cylinder head, which boosts power output by 12 Ps to 172 Ps and the torque by a stunning 70 nm to 320 nm. amazingly, the fuel efficiency has increased and the car now delivers 11.25 km per litre on average and the co2 emission has also come down.
The tfsi is mated to an eight-speed cvt Multitronic automatic transmission and is equipped with the start-stop system and energy recuperation as standard equipment. The car has become quick on its feet and can now do the 0-100 km/h run in 9.5 seconds, but it did lose a fraction of a second because of the CVT gearbox.
However, its long ratio on high gears reduces fuel consumption, while the short ratio in lower gears makes the drive more dynamic. The engineers have used new sound dampers and insulation, which make the cabin quieter than before. The engine itself has become more refined with low NVH levels, power delivery is nice and linear, while the steady low-end torque makes it very comfortable to drive.
Another notable mechanical change is the new electro-mechanical steering that not only replaces the old hydraulic kit, but, being electrically powered, also improves the engines efficiency.
Handling has always been the strength of modern Audis and the new A4 is no exception. The steering is light and offers decent feedback, which would make it ideal on busy Indian roads. The suspension set-up has also undergone some fine-tuning as the arrangement of the rear trailing arms and the shock-absorbers have been re-tuned and now offer more comfortable and plush ride.
The A4 has become very comfortable and can soak up harsh bumps without unsettling, but the soft ride quality eats into its sporty character. Slot the gear selector into the ‘Sports’ mode and the suspension set-up stiffens up and the gearbox makes the motor sing a more sporty tune. Being a front-wheel drive the ESP with electronic limited slip differential wipes off the faintest of torque steer and keeps the car in control during dynamic driving and sharp turns.
The new A4 is not only a good car to drive, but a great car to be chauffeured in. It is second to none in its segment in terms of equipment, quality, fit-and-finish, is powerful yet relatively economical and now looks fresh and more appealing than ever before. It remains a good bargain at Rs 33.72 lakh (OTR, Pune).
Story: Sarmad Kadiri
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
