Audi | Audi A4

About Audi A4:

The Audi A4 is a compact executive car produced since late 1994 by the German car manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.

The A4 has been built in four generations and is based on Volkswagen's B platform. The first generation A4 succeeded the Audi 80. The automaker's internal numbering treats the A4 as a continuation of the Audi 80 lineage, with the initial A4 designated as the B5-series, followed by the B6, B7, and the current B8. The B8 A4 is built on Audi's new MLB platform,which is currently exclusive to Audi and not shared by models outside the Audi brand, including any from VW.

The Audi A4 automobile layout consists of a longitudinally oriented engine at the front, with transaxle-type transmissions mounted at the rear of the engine. The cars are front-wheel drive, or on some models, "quattro" all-wheel drive.

The A4 is available as a saloon/sedan and estate/wagon. The second (B6) and third generations (B7) of the A4 also had a convertible version.

B5 (Typ 8D, 1994–2001):

The first generation Audi A4 (known internally as the Typ 8D) debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 (PL45) platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat (B5, Typ 3B). It had a front-mounted longitudinal engine and front-wheel drive. Many variations of the A4 were also available with Audi's quattro four-wheel drive system. The A4 was initially introduced as a four-door saloon/sedan; the Avant (estate/wagon) arrived a year later.

A wide range of internal combustion engines were available in European markets, between 1.6 and 2.8 litres for petrol engines; and a 1.9 litre diesel engine available with Volkswagen Group's VE technology, capable of achieving a 90 PS (66 kW; 89 bhp) or 110 PS (81 kW; 108 bhp), although Audi's 2.8 litre V6 engine, carried over from the old 80/90 was the only engine option in North America until 1997.

The Audi A4 was the first model in the Volkswagen Group to feature the new 1.8 litre 20v engine with five valves per cylinder, based on the unit Audi Sport had developed for their Supertouring race car. A turbocharged version produced 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) and 210 newton metres (155 lb·ft) torque. This technology was added to the V6 family of engines in 1996, starting with the 2.8 litre V6 30v, which now produced 193 PS (142 kW; 190 bhp).

Audi also debuted their new tiptronic automatic transmission on the B5 platform, based on the unit Porsche developed for their 964-generation 911. The transmission is a conventional automatic gearbox with a torque converter offering the driver fully automatic operation or manual selection of the gear ratios.

B5 facelift (1997–2001):

A refreshed B5 A4 range appeared at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in Europe in early 1998. The 2.8 litre 30-valve V6 engine replaced the 2.8 litre 12-valve. A 2.5 litre V6 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine with 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) was standard on the quattro. A six-speed manual gearbox was available, as well as the new high-performance Audi S4, now part of the A4 lineup (the previous S4 had been an Audi 100). Cosmetic updates included new rear lights, headlights, door handles, and other minor exterior/interior changes.

In mid 1998, the 1.8 20vT engine available outside Europe had its power output raised to 170 PS (125 kW; 168 bhp). The previous KKK K03 turbocharger, although fundamentally unchanged, received revisions on the turbine side to prevent cracking due to heat. The 12-valve V6 was replaced by the 30-valve unit which had been available in Europe for two years.

In 1999, Audi debuted an even higher performance RennSport model, the RS4 Avant, like its predecessor RS2, available only in the Avant bodystyle.

B5 safety:

In the Euro NCAP safety and crash tests, the Audi B5 A4 received 3 stars for front- and side-impact protection, but the last star is flagged to indicate that the driver may be subjected to a high risk of chest injury in the side impact.

B6 (Typ 8E/8H, 2000–2005):

An all-new A4, internally designated Typ 8E, debuted in late 2000, now riding on the all-new Volkswagen Group B6 (PL46) platform. The car's new styling was a great success, inspired by the C5 (second-generation) Audi A6. The 1.6 litre base model powerplant remained unchanged, but most other petrol/gasoline engines received either displacement increases, or power upgrades. The 1.8 litre 20-valve Turbo was now available in two additional versions, with 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) or 180 PS (132 kW; 178 bhp), this one with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, while the naturally aspirated 1.8 litre inline-four engine and 2.8 litre V6 were replaced by 2.0 litre, and all-aluminium alloy 3.0 litre units, still with five valves per cylinder, the most powerful of which was capable of 220 PS (162 kW; 217 bhp) and 300 newton metres (221 lb·ft) of torque. The 1.9 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) engine was upgraded to 130 PS (96 kW; 128 bhp), with Pumpe Düse (Unit Injector) (PD) technology, and was now available with quattro permanent four-wheel drive, while the 2.5 V6 TDI high-end model was introduced with 180 PS (132 kW; 178 bhp) and standard quattro. This generation of quattro consists of default of 50:50 front to rear dynamic torque distribution. A Bosch ESP 5.7 Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) system, with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), brake assist, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) were standard across the range.

The Avant arrived in mid 2001.

For 2002, Audi upgraded power in the 1.8 Turbo engines to 163 PS (120 kW; 161 bhp) and 190 PS (140 kW; 187 bhp) – the 190 PS variant designated by a red 'T' on the boot lid, with both available with quattro, and in the 2.5 TDI intermediate version to 163 PS (120 kW; 161 bhp). A 2.0 engine with Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) was also available. A year later, Audi reintroduced the S4, now powered by a 344 PS (253 kW; 339 bhp) 4.2 L V8 engine, as well as an A4 Cabriolet convertible variant (Typ 8H), finally replacing the 80-based Audi Cabriolet which had been discontinued in 1998. It included an electro-hydraulic operated roof, which lowered in under 30 seconds, and incorporated some styling changes which eventually found their way to the saloon version (such as body-coloured lower bumper and sill panels).

Audi also introduced a continuously variable transmission developed by LuK, named multitronic, which replaced the dated conventional automatic transmission on front-wheel drive models. The transmission won considerable praise from the automotive press, and is generally regarded as being the best of its type in the world, due to its light weight and promptness in response. This high strength chain driven CVT is made from highly durable metals and utilises a very high grade, purpose-designed fully synthetic lubricant.

Borrowing from the Audi A6, the boot was redesigned to remove the extension of the top edge with a smoother fold line, and the rear light assemblies now formed part of the top line, these styling cues were eventually borrowed by other European as well as Asian manufacturers.

An "ultra sport package" named 'Ultra Sport' was introduced in the North American market shortly before the B6 was replaced by the B7. It included aluminium interior trim and door sills, "S line" steering wheel, front and rear spoilers, side skirts, and quattro GmbH designed 18-inch RS4 alloy roadwheels.

B7 (Typ 8E/8H, 2005–2008):

Audi introduced a revised A4 in late 2004, with the internal designation of B7. However, this new range A4 still utilised the existing Volkswagen B6 (PL46) platform, a chassis derived from the outgoing B6, but enjoyed heavily revised steering settings, suspension geometry, new internal combustion engine ranges, navigation systems and chassis electronics (including a new advanced Bosch ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) system). The front grille assembly has changed to be a tall trapezoidal shape in the same manner as the C6 (third-generation) Audi A6.

Audi's internal platform nomenclature uses PL46 (passenger car longitudinal platform, size 4, generation 6) for both B6 and B7 chassis. The Typ 8E and Typ 8H internal designations are also carried over from the B6 A4 range, but now have an additional identifying suffix – 8EC for the saloon, 8ED for the Avant, and 8HE for the Cabriolet.

The engine lineup received many additions. The 2005 introduction of Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) on the 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 V6 FSI petrol/gasoline engines, as well as other refinements, increased power output to 200 PS (147 kW; 197 bhp) and 255 PS (188 kW; 252 bhp), respectively. These engines both implement a four-valve per cylinder design. The prior 5-valve design was incompatible with the FSI direct injection system (due to the siting of the fuel injector, now discharging directly into the combustion chamber). The 2.0 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine now combines Pumpe Düse (Unit Injector) (PD) technology with 16 valves for the first time, while the larger 2.5 TDI V6 diesel was superseded by a 3.0 V6 TDI, offering a 204 PS (150 kW; 201 bhp) model during the year 2005 which was upgraded to a 233 PS (171 kW; 230 bhp) model in 2006. A 2.7 V6 TDI was added later.

Torsen T-2 based quattro permanent four-wheel drive remained available on most A4 models. Audi retired its 5-speed manual transmissions in favour of a new Getrag 6-speed. As before, multitronic continuously variable transmission (CVT), now with selectable 'seven-speeds', is available on front-wheel drive models, whilst a conventional ZF 6HP 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission is available on the quattro four-wheel drive models.

In addition to the higher-performance Audi S4, which carried over the powertrain from the B6 S4 – Audi has reintroduced the ultra-high performance quattro GmbH developed Audi RS4 (RS for RennSport) to the lineup, for the first time on the saloon/sedan and Cabriolet body, and with a naturally aspirated, but high-revving 4.2 litre V8 FSI engine. Another notable inclusion on the RS4 is the latest generation Torsen T-3 quattro 4wd system, which uses a 'default' asymmetric 40:60 front-rear dynamic torque distribution bias. This new asymmetric centre differential was initially only available on the RS4, but was added a year later on the S4. The remainder of the B7 A4 range still utilised the T-2 50:50 default dynamic split centre diff.

A limited edition variant, developed by quattro GmbH, was first introduced in May 2005, named "Audi A4 DTM Edition". It was inspired from Audi's race cars of the 2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and was reintroduced in 2006 as a regular option. The 2.0T FSI engine received revised software mapping to the ECU, which increased the output to 220 PS (162 kW; 217 bhp) and 300 N·m (221 lb·ft) of torque. It was available with front-wheel drive, or quattro four-wheel drive.

The B7 Cabriolet model arrived later than the other two body variants, with sales beginning in February 2006. New on the Cabriolet was an entry-level 2.0 TDI version, but to date, this is not being offered with the multitronic CVT gearbox.

According to 2007 Swedish vehicle inspection data, the Audi A4 Avant with diesel engine is the most reliable vehicle available on the market, with vehicle inspection rejection rate of 0.0% in three year old category.[9] (Please note that although the Mitsubishi Galant estate, Volkswagen Touareg and Toyota HiAce Traveller share the rejection rate of 0.0%, A4's result is achieved with average mileage of over 111,000 kilometres (69,000 mi), while the average mileage for other cars achieving the 0.0% rejection rate is between 71,000 km (44,000 mi) and 77,000 km (48,000 mi).)

When its successor, the new B8 A4 range was introduced, the B7 series A4 was not destined for extinction – it was restyled and rebadged as the SEAT Exeo in 2008, with styling changes to the front and rear, also incorporating interior trim from the A4 Cabriolet. The entire Audi B7 A4 production line from Audis Ingolstadt plant was dismantled and sent to Volkswagen Group's related SEAT factory in Martorell, Spain]

B7 safety:

The Audi A4 offers many standard safety features, including Bosch ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), side airbags in the seats, 'sideguard' curtain airbags, and its optional quattro four-wheel drive system. It also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick For 2007". EuroNCAP crash test results from the B6 apply to the B7 model.

B8 (Typ 8K, 2008–present):

Audi released the first official pictures of the B8 series A4 in August 2007, and unveiled the car to the public at the September 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Saloon/sedan and Avant (estate/wagon) models are offered. The Avant was unveiled to the public at the March 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

Reception has been mixed, with praise for the Audi A4's increased size, giving it best-in-class rear legroom and trunk space in the compact executive car segment. Its inline-4 2.0 TFSI engine, while efficient providing plenty of torque, was considered lacking and less refined compared to 6-cylinder engines of lighter rivals who posted faster acceleration times. However, the Audi S4 sports sedan has been well-received for its V6 3.0 TFSI engine's power and efficiency.

Land speed record:

In 2009, Hohenester Sport announced its modified HS 650 Audi B7 A4 quattro had set a new world speed record of the fastest biogas-powered car of 364.6 km/h (226.6 mph) at the test track in Papenburg, Lower Saxony, driven by Jürgen Hohenester. The vehicle includes a 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 engine, with electronically limited 700 PS (515 kW; 690 bhp) rating.