The order books for the freshly facelifted Audi A4 saloon, Avant and allroad models are now open with the range kicking off at £25,240 for the 168bhp 1.8-litre TFSI model. However this will be supplanted by a lower powered variant in early 2012 that will carry a sub £24,000 price tag. This represents a £200 premium over the outgoing car, which Audi accounts for with significant styling enhancements and efficiency gains. With a CO
2 output of 134g/km the new 168bhp model is some 21 percent more efficient than the model of old despite gaining 10bhp and 73lb.ft of torque.
The diesel engines are expected to be the biggest sellers of the A4 range with a quattro of four- and a duo of six-cylinder models on offer. The four-cylinder engines receive a fancy new flywheel that promises smoother running and more refinement at low revs. The big news though is in the six-pot camp where the 2.7-litre of old has been replaced by the 3.0-litre, 200bhp unit first seen in the A6 and A7 Sportback range. Despite the power increase the engine is still said to return an impressive 57.6mpg in front-wheel drive versions. The efficiency improvements have been achieved by fitting stop-start and energy recuperation systems across the entire range. These are complemented by a new 'efficiency' mode in the adaptive dynamics system.
The SE, SE Technik, S line and Black Edition specifications have been retained with the entry-level SE model including 17-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth mobile phone preparation. An extra £1,100 adds the Milano leather upholstery, DVD-based satellite navigation and the Audi Parking System Plus with front and rear sensors and visual and acoustic guidance to the SE Technik.
S line specification includes larger 18-inch alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension, S line exterior and interior styling enhancements and xenon headlamps, while the Black Edition adds 19-inch titanium finish alloy wheels, DAB digital radio with a Bang & Olufsen audio system and the Audi Parking System Plus.
Paul Healy - 10 Nov 2011