Audi A4 reviewed

Wheels-on with Abel Zhakata
IN recent weeks we reviewed the Mercedes-Benz C class range and the BMW 3 series with the aim of comparing these automobiles. This week we are going to talk about the Audi A4 which is in the same category with these two.These are three competing makes that are always at each other’s throats in terms of unveiling new power plants and complementing accessories.

The Audi A4 is a line of compact executive cars 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 the Volkswagen Group MLB platform shared with many other Audi models and potentially one Porsche model within Volkswagen Group.

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, but the B8 version of the convertible became a variant of the Audi A5 instead as Audi got back into the compact executive coupé segment.

The first generation Audi A4 debuted in October 1994, with production starting November 1994 and European sales commencing in January 1995 for the 1995 model year.

North American sales later began in September 1995 for the 1996 model year. 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) was introduced in November 1995 and went on sale in February 1996.

Development began in 1988, with the first design sketches being created later that year. By 1991, an exterior design by Imre Hasanic was chosen and frozen for November 1994 production by 1992. The interior design was later finalised in 1992, with pilot production commencing in the first half of 1994. Development concluded in the third quarter of 1994, preceding November 1994 start of production.

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.

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 line-up. 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.

A further facelift took place across the A4 and S4 platform in February 1999 as a 1999.5 model; changes were largely cosmetic, but affected many components, such as both front and rear bumpers, the front and rear lights, the centre console, and door handles.

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

The next A4, internally designated Typ 8E, debuted on October 10, 2000, now riding on the Volkswagen Group B6 (PL46) platform. The car’s new styling (by Peter Schreyer in 1997) was a great success, inspired by the C5 (second-generation) Audi A6 introduced in 1997. The 1.6 litre base model powerplant remained unchanged, but most other petrol/petrol 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 1.6 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 consisted 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 was introduced in June 2001.

For 2002, Audi increased 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, both available with four wheel drive 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 2000. It included an electro-hydraulic operated roof, which lowered in under 30 seconds and incorporated some styling changes, such as body-coloured lower bumper and sill panels, which later found their way to the saloon version.

Audi 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 was made from highly durable metals and utilised a very high grade, purpose-designed fully synthetic lubricant.

However, there have been widespread complaints from consumers around the world that the transmission box is prone to electronic glitches as well as mechanical problems.

Borrowing from the Audi A6, the boot was redesigned to remove the extension of the top edge with a smoother fold line.

The rear light assemblies now formed part of the top line.