Audi unveils facelifted A4 range 27 | 10 | 2011
SCOTLAND'S AUDI DEALERSHIPS are preparing to receive the new facelifted version of the best-selling A4. Due to arrive in three months, with first deliveries due in January, the styling tweaks will further ensure the A4 remains one of the Ingolstadt marque's strongest sellers.
Set to go head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz C-class and the sixth-generation BMW 3-series, the facelifted model will be available in saloon, Avant, Allroad quattro and S4 forms.
The stunning S4 (pictured) now delivers an improved package: 0-62mph in just 5.0sec, an electronically-restricted top speed of 155mph, plus a combined average fuel consumption of 39.3mpg.
The comprehensive reworking of the A4 range delivers a number of detailed styling changes, plus a revised range of petrol and diesel engines.
See more official photos of the facelifted Audi A4
Inside the car there's an increased perception of quality and a greater ease of use. Higher quality dashboard and centre console trim, detailed design changes to the switchgear and a new selection of steering wheel designs are all noticeable. Improvements have also been made to the optional MMI (multi media interface) ‘navigation plus’ system, which now features four instead of eight buttons.
The exterior of the facelifted A4 displays a number of subtle design tweaks. At the front there's a more curvaceous headlamp assembly with reworked LED running lamps; these now appear as a continuous band. Optional Xenon main beam projectors are also available.
There's also a new six-corner single-frame grille – which is painted grey on four-cylinder models and black on six-cylinders – plus greater contouring to the bonnet. The front bumper, which contains trapezoidal-shaped foglamps, has also been re-profiled.
Step round to the rear and you'll see new tail lamps with altered LED graphics, plus a new bumper housing a more prominent valance panel with twin chrome tailpipes.
Audi also claims the facelifted versions are up to 11% more economical than its predecessor. That's due to a combination of automatic stop/stop, brake energy recuperation, ancillary components that only draw energy when required, and a new electro-mechanical steering system.
Read our roadtest of the Audi RS3
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on all front-wheel drive models, and options include Audi’s Multitronic, continuously variable transmission. A seven-speed double clutch unit, the S-tronic, is also available, but not in combination with all engines.
And those engines across the A4 range have also come in for a revamp. Audi has modified the best-selling 2.0-litre four-cylinder common rail TDI engine , which comes in five different power outputs — 118bhp, 134bhp, 141bhp, 161bhp and 175bhp.
The most economical diesel in the range is the 134bhp version, returning 67.3mph and CO2 emissions of just 112g/km. Just for good measure, there's two 3.0-litre six-cylinder TDI units — 204bhp and 245bhp.
The star petrol performer is a new 1.8-litre four-cylinder TFSI. Recently introduced into the A5 Sportback, it delivers 170bhp – up 10bhp on its predecessor — and return 50.4mpg and 134g/km of CO2, an improvement of 19%.
There's also an entry-level 118bhp 1.8-litre unit, plus a 211bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI . At the top of the scale is the monstrous 3.0-litre, 328bhp supercharged V6 squeezed ion the four-wheel-drive S4.
Audi's acclaimed quattro four-wheel drive is available from the 175bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder TDI engine upwards. For added traction, it adopts a sports differential with torque vectoring in the more powerful V6 versions.
Audi launches entry-level TT
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill