By: Henrie Geyser

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Photos courtesy of motorpics.co.za click to enlarge

Launched to wide acclaim across the globe, the A4 is the pivotal model in Audi's product range and from the time it appears on the floors of local dealer showrooms halfway through June it is conservatively expected to eat into the opposition market at the rate of 600 a month or more.

Audi is currently riding a huge wave of awareness and popularity, not only overseas, but also locally, since the introduction of its sizzling R8 super sports car and the new A5 and S5 which are already selling better than expected.

There has been a dramatic swing in the brand's image in recent times, so much so that in a recent UK survey it was chosen the “coolest” car in its class. Now who would have said that a few years back?

And the A4 is undoubtedly one of the finest cars Audi has ever made. Its specifications and innovations are quite spectacular. It's got killer looks, handles like a blue-blooded sporty sedan and it's priced to give the bean counters of the other brands recurring nightmares.

In South Africa Audi is still the smallest of the Big Three when it comes to sales, but the margins are shrinking and just as the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class boosted the three-pointed star's sales for the past few months, so the A4 is going to set the Ingolstadt brand's after-burners alight.

BMW, meanwhile is quietly confident that it's most recent arrival, the 1-Series convertible, will help to boost its sales.

With the arrival of the A4 Audi is embarking on a full market onslaught with a barrage of model choices across three levels (Attraction, Ambition and Ambiente), petrol and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmission options, very attractive specifications and a wide choice of enticing optional extras for owners who want to personalize their vehicles.

Before we get into detail of the models and prices, just a quick tip to Audi salesmen - put a potential customer in a new A4, switch on the sound system and crank up the volume, because this is probably one of your main sales tools.

The quality of the sound from the 500-watt, 14 speaker Bang & Olufsen set-up is the best I have ever heard in any motor vehicle - and better than the sound systems most of us have in our own homes!

The first two A4's - the 1.8-litre FSI petrol-engined manual and multitronic models and the 2.0-litre TDI manual and multitronic versions - are being launched in June with the rest of the range following in the course of the year.

The complete A4 range with model types, prices and availability dates in South Africa, are as follows:

Petrol engines: 1.8T FSI manual Attraction, R269,000 (June 2008), 1.8T FSI manual Ambition, R285,000 (June 2008),1.8T FSI multitronic Attraction, R284,000 (June 2008), 1.8T FSI multitronic Ambition, R300,000 (June 2008), 2.0T FSI manual Ambition and 2.0T FSI manual Ambiente, prices to be confirmed (October 2008) and the 3.2 FSI quattro Tiptronic Ambiente, price to be confirmed, (August 2008).

Diesel engines: 2.0 TDI manual Attraction, R289,000 (June 2008), 2.0 TDI manual Ambition, R305,000 (June 2008), 2.0 TDI multitronic, R304,000 (June 2008), 2.0 TDI multitronic Ambition, R320,000 (June 2008), 2.0 TDI manual Ambition, price to be confirmed (October 2008), 3.0 TDI quattro Tiptronic Ambiente, TBC (October 2008).

When the A4 was introduced to the South African motoring media in the Southern Cape recently I had the opportunity to play with the 2.0-litre diesel with multitronic transmission and the 1.8-litre petrol model which also happened to have the multitronic shift.

Our launch drive included George, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn and other pretty little places tucked away at the end of mountain passes, but I am not going to go into further detail, just in case there was a uniform, a flask of coffee and a bag of sandwiches hiding behind a camera somewhere (and yes, we did spot you sitting next to your white Passat on the way into Oudtshoorn, catching criminals who commit the heinous crime of traveling faster than a dozy donkey at 60km/h!).

With so much to say about the new Audi it is extremely difficult to keep it short, but salient features that deserve highlighting include its sexy looks, executive build quality, the comfort, space, ambience and user-friendliness of the living quarters and the impeccable manners it displays when the whip is out and the corners are plenty.

To start off with, the new A4 is a completely new car and not just a revamped 2007 that has been sent on a muscle-building course and from there to the cosmetics department for a nip-and-a-tuck.

And what really makes it stand out is that you can change its nature completely with a flick of a button from comfortable cruiser to exciting sporty sedan with razor-sharp performance and handling.

The new A4 shows its true new colours when it comes to suspension, roadholding and steering.

Its driving dynamics have been vastly improved (much too technical and detailed to explain I all here) and involves shortening the front overhang of the car, lengthening the wheelbase, putting the diff in front of the clutch and relocating the steering box under the engine so that the steering force is applied much more directly, to make it more precise and adding considerably to the car's agility through the twisties.

Both the front and rear suspension set-ups have also been substantially tweaked to give the car much more stability, but the two real improvements come from what Audi describes as “the Audi drive select adaptive regulating system and Audi dynamic steering”.

The new drive select offers the choice of three pre-set driving modes, Comfort, Auto and Dynamic, even while driving.

The one thing that is quickly noticeable in the new A4 is that the suspension is considerably tauter than before, even in Comfort mode. There was some difference of opinion amongst our group of scribes - some liked it, others felt it was too harsh, particularly on some of the bumpier and more neglected stretches of our launch route.

The dynamic steering feature of the A4 is a whole new field for Audi. In essence it varies the effective steering ratio according to road speed and works in conjunction with the car's ESP electronic stabilization system.

Audi clever coats say it keeps the car stable by means of slight, extremely rapid steering movements or, simply put, it varies the steering effectiveness and feel according to conditions and the selected setting.

From the driver's seat there certainly is no hint of electronic interference, but the whole steering process is noticeably sharper to give the car a much more dynamic, sporty feel.

The other key component of the A4's improved handling and steering design is the continuous damping control shock absorbers which hardens or softens the ride, again according to which driving style mode has been chosen.

All of this might seem like information overkill when all you really want to know is that it clings to the tarmac and goes exactly where you point it. But then what will you have to brag about at the club on Friday after golf?

You can certainly tell your mates that the new A4 is lower, wider and longer than the previous model (and all others in its class) and that it has vastly improved leg and luggage space. And that it looks great, with its narrow headlights, broad front grille, flared wheel arches, big black air intakes and long, sloping bonnet.

Then you can get into the heart and soul of the A4, which lies under the bonnet.

All five new engines have direct fuel injection. The two petrol engines use FSI technology and the three TDI units are all common-rail.

All the four-cylinder engines are turbocharged and Audi says across the range they use nine percent less fuel than the previous models.

The 1.8T FSI model I drove is powered by a four-cylinder engine that develops 118kW and 250Nm and being a turbocharged direct-injection mill it will get to 225km/h and do the start to 100km/h in 8.6 seconds in manual mode.

Driven like an Oudtshoorn camera-operator-cum-revenue-collector's ideal person it will probably sip even less than the 7.1 litres per 100 kilometres that Audi claims.

We drove the version fitted with multitronic continuously variable transmission which also offers the choice of a changing up and down via paddles on the steering wheel.

The shifting process is seamless and amazingly smooth, with no hint of dip or lift, whether you flip-flap with your thumbs or leave it to do its own thing.

The 2.0-litre diesel model develops 105kW and 320Nm which is enough for a 0-100km/h sprint of 9.4 seconds and a top speed of 215km/h.

Audio says the six-speed manual version will deliver an average fuel consumption of 5.5 l/100km.

The specifications on all three levels of specifications are exceptional and more than you would expect, even from a car in this class.

Like all swish brands, the Audi's optional extras list is also a mile long, so if you want more than the usual automatic air conditioning, sound system, electronic mirrors and windows, daytime running lights, electrically heated and adjustable exterior mirrors, central locking with radio-operated remote control, variable-height front seats, an outside temperature display and illuminated vanity mirrors, 16-inch alloy wheels, isofix child fixtures six airbags and press-button boot lid opening, multi-functional steering wheel and leather upholstery, run your finger down the list, take your pick and whip out you cheque-book.

As with current Audi models, the S-line sports optional package will appeal to more enthusiastic drivers who like to enhance their vehicle's sporty looks and handling characteristics with add-ons such as sports suspension with firmer settings, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels, two exclusive body colours, Misano Red and Monza Silver and more exclusive types of leather for the cabin.

The A4 has been welcomed with much fan-fare all over the world and is destined to make a big impact locally.

BMW, Merc and Audi drivers are incredibly brand loyal, but in these days of escalating costs the A4 is an enticing option, not only to the blue propeller and three-pointed star brigade but also to the owners of Volvo, Jaguar and Lexus, to say nothing about owners of bigger model Audi's who are considering down-buying.

With rocketing fuel prices, sky-high interest rates and an economy that is unpredictable, we are living in interesting times - and the A4 is certainly going to liven it up even more.

[5 Jun 2008 17:07]

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