A4/S4/RS4 [Official] Audi A4 (B9)

[Rainer271]

For me the exterior design is not really exciting, not to mention it's boring.
But the interior is very nice. I like this minimalist design.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I do indeed but the original point was about the info/nav screen not being retractable, Mick got confused and started talking about HUD's.

No. That is not what happened. When quoting Busty's post in which he was talking specifically about HUD not being able to be combined with retractable screens, you mistakingly read HUD as "HD" and completely misunderstood Busty's post. See below:

Have you seen the Q7 screen, it's retractable and is an HD display.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

It seems like the color of the ambient lighting around the door handle is in blue while the lighting below the dash is in yellow, so the ambient lighting can be selected by zones?

On the A8 you can choose from various colours, and the result will be different colours in different zones. You can't tailor each individual zone, however, but if you choose "Red" then it will mean white light remains in certain areas. The A4 may be the same.

The X5 and X6 have the same choice too.

 

[Sovereign]

So is this "new" A4 a hint for the next A8? At least Mercedes and BMW current lineup look alike. With Audi the past is also the present.

 

[Centurion]

A#boring!

Those photos spotlight how conservative the new A4 is. Next to the A3 you could mistake it for an older car. Like the car or not but you have to admire Audi for their braveness in not being more daring in refreshing the A4.

 

[deity]

Those photos spotlight how conservative the new A4 is. Next to the A3 you could mistake it for an older car. Like the car or not but you have to admire Audi for their braveness in not being more daring in refreshing the A4.

Why? There is nothing admirable about laziness.

 

[sanpt7777]

I don't get why so much hate. Audi's have always slowly evolved, without having the need to make radical changes in their designs, and their design language is always good. They are not trying too hard like others do, following trends. In fact, I believe Audi's design is a trend setter, but I could be wrong. I find this one rather good looking, and somehow, reminds me a lot of the B5.



The previous A4 was very good looking, but it seemed serious or angry if you know what I mean. This car looks a bit more cheerful like previous A4s.

The interior is very well done and I'm sure Audi will lead in fit and finish. Last time I sat on an A4 (I think it was a 2013) it felt better and more upscale than the F30.

The F30 seems like the "light" version of a luxury car. It feels a bit "decaffeinated" or calorie free if you get what I mean with my analogy haha
I love the F30, but it doesn't feel as solid as the A4.

Also, the previous S4 was reviewed by Carlos Lago of Motor Trend, and along with Chris Harris, he is one of the very few car journalists whose word I take seriously.

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TL;DR He basically said the S4 beats BMW at their own game. It [The Audi S4] is the ultimate driving machine.

Lighter and more powerful, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the case again in 2015 vs the 340i.

I don't know, I'm everyday becoming more of a BMW fanboy, but the A4 is a car I really respect. I find it to be great value.

Now, the only think I dislike, is that VW always makes their cars look like Audis, and now SEAT is doing the same. Leave the Audiness to Audi.

Last but not least, I really am glad Audi is back in color. Black and White was getting really boring, hope to see the new A4 in cactus Green.

 

[C4L]

The way HUD is integrated in the dashboard of the A8 isn't quite so well solved. The technique is more or less mounted on the dash, like it's some sort of an after thought. it's not neatly build into the dash.

Sure, same as on the A6/A7 but that doesn't have anything to do with the whether the screen retracts or not. They simply added the HUD to those cars mid-cycle.

 

[Centurion]

I don't get why so much hate. Audi's have always slowly evolved, without having the need to make radical changes in their designs, and their design language is always good. They are not trying too hard like others do, following trends.

Audi needs to try hard because we no longer live in year 1995. Today the A4 isn't going up just against a very competitive C-Class and an ever improving 3-Series but also the A3 sedan, CLA, X1 but also a plethora of other immensely popular luxury crossovers.

Let's not beat the horse too much though, the new A4 is still a very technology driven car and not spartan by any means, but consumers are very self-concious and the new A4 is an expressionless familiar face.

 

[C4L]

Sorry, but pretty much everything you say is straight out wrong. I have been working in this and adjacent fields for quite a while .... so it is kinda hard to surprise me but your arguments did


1. I don't know whom you are quoting but it's certainly not correct without further remarks. Of course, it is more expensive if you compare one screen fixed vs retractable. But this mostly is not the alternative. The choice is: bigger screen, better effects whatsoever or the elegant audiesque retraction. These alternatives do not differ in costs.

2. They vent properly (relative to their performance) but this requires lots of compromises and and adaptations to the screen and the dash. Just compare the rates of current iDrives and MMIs and you'll realize the limitations in performance pretty easily.

3. Not only software updates are being implemented during the cycle. Control units for instance are changed pretty often nowadays. If there are retraction mechanics located right beneath the screen, even smallest interventions are relevant.

4. It is rather trivial that the retraction (especially the complicated ones around multiple axes) require additional space. Audi just kept it since it was their USP. Also, this space is by definition limited to the upper dash where other modules (e.g. for wireless communication or sound systems should be located). Whether an OEM chooses to design its dashs more flat is another question. Mercedes up to now does not (but they made them less deep), BMW does...

5. Up to now, there is only one Audi on the streets that satisfies basic HUD needs and that is the new Q7. It is NOT top-notch, rather small, little range of adjustment. ALL Audis before incl the A8 have an additional box on the dash as the upper housing of the HUD. This is far from top-notch and a clear indication that the necessary building space for a multi-mirror HUD (~12 liters) was not included in construction.

1 - That quote was from the technical director at Car & Driver... And you agree it costs more?

2 - Odd considering MMI is often considered far superior to iDrive... But that is more subjective opinion. Performance is adequate for both of course.

3 - Sure but I would never want my luxury car to be designed for simplicity of servicing. Sorry, that is the technicians concern, not mine. I am sure it is harder to service physical components. I am sure a DI/FI motor is harder to service a NA one too. Doesn't mean I don't want the latest and greatest in my car either. I just won't plan on changing professions from finance to an auto mechanic anytime soon...

4 - Space is not an issue. I agree.

5 - This is because the HUD were added to the A6/7/8 mid-cycle, not from the start of the generational cycle for the C7 and D4 cars. It looks 'tacked on' because it quite literally is...

Seems like you and me are on the same page. No issue with the retractable unit and it was only done to save money, like in other applications. Odd you would say everything I said was wrong and then go through all that trouble to reaffirm it...

 

[C4L]

Interesting poll results it must be said. Quite an icy reception - tough crowd here...

It's a blog of mostly Mercedes fanboys. I am not sure what you would expect...

 

[C4L]

Would've been moderately more clever if they had the B5 A4 as the "2000 Audi A4" and not two B6s.

And they had two B8's with no B7 on there either. VERY lazy attempt that shows the creators lack of knowledge, not Audi's lack of creativity...

 

[C4L]

It seems like the color of the ambient lighting around the door handle is in blue while the lighting below the dash is in yellow, so the ambient lighting can be selected by zones?

'A choice of 30 colors: ambient lightingThe lighting package has white LEDs in the standard version. The driver can operate the reading lights via sensors. At night, the optional interior lighting package or the optional ambient lighting provide small highlights in the interior. With the top version, the color of the illumination can be controlled via the MMI, in several profiles and in separate zones, including the cup holder. The colors change depending on the mode chosen in Audi drive select. In the door trim, narrow, LED light strips generate effective contour illumination.'

 

[Frankie G]

Best looking one was the 2008 car. Since then, the design has gone worse. The front of the 2012 one is especially hideous.

I completely agree regarding the 2008 model. In my eyes it was very well proportioned and in RS4 guise it seemed to fit the bill exactly as needed.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Why? There is nothing admirable about laziness.

"Laziness" doesn't come into it. The designers are given a brief and after several years of fine tuning they have arrived at exactly what they were told to do by the people above them. The board of VAG who probably set the brief.

Do you honestly think that these designers, at the top of their game in what is probably their dream job, a designer for a blue-chip global car brand like Audi, thought "ah, I can't be bothered with this. Let's just change the grill and lights a bit and then go down the pub"?

 

[sanpt7777]

Audi needs to try hard because we no longer live in year 1995. Today the A4 isn't going up just against a very competitive C-Class and an ever improving 3-Series but also the A3 sedan, CLA, X1 but also a plethora of other immensely popular luxury crossovers.

Let's not beat the horse too much though, the new A4 is still a very technology driven car and not spartan by any means, but consumers are very self-concious and the new A4 is an expressionless familiar face.

Yes, but my point is more like if it's not broken, why fix it?

The design is good and works. Everyone I know prefers Audis to BMWs and Mercs except my dad.

Also, most people perceive Audi as the superior brand where I live.

I think that's Mercedes, but really, the design is far from 1995, and as I stated before, the car has a lot of value to offer, so really, it's not Audi trying to beat the other brands, it's the other brands trying to imitate Audi. I say all of this as a MB and BMW fanboy, if that means something.

 

[Osnabrueck]

So the B9 is mild on the outside and beautiful on the inside. Nothing we didn’t expect months ago.

But this feels frustrating. We know Audi is capable of so much more. The Sport Quattro Concept was slick and sterile, nice on its own but nothing you’d want to use as a blueprint for a full line of vehicles. But that’s where we’re at.

Coming from somebody who would like to jump from a B8 Avant to a B9 I’m interested, though it seems like the vehicles are identical from the beltline up. To nitpick, it feels like the taillights are too wide. Seems un-Audi’ish. Not sure if a ‘virtual cockpit’ is desirable to physical gauges. Screens feel passé already.

Anyways, the 2.0T power bump sounds nice and I always felt my B8 2.0 could use more juice. I hope they bring the wagon to the states and can we please please get power mirrors this time around?

 

[sanpt7777]

So the B9 is mild on the outside and beautiful on the inside. Nothing we didn’t expect months ago.

But this feels frustrating. We know Audi is capable of so much more. The Sport Quattro Concept was slick and sterile, nice on its own but nothing you’d want to use as a blueprint for a full line of vehicles. But that’s where we’re at.

Coming from somebody who would like to jump from a B8 Avant to a B9 I’m interested, though it seems like the vehicles are identical from the beltline up. To nitpick, it feels like the taillights are too wide. Seems un-Audi’ish. Not sure if a ‘virtual cockpit’ is desirable to physical gauges. Screens feel passé already.

Anyways, the 2.0T power bump sounds nice and I always felt my B8 2.0 could use more juice. I hope they bring the wagon to the states and can we please please get power mirrors this time around?

What? You don't get power mirrors?
I'm assuming you mean power folding. We do get those here. All the Audis [not base model] I see fold them when the alarm is engaged.
My car has them and it's a 2004 :/
It's something I really like

 

[Osnabrueck]

That's correct. There's no power folding mirrors on my trillion-dollar B8 Prestige. This is a slightly huge deal for me since I live downtown and have to drive my car through a brick corridor that's inches wider than my car to access my parking space.

I nearly bought a 3er wagon out of impulse just because I was blown away by the power folding mirrors.

 

[sanpt7777]

That's correct. There's no power folding mirrors on my trillion-dollar B8 Prestige. This is a slightly huge deal for me since I live downtown and have to drive my car through a brick corridor that's inches wider than my car to access my parking space.

I nearly bought a 3er wagon out of impulse just because I was blown away by the power folding mirrors.

Hahahaha I was about to tell you that I love the fact that I can fit my Volvo on places that are barely the size of the car by folding the mirrors, but thought someone would say I'm exaggerating. It really is useful for that.

Now, when someone folds or unfolds them manually, I kinda go crazy