A4/S4/RS4 Sad news: B8 A4 not in U.S. til Fall '08

[Deutsch]

Press release issued today:

02 October 2007
THE NEW AUDI A4: THE SPORTIEST MIDSIZE SALOON



INGOLSTADT, Germany - Sporty and superlative, progressive and emotive – the A4 takes Audi into a new dimension in the midsize car segment. The sedan’s engines provide supreme performance with fuel consumption that is an average of nine percent lower than the previous model. The highly efficient powertrains are just as clear evidence of Audi’s outstanding technical expertise as the dynamic suspension or the many other technologies adopted directly from the large luxury class. The Audi A4 reaches the U.S. market in fall of 2008. The new Audi A4 – the new way to drive.

New design idiom

The new Audi A4 combines many fascinating aspects. Its design is expressive, taut and dynamic. The high precision and technical character of its styling clearly confirm Audi’s leading position in this field. Compared with the previous model, the designers have altered the proportions to create a new, sporty impression. The front overhang is shorter, the hood and wheelbase distinctly longer.

At an overall length of 185.2 inches, the new A4 is a large sedan. It boasts a substantial, powerful road presence. Its body illustrates the technical progress that has been made: it is significantly more rigid and safer than the previous model, but also distinctly lighter, thanks to intelligent weight-saving. With a drag coefficient of cD = 0.27, the new saloon cuts its way through the wind with ease, and its 480-litre boot is larger than that of any of its direct competitors.

Inside the new A4, the ambience is spacious and full of light, as would be expected in a much larger model. It embodies the traditional Audi strengths: a distinguished appearance, no-compromise high-quality workmanship with close attention to detail and logical, intuitive controls.

A whole series of high-tech optional extras taken from the luxury class is available to enhance the interior still further, from the MMI operating system, acknowledged as being superior to its competitors, to the automatic air conditioning with three-zone control. To take one’s seat in the new A4 is to experience the sensation typical of an Audi – one immediately feels at home. In the safety area too, the brand sets new standards: the airbags and seat belt force limiters work together even more effectively to protect the occupants better than ever before.

The new Audi A4 is being launched with a powerful V6 FSI engine making

265 hp. It uses the FSI direct fuel injection principle that efficiently shoots fuel directly into the cylinder. With its smooth running and impressive flow of power, the V6 FSI in the new A4 are a source of pure driving pleasure. It also uses less fuel than the corresponding unit in the previous model: consumption is down by an average of 13 percent.

More dynamic than ever: the quattro driveline

In the transmission area, Audi offers customers a wide range of high-tech solutions. Easily operated manual gearboxes or tiptronic automatic transmissions deliver engine torque to the quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system. For the new sedan model, this is more dynamic than ever before, with the torque split biased more strongly to the rear wheels.

The driver will experience the new A4 as the sportiest of the midsize sedans – a car that is agile, precise and effortless to control. The differential has been moved further forward in the driveline by interchanging its position with the clutch or torque converter. This has enabled the front axle to be repositioned 6.1 inches further forward – a solution that permits the axle loads to be ideally balanced. For the new Audi A4, the dynamic suspension is a totally new development. Thanks to the use of numerous aluminium components, the suspension, steering, wheels and brakes are exceptionally light in weight.

Two innovative technologies add even greater fascination to the driving experience. One of them is the Audi drive select control system, with which the driver can adjust the operating characteristics of the engine, automatic transmission, steering and adaptive damping to suit his or her own preferences. The other is Audi dynamic steering, which operates with a superimposed gear system that varies the effective steering ratio according to road speed. Close to the handling limits, it acts together with the ESP to stabilize the car by slight but very rapid adjustments to the steering. In this way, the system combines sporty driving fun with a high level of safety.

The innovative assistance systems on the new A4 make driving even more relaxed and enhance the driver’s control of the situation. Audi equips its new model on request with various high-tech systems that have so far been available only on luxury cars. These systems control the distance from the car in front, help the driver to keep within the chosen lane or to move safely from one lane to the next, and provide support when parking the car.

Technical area of the future: multimedia

The Audi A4 also sets new standards for a midsize car in one of the most fascinating technical areas of the future, namely multimedia. The new saloon enters production with a series of communication and entertainment technologies at the customer’s disposal that would be impressive even in a luxury-class car.

Among the components are various audio systems, navigation systems, an iPod interface and a highly convenient Bluetooth telephone.


At a glance

The new Audi A4

Body

- Length 185.2 inches, width 71.9 inches, height 56.1 inches, cD = 0.27

- Luggage capacity 480 litres, larger than any core competitors

- Taut, sporty styling, low weight

- Outstanding safety concept with new airbag and seat belt force limiter settings

Interior

- Ample space at all seats

- Exemplary ergonomics, MMI control terminal available as an option

Engines

- 265 hp V6 FSI engine with direct injection, displacement 3.2 litres

Transmissions

- Six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed tiptronic

- quattro permanent four-wheel drive with 40:60 torque split

Running gear

- Audi dynamic suspension, long wheelbase and front axle moved forward for dynamic handling and outstanding road behaviour

- Option of Audi drive select dynamic driving system

- Option of variable-ratio dynamic steering for sporty driving pleasure

Equipment

- Generous specification with automatic air conditioning and radio as standard

- Many features found on luxury-class cars also available on the new A4

 

[siko]

...and VAG screws us again!

Not surprised really! VAG has a tendency to leave us in NA with older models/technology for a longer periods of time.

 

[Deutsch]

...and VAG screws us again!

Not surprised really! VAG has a tendency to leave us in NA with older models/technology for a longer periods of time.

I don't get it. They act like they want to succeed here with all these ambitious marketing efforts and product launches, and now this; They're bread and butter for the U.S. market has to soldier on damn near a year later after the new model touches down in Europe. At least they got the S5/A5 here sooner than later. Still...

 

[ZicZachZo]

Well that's lame... Seems to me that if Audi wants greater market share they would think of the NA market first and foremost. Not as an afterthought. Weird.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Here's a thought as to why there is a delay.

HP crazy N. America may not be too keen on a wimpy 160bhp from the base 1.8TFSI model of the B8 A4. Even the 3.2FSI model only boasts 265bhp, making these models underpowered compared to the competition. This is even worse than MB's W204 carry over enigines in terms of output, and this segment is supposed to be "sport sedans". Heck, even my old 1.8T has more HP output than the new 1.8TFSI engine. Sure, the new engine is more efficient, but somehow I don't think that will be a major selling point.

Perhaps they want to delay introduction of the B8 A4 into N. America until they have some higher output petrol engines available......just a thought.

What really puzzles me is why they don't offer the great 2.0T engine found in the currrent VAG products.

 

[Mr. Chigga_Chan]

Good point PC. To me, the standard A4 is the most appealing car in the entire segment, definitely over the 3-Series for me and edging the C-Class in terms of an overall package with Quattro.

If all the have for an entry-level model is a small 1.8T for the US, no good

The 3.2 is outgunned by the 335i Beemer...Though I just read that there is supposed to be some nice 2.0T with 250hp coming out, but that sounds like a dream. 220-230 would be on par, and 300+ would wipe the floor with the likes of the G37.

I wouldn't worry about Audi though, they will put something out we can be proud of, we just have to be patient.

 

[Merc1]

I guess I don't get what all the fuss is about, this is normal for Audi/VW. They have a seriously long lead time from European introduction to on-sale in the U.S. BMW and Mercedes usually make it 6-8 months, not a year like Audi/VW does. This new A4 had no choice but to be a 2009 model since the old A4 is our 2008 model right now. That said, the S5 and R8 are on sale now so there is something to cheer about at your local Audi dealer.

M

 

[Merc1]

Here's a thought as to why there is a delay.

HP crazy N. America may not be too keen on a wimpy 160bhp from the base 1.8TFSI model of the B8 A4. Even the 3.2FSI model only boasts 265bhp, making these models underpowered compared to the competition. This is even worse than MB's W204 carry over enigines in terms of output, and this segment is supposed to be "sport sedans". Heck, even my old 1.8T has more HP output than the new 1.8TFSI engine. Sure, the new engine is more efficient, but somehow I don't think that will be a major selling point.

Perhaps they want to delay introduction of the B8 A4 into N. America until they have some higher output petrol engines available......just a thought.

What really puzzles me is why they don't offer the great 2.0T engine found in the currrent VAG products.

Interesting theory. I'd like to see Audi get rid of 4-cylinders engines all together in the U.S. market. No one else is using them in the luxury class anymore and it kinda keeps them linked to VW even if they aren't using the same exact engines. A smaller displacement V6, say like 2.8L with 220hp would be nice and a larger one, say 3.6L with 310hp would be nice. Painful change for those who love the 4-cylinders but IMO necessary if Audi wants to shed their image of being a pricier VW in the U.S.

M

 

[siko]

I don't get it. They act like they want to succeed here with all these ambitious marketing efforts and product launches, and now this; They're bread and butter for the U.S. market has to soldier on damn near a year later after the new model touches down in Europe.

I don't get it either... I've always been asking myself how the hell does VAG expect to succeed here all the while pulling shit like that.

At least they got the S5/A5 here sooner than later. Still...

You sure about that, I saw 2 A5s in the streets of Paris in late August... while here, the A5 hasn't even hit showrooms yet.

Here's a thought as to why there is a delay.

HP crazy N. America may not be too keen on a wimpy 160bhp from the base 1.8TFSI model of the B8 A4. Even the 3.2FSI model only boasts 265bhp, making these models underpowered compared to the competition. This is even worse than MB's W204 carry over enigines in terms of output, and this segment is supposed to be "sport sedans". Heck, even my old 1.8T has more HP output than the new 1.8TFSI engine. Sure, the new engine is more efficient, but somehow I don't think that will be a major selling point.

Perhaps they want to delay introduction of the B8 A4 into N. America until they have some higher output petrol engines available......just a thought.

What really puzzles me is why they don't offer the great 2.0T engine found in the currrent VAG products.

Quite possible scenario... but if true, that's an amateur excuse for a company like VAG.

 

[Merc1]

Yeah the S5 is here now, Audi saying that they sold a few of them in Sept.

M

 

[siko]

Yeah the S5 is here now, Audi saying that they sold a few of them in Sept.

M

Not here... Audi Canada didn't even announce princing (at least that I know).

 

[Bruce]

Well, this couldn't be any more dissapointing. Might as well be never if we have to wait this long.