Happenings

Audi’s New Range Of A4/S4 Available Locally; 1.8 TFSI Lump Improved

BY Azfar Hashim

Enhanced A4 range arrived timely just after BMW's new 3 Series - bread and butter 1.8 TFSI gets the most enhancements

Photos courtesy of Audi Singapore


The A4 is Audi’s bestseller – for 40 years now and in its eighth generation. Before the end of 2011, the brand has sold ten million such models in total. The A4, with its elegance, sportiness and emotional appeal, forms the centerpiece of the Audi brand. And now the design has become even more clearly defined and striking in all models, be it the Sedan, the Avant or the S4.

The new look further accentuates the horizontal lines at the front end. The engine hood is more arched, the upper corners of the single frame grille are tapered, and the cross ribs and the Audi rings are highlighted three-dimensionally. The grille is painted gray, with high-gloss black on the six-cylinder models or in combination with the S line exterior package. The redesigned bumpers are striking with their angular air inlets, their revised grilles and the flat front fog lights.

The headlights have also changed, with a slight wave at the bottom edges. Xenon plus headlights are available from Audi on request. The LED daytime running lights form a narrow, optically homogeneous band that remains open in the vicinity of the xenon lens. The adaptive light together with the dynamic and static cornering lights are available on request.

The tail-lights reflect the shape of the headlights, and in combination with xenon plus have homogeneous strips of LEDs. The bumper with its diffuser insert has been redesigned, with the exhaust system always terminating in two tailpipes.

There is a selection of 15 paint finishes, including four new tones. The Sedan and the Avant offer the S line exterior package, while the Avant also includes a roof spoiler.

The modifications have changed the dimensions only by a few millimeters. The A4 Sedan and the Avant each have a length of 4.70 meters, while the S4 is 4.72 meters long. The wheelbases for all models are 2.81 meters, and the width is 1.83 and 1.84 meters, respectively. The height varies between 1.41 and 1.50 meters depending on the body version.

The interior of the A4 models has also been refined. Audi offers a wide selection of new steering wheels with chrome and high-gloss inlays, with the leather sport steering wheel also featuring a flattened lower rim. The steering arm and the ignition key have been modified. High-gloss applications and the slender chrome trim at the controls add elegance to the interior. The MMI navigation plus system now features four instead of eight buttons, with a script function integrated in the volume control dial.

The A4 series also presents the latest state of the art in gasoline engine technology. A new highlight of the TFSI family is the new 1.8-liter engine, available for the Sedan and the Avant. The four-cylinder engine delivers sporty thrust, with a power output of 170 hp and 320 Nm of torque. The average consumption in the A4 Sedan is limited to 5.6 liters per 100 km, or 134 grams CO2 per km. That is a decrease in consumption of 19 percent compared with the predecessor engine. The 2.0 TFSI delivers 211 hp, while at the top of the line is the 3.0 TFSI in two variants: In the A4 V6, to follow a bit later, affords 272 hp. In the sporty S4 top model, its power is an impressive 333 hp.

The new 1.8 TFSI engine features many innovations: in the control of its valves and their lift, in the novel thermal management system, in the fuel injection system, in the turbocharger and in the integration of the exhaust manifold in the cylinder head. The engine weighs 3.5 kilograms less and its internal friction has sharply decreased.

Prices for the A4 ranges between $195,000 to $262,350. The S4 variant on the other hand, is priced at $297,950 for the sedan and $305,000 for the Avant. All prices include COE, contact Premium Automobiles for more info.