Audi A4

You wouldn’t believe what people get up to in their cars!  My local radio station is conducting a phone in and it’s absolutely eye popping to listen to! 

Of course if your car has the right technology then using your lap top whilst hurtling towards the car in front isn’t a problem.   Adaptive Cruise Control will immediately detect the car and brake for you.  Lurching into the car alongside you, whilst putting on your mascara isn’t going to happen either, because the flashing lights that appear on the wing mirrors will alert you to a car in your blind spot.  Similarly, veering across the white lines whilst tucking into a hamburger is immediately corrected as you will feel the steering wheel violently vibrate as the wheels cross the line.

Of course, the most sensible course of action will be to concentrate one hundred percent on driving your car, and if that car is the new Audi A4, you really won’t want to do anything else but drive it properly.

The premium car is the eighth generation model and everything in it and on it has been revised or renewed.  It takes the best of the previous generations and adds lots of brand new technology, including all of the above.  The result is a fantastic car.

It has a longer wheelbase than the seventh generation so is very spacious inside, with lots of rear leg room, which Audi says outclasses key rivals in the premium sector.  It is also wider and lower and there is a 20 litre boost in boot capacity to 480 litres.  In fact the new A4 is as large as the previous A6.

Refinements include an electromechanical parking brake and an intelligent key system which are standard across the range.  The next trim up, the SE comes equipped with 17 inch alloy wheels, sophisticated three zone climate control, a 180 watt CD audio system with MMI control logic and 6.5 inch colour display, rear acoustic parking, automatic headlight and wiper operation and aluminium interior trim.

The next level up is the S line trim but this won’t be available until April.

The new A4 enters a fiercely competitive D segment where design, dynamics and technology are paramount.  Other technology includes a Drive Select System where three different settings offer dynamic, comfort or automatic mode which switches between the two.

Engines have 15% better fuel consumption with 15% lower emissions than the year 2000 version while being faster and more powerful.  At launch I drove the three diesel engines, a 2 litre with six speed manual transmission which slicks through the gearbox like a knife through butter.  The 2.7 litre has a multitronic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) which is absolutely seamless.   Then there is the 3 litre which has a nice gutsy roar on hard acceleration.  The cabin is ‘pin drop’ quiet. 

79% of buyers will opt for the common rail diesel engines which is unsurprising as they are so refined with excellent performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures.   Two FSI petrol units will also be available with more models to follow later in the year.

In the Summer Audi is launching the Avant, which will make up 43% of sales which again is unsurprising as 69% of buyers will be company car drivers.

Audi has made the most of everything that new technology has to offer with most being on the options list, but for me, one of the optional ‘must haves’ are the LED daytime running lights which tick all my boxes for design, image and good looks.

Facts at a Glance
Model: Audi A4
Price: From £22,590 otr to £30,290 otr
Engine: 2 litre TDI SE
Performance:  0-62mph in 9.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 133mph.
Average fuel consumption: 51.3mpg.
CO2 emissions 144g/km

By Sue Cooke