A4 specs and pricing for Australia

Audi has officially released the new A4 range to the local media, with first deliveries to consumers due early next month.

To keep pace with its competitors -- principally the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Lexus IS250 -- the new A4 boasts increased dimensions, improved dynamics, refinement and safety.

The A4's ancestry in Australia can be more or less traced back through successive generations of A4 and, before that, the earlier 80 models and the 70s vintage Fox, so it's one of two archetypal Audis in this country (the other being the A6). As such, and given the A4 contributes more than 40 per cent of Audi's sales volumes in Australia, it's an important new model for the German brand (more here).

The A4 has been lengthened by 12cm (now measuring 4.7m overall) and widened by 5cm. With the added length, the wheelbase now measures 2808mm.

Through a process of integrating lighter materials in the design, improving aerodynamics and enhancing engine operation, Audi claims to have achieved across the board gains in performance and efficiency for the new A4.

Some of those efficiency gains stem from new generation direct-injection petrol and diesel engines, but the A4 is also more slippery by a factor of three to five per cent (depending on vehicle specification), despite the frontal area increasing from 2.14 to 2.19 square metres -- a nett result of the very low drag coefficient of 0.27Cd for the new car.

Although the A4 is significantly larger than the superseded model, it incorporates substantial quantities of lightweight materials to keep the weight down to 1410kg for the basic A4 1.8TFSI. 31.7 per cent of the new A4, by weight, comprises aluminium or magnesium.

At launch, the new A4 will be offered with a turbodiesel and two petrol engines. The 1.8-litre TFSI engine, which develops 118kW of power, will be available coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission or the multitronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

Displacing 2.0 litres, the 105kW TDI engine will drive through just a CVT transmission and the 195kW 3.2-litre naturally-aspirated, direct-injection V6 drives through a conventional six-speed epicyclic automatic transmission to a quattro all-wheel drive system.

Whilst the V6 generates 330Nm of torque between 3000 and 5000rpm, the 1.8-litre TFSI engine produces 250Nm between 1500 and 4500rpm, and the 2.0-litre TDI engine develops 320Nm between 1750 and 2500rpm.

Audi makes the claim that the petrol engines are up to 13 per cent more frugal than the equivalent engines in the previous model A4 and the turbodiesels are six per cent more efficient.

Audi will introduce the A4 to the local market with the sort of features previously found in high-end models only. These include Audi's MMI system, Lane Assist and adaptive cruise control. In addition, the new generation A4 is fitted with up to eight airbags, including side curtains.

Other standard features include: electric mirrors, remote central locking, fog lights, climate control, cruise control, electric windows and 10-speaker audio system.

15 exterior colours are available for the A4, including three solid colours: Brilliant Red, Brilliant Black and Ibis White.

The balance of the colour selection comprises a mix of metallic and pearlescent finishes: Dakar Beige, metallic; Garnet Red, metallic; Lava Grey, pearl effect; Liquid Blue, metallic; Phantom Black, pearl effect; Quartz Grey, metallic; Sphere Blue, metallic; Deep Green, pearl effect; Deep Sea Blue, pearl effect; Aruba Blue, pearl effect; Ice Silver, metallic and Meteor Grey, pearl effect.

Prices and Audi's scheduled on-sale dates for the new A4 range are:

A4 1.8 TFSI manual $50,900 (May 2008)
A4 1.8 TFSI multitronic $53,500 (May 2008)
A4 2.0 TDI multitronic $54,900 (May 2008)
A4 2.7 TDI multitronic $67,900 (Late May/June 2008)
A4 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic $89,500 (October 2008)
A4 3.2 FSI quattro tiptronic $88,500 (May 2008)

A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI multitronic $57,100 (August 2008)
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI multitronic $58,500 (August 2008)

For further information on the new A4, click here.

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