Audi announces 2016 A4 price and spec

Audi has announced pricing and specifications for its new B9-series A4 due in February, with a host of new technology a key element of the new four-model line-up.

Audi's luxury C-segment competitor arrives in four sedan variants, the 110kW A4 1.4 TFSI at $55,500, the 140kW A4 2.0 TFSI at $60,900, the 140kW A4 2.0 TDI quattro priced at $66,900 and the range-topping 185kW A4 2.0 TFSI quattro at $69,900 (all prices plus on-road costs).

The entry-level 1.4 TFSI's price is identical to the outgoing 1.8 TFSI while prices for the rest of the range are up to $4000 more expensive. All models are equipped with the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission as standard.

Although the A4's exterior is highly derivative of the old model, the new car arrives with a fresh array of technology.

All A4s will have adaptive LED headlights (incorporating fog lights) and LED tail lights as standard, and a comprehensive infotainment system consisting of an 8.3-inch centre screen, MMI Navigation, MMI touchpad, DVD player, 10GB audio/video storage, live traffic updates and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Higher up the chain, models will have DAB+ digital radio and a premium sound system, and for the first time rear tablets will be offered.

The new A4 is bristling with standard safety gear too. All A4s will have pre-sense city (AEB) with pedestrian detection, an exit warning system (that warns occupants getting out of the car of vehicles and cyclists approaching from the rear), cross traffic assist, side assist and pre-sense basic that prepares the cabin and occupants if an emergency is detected. Pre-sense rear uses rear radar to sense potential rear-end collisions and if it deems a car is approaching too fast it flashes the A4's hazard lights rapidly.

Euro NCAP has awarded the A4 five stars, while ANCAP has yet to release its rating for the car.

Audi has not divulged exact model specifications but we do know that options include the Assistance package (which bundles together active lane assist, adaptive cruise control with Traffic Jam Assist, turn assist, collision avoidance assist, the pre-sense front warning system, predictive efficiency assistant and high-beam assist) at $1900 and Matrix LED headlights (that control the headlight beam to avoid dazzling both leading and oncoming vehicles) at $1700. The Technik package (that consists of the Audi virtual cockpit and head-up display) is $2100, while a ten-speaker, 180watt sound system upgrade is available for $500.

The most popular A4 options historically continue on in the B9 A4: metallic paint ($1420) and sunroof ($1950).

The A4 sedan, which we drove in Europe earlier this year kicks off here in February, with the Avant wagon to come in March/April and the hot S4 in the third quarter.

The 160kW/400Nm 3.0 V6 TDI, which we also drove in Europe earlier this year, is "under consideration" according to Audi product planner Peter Strudwicke. Despite being a cracker of an engine, its chances of making it as the fifth model here is not looking good, given the B8 A4 3.0 TDI take up was only two per cent of the model mix and Strudwicke admitted that not having it would improve rationalisation in Audi's burgeoning line-up.