Upgraded Audi A4 range could be reduced

Stand by for a reduced model range when the updated 2020 Audi A4 sedan and wagon line-up starts rolling out in Australia late in the first half of next year.

An Australia premium segment staple since it first appeared in the mid-1990s, the Audi A4 is less important to Audi Australia now as its range expands and SUVs become its sales driving force.

The potential reduction in choice also reflects a drive to simplify all its model ranges.

“Over the last 12 months we have been really making sure we have a simple customer offer across the range, in terms of both models and equipment,” confirmed Audi Australia corporate communications manager Shaun Cleary at this week’s A4 launch in Italy.

“Customers responded really well to that, so with the A4 coming we will be looking at it with a fresh set of eyes and there may be opportunities there.”

At the moment only one mainstream drivetrain is guaranteed, the 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre petrol-turbo mated to a seven-speed all-dual-cutch transmission and on-demand wheel drive.

In current Audi-speak that’s known as the A4 45 quattro S tronic. It currently accounts for well over half of A4 sales volume.

As well as an orthodox wagon, this drivetrain will also spin off an updated A4 ‘allroad’ crossover.

The hi-po S4 is also set to continue with its 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6. The newly-announced 700Nm turbo-diesel V6 is limited to Europe and won’t be coming down under.

The other A4 drivetrain currently on offer in Australia but not guaranteed to continue are the 140kW/320Nm ‘40’ and the 110kW/270Nm ‘35’ front-wheel drive models.

Among those two, the 40 is probably the more likely.

Key changes to the facelifted Audi A4 include a fuel-saving mild-hybrid system across most four-cylinder engines including the ones coming to Australia.

The 12-volt system is claimed to reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.3L/100km. The combined WLTP claim for the 45 is 6.5-6.8L1/00km.

Exterior styling looks only mildly different despite almost every panel being changed.

There is also a new touch-screen based infotainment system with upgrade sat-nav and boosted computing power that banishes the old MMI system’s rotary dial and push buttons.

The 2020 Audi A4 is also set to benefit from a significant update to Audi Australia’s connectivity package with web-based car-to-infrastructure capability.

That is due to be announced within weeks and begin rolling out with the facelifted A6 large sedan from August.

“We are announcing details of that on July 31,” confirmed Cleary. “Most of the package [offered with A4 in Europe] will be available in Australia.”

Cleary suggested this new connectivity package would play a key role in price rises for the new A4, although he said those were yet to be locked away.

“If that is the case that will align with a really strong offering in terms of the breadth of features that come with the car standard,” he said.

While the A4 ‘35’ 1.4 TFSI S tronic sedan opens the existing range at $56,100 and the A4 2.0 TFSI S tronic costs $61,400, the Audi A4 2.0 TFSI ‘45’ quattro sedan is currently priced at $70,300. The cheapest wagon is the ‘40’ 2.0 TFSI Sport at $64,400, while the S4 is $99,240.

Equipment levels are also yet to be confirmed, but they won’t be going backwards from the current car.

So key items like eight airbags, a suite of driver-assist systems and virtual cockpit digital instruments are set to be retained, while adaptive suspension will continue as an option.

While the Audi A4 comes with multiple equipment lines in Europe, Australia will stick with one level per drivetrain. Currently S Line is standard on the 35, 40 and 45 sedan and Avant.

Despite being less important than it once was for Audi, the A4 is still the fourth biggest seller in the range behind the Q5, A3 and Q2. It sits third in the premium segment, albeit well behind traditional rivals the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-class.

“For us it’s important to have an offering in the important premiums segments and we know A4 is still popular for us,” Cleary said.

“We are looking to grow market share and the new model certainly gives us that chance.”

The new A4 goes on-sale in Europe in September. If the WLTP emissions testing regime  doesn’t hinder things too much, it could make it to Australia by March 2020. If things don’t go so smoothly it may not be here till mid-year.