Audi A4

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The Audi A4 is a mid-size luxury car made by Audi. It was introduced in 1995, replacing the Audi 80 (called the Audi 4000 in North America) and Audi 90.

Contents

1 B5 (1995-1998)

1.1 B5 facelift (1998-2001)

2 B6 (2000-2005)
3 B7 (2004-present)

3.1 Current lineup

4 B8 (2007-)
5 See also
6 External links

B5 (1995-1998)

Audi debuted the model in 1995 on Volkswagen's B5 platform, which it shared with the fifth generation Volkswagen Passat. Like the Passat, it had a longitudinally-mounted engine and standard front wheel drive, although the vast majority of A4s Audi sells come optioned with their quattro all wheel drive system. The Avant station wagon arrived a year later.

A wide range of engines were available to European customers, between 1.6 and 2.8 L, and a 1.9 L Diesel available with VW's new "pumpe-düse" technology, capable of achieving a then high power value of 110 PS (81 kW), although Audi's 2.8 L V6, carried over from the old 80/90 was the only engine option in North America until 1997.

The Audi A4 was the first model in the Volkswagen Group to feature the new 1.8 L 20V motor with five valves per cylinder, based on the unit Audi Sport had developed for their Supertouring race car. A turbocharged version produced 150 PS (110 kW) and 210 Nm (155 ft.lbf) of torque. This technology was added to the V6 family in 1996, starting with the 2.8 L V6 30V, which now pumped 193 PS (142 kW).

Audi also debuted their new Tiptronic transmission on the B5 platform, based on the unit Porsche developed for their 964-generation 911. The transmission is a "manumatic", meaning it offers the driver a choice of driving the car as either an automatic or a clutchless manual.

The B5 A4 is arguably a watershed model for Audi. Previously regarded as somewhat of a bit-player in the luxury car segment, the massive improvement in quality and engineering with the B5 A4 made buyers realise that there was now a marque other than BMW and Mercedes. Combined with the radical TT concept (later a production car), Audi emerged as a leader in the luxury car market.

B5 facelift (1998-2001)

Audi refreshed the model in the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in Europe in early 1998. Besides the introduction of a 2.4 L 30-valve V6 (replacing the outdated 2.6 V6), the most important additions to the range were the 2.5 L V6 TDI engine with 150 PS (110 kW) and standard quattro and a 6-speed gearbox, as well the new high-performance S4, now part of the A4 lineup (the previous S4 had been a Audi 100). New taillights, headlights, door handles, and other minor exterior/interior changes rounded out the cosmetic updates.

In mid 1998, the 1.8T engine available outside Europe had its power output raised to 170 PS (125 kW), while the 12-valve V6 was replaced by the 30 valve unit that had been available in Europe for two years.

In 1999, Audi debuted an even higher performance model, the RS4, like its predecessor RS2 available only in the Avant body.

B6 (2000-2005)

An all-new A4 debuted in late 2000, now riding on the B6 platform. The 1.6 L base model remained unchanged, but most other gasoline engines received either displacement increases or power upgrades. The 1.8 20 valve Turbo was now available in two versions, with 150 or 180 PS (110 or 132 kW), this one with a standard six-speed gearbox, while the naturally aspirated 1.8 L straight-4 and 2.8 L V6 were replaced by 2.0 L and 3.0 L units, still with five valves per cylinder, the most powerful of which was capable of 220 PS (162 kW) and 300 Nm (221 ft.lbf) of torque. The 1.9 TDI engine was upgraded to 130 PS and was now available with quattro, while the 2.5 V6 TDI high-end model was introduced with 180 PS (132 kW) and standard quattro. The Avant arrived in mid 2001.

For 2002, Audi upgraded power in the 1.8 Turbo engines to 163 and 190 PS (120 and 140 kW respectively), and in the 2.5 TDI intermediate version to 163 PS. A year later, Audi reintroduced the S4, now powered by a 344 PS (253 kW) 4.2 L V8, as well as an A4 Cabrio convertible variant, finally replacing the 80-based Audi Cabriolet that had been discontinued in 1998.

Audi also introduced a continuously variable transmission developed by LuK, named Multitronic, which replaced the Tiptronic on front wheel drive models. The transmission won considerable praise from the automotive press and is generally regarded as being the best of its type in the world, due to its light weight and promptness in response, but its use was limited to models with a maximum of 310 Nm (229 ft.lbf).

Borrowing from the Audi A6, the boot was redesigned to remove the extension of the top edge with a smoother fold line, and the taillight assembly now forms part of the top line.

A new cabriolet version of the A4 was introduced in 2002 to replace the ageing Audi 80-based model. It incorporated some minor styling changes which eventually found their way to the sedan version (such as body-colored lower bumper and sill panels).

B7 (2004-present)

Audi introduced a redesigned A4 in late 2004, now riding on the B7 platform, which is completely unique to Audi and not shared with Volkswagen. Nonetheless, the B7 is really a revision of the outgoing B6, and not a ground-up redesign. This is confirmed by Audi's internal platform nomenclature, which uses PL46 (longitudonal passenger car platform, size 4, generation 6) for both B6 and B7 chassis.

The engine lineup received many additions, the most notable of which was the introduction of Fuel Stratified Injection on the new 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 V6 FSI, respectively capable of 200 and 255 PS (147 and 188 kW), although these engines dropped the five-valve design in favor of the more widely known four valves per cylinder configuration, as the design was incompatible with the direct injection system. The new 2.0 TDI engine now combined Pumpe Düse (PD) technology with 16 valves for the first time, while the larger 2.5 TDI was increased to 3.0 L, with 204 PS (150 kW). quattro was available either as an option or standard on most mid- to high-end models, with multitronic and Tiptronic automatic gearboxes available throughout the entire lineup. As per the B6, multitronic is available only on front-wheel drive models and Tiptronic only available on quattro models.

In addition to the carry-over S4, which remained unchanged on the technical side, Audi has reintroduced the RS4 to the lineup, for the first time on the sedan body and with a normally aspirated 4.2 V8 FSI engine. Another notable inclusion is the 3rd-generation quattro system which uses 40:60 front-rear power distribution. A limited edition variant first introduced in late 2005, named "DTM Edition", was reintroduced in 2006 as a regular option, the 2.0T FSI engine now engineered to 220 PS (162 kW) with standard quattro. The front grill assembly has changed to be full height in the same manner as the Audi A6.

The B7 Cabriolet model arrived later than the other two body variants, with sales beginning in February 2006. Brand new on the Cabriolet was an entry-level 2.0 TDI version with standard quattro. In April, the B7 received the 170 PS (125 kW) 2.0 TDI engine that premiered in the VW Golf GTD and Audi A3.

Current lineup

A4	Power	Sedan	Avant	Cabriolet
1.6	102 PS	X	X
2.0	130 PS	X	X
1.8 T	163 PS	X	X	X
1.8 T quattro	163 PS	X	X
2.0 TFSI	200 PS	X	X	X
2.0 TFSI quattro	200 PS	X	X
2.0 DTM Edition	220 PS	X	X
3.2 FSI	255 PS	X	X	X
3.2 FSI quattro	255 PS	X	X	X
4.2 S4	344 PS	X	X	X
4.2 RS4	420 PS	X	X
1.9 TDI	115 PS	X	X
2.0 TDI	140 PS	X	X
2.0 TDI quattro	140 PS	X	X	x
2.0 TDI	170 PS	X	X
2.7 TDI	180 PS	X	X
3.0 TDI quattro	233 PS	X	X	X

B8 (2007-)

Unlike the transition from B6 to B7, the B8 is expected to be a completely new platform, and remain exclusive to Audi. Early reports suggested that the B8 A4 would adopt rear-wheel drive to help Audi compete against the BMW 3-series and its rear-wheel drive platform; it is said that Volkswagen Group chairman Bernd Pischestreider vetoed this move, fearing it would alienate Audi's existing customer base.

It is believed that Audi plans to make the B8 platform common to both the new A4 and the future A6. Various media reports suggest that the B8 A4 will incorporate the following features -

- 3rd-generation quattro system, providing 40:60 front:rear torque split - improved weight distribution thanks to moving the engine and gearbox rearward - a slight reduction in overall length, possibly due to shorter front and rear overhangs

The B8 A4 is expected to be available in late 2007 or early 2008.

Rumors of an A4-based coupe have been backed up with various spy shots and computer-generated images, many of which were digital composites of the cabriolet and sedan models. A true A4-based coupe, possibly known as the A5, is expected in 2007.

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