The new-generation Audi A4 is a fascinating synthesis of technology and esthetics. All the technology in the brand’s bestselling family has been redeveloped so that it yet again defines the benchmark in the segment. During the development work, high priority was placed on the reduction of CO2 emissions. All technologies were focused on reducing drive resistance.
A good example is aerodynamics: The A4 Sedan has the best drag coefficient in its class at 0.23. The new models also have impressively low CO2 emissions for the A4 Sedan 2.0 TFSI with 190hp emits 109 g/km (175.4 g/mi).
Driver assistance systems and infotainment are of luxury quality. A new generation of four-cylinder TFSI engines with newly developed combustion methods sets benchmarks in terms of fuel consumption, emissions and performance for four-cylinder gasoline engines.
At 4.73 meters (15.5 ft) long and with a wheelbase of 2.82 meters (9.3 ft) – the new Audi A4 has a confident stance on the road. A prominent horizontal line on the front and rear emphasizes the car’s width. The flowing design with concise lines communicates the sporty elegance of the brand. The Singleframe grille is wide and low; the optionally available headlights in LED and Matrix LED technology (including dynamic turn indicators) make technology a visual trademark.
Up to 120 kilograms (264.6 lb) lighter
Compared with the previous model, the car’s dimensions have grown but its weight has been reduced significantly – by up to 120 kilograms. The body of the new Audi models is one of the lightest in its class thanks to an intelligent material mix and lightweight construction.
The Audi A4 is a leader in its class also in terms of noise levels. All occupants enjoy generous space; the smooth lines emphasize the width of the interior. The front of the dashboard features a broad band of air outlets and a large decorative surface. At night, optional discreet contour lighting illuminates the doors and the central console. The quality of workmanship is uncompromisingly high. Colors and materials follow a new line concept allowing customers even more freedom during configuration.
Technological highlights of the new A4 include the Audi virtual cockpit, the Audi Matrix LED headlights, the Audi smartphone interface, the Bang & Olufsen Sound System with 3D sound, the Audi phone box with wireless charging, the head-up display, and new driver assistance systems and Audi connect services.
Information and fascination: the Audi virtual cockpit and the MMI
The focus here is on two innovations. The optional Audi virtual cockpit, a fully digital combination instrument, features a 12.3-inch LCD screen that displays the most important information in brilliant high-resolution graphics, with great detail and sophisticated effects.
The MMI control concept in the center console is also a newly designed feature and acts as the main control element. The top-end infotainment system, MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch and a large 8.3-inch monitor, has a touchpad in the rotary controller to zoom in and out and to enter characters. The entire MMI control logic is similar to that of a smartphone and includes an intelligent free-text search function. The new, more natural, voice-control system also understands input in normal everyday language, such as “I want to call Peter Miller.”
Concentrated computing power
MMI Navigation plus is backed by the computing power of the second-generation modular infotainment platform, which allows Audi to bring consumer electronics innovations into the vehicle quickly.
If customers order a car with MMI Navigation plus, they automatically receive the Audi connect hardware module, which connects the A4 with the Internet via the high-speed LTE network. Passengers can surf the Internet and send and receive e-mail with their mobile devices via a Wi-Fi hotspot while the driver can use the tailored services of Audi connect.
The Audi smartphone interface is a new feature. It integrates iOS and Android mobile phones into an environment developed especially for this purpose – Audi MMI. The Audi phone box connects smartphones to the on-board antenna and charges them inductively according to the Qi standard. For discerning hi-fi fans, the Bang & Olufsen Sound System with innovative 3D sound is available, which introduces the additional dimension of height. The new Audi tablet can also be used as flexible rear seat entertainment.
Powerful four-cylinder engine
The new Audi A4 has a groundbreaking innovation for the gasoline engines: The 2.0 TFSI ultra with 140 kW (190 hp) uses an absolutely new combustion method that makes it especially efficient and allows fuel consumption of 4.8 liters per 100 km and CO2 emissions of 109 g/km (175.4 g/mi).
Driving dynamics
The handling of new A4 makes a great leap forward: on the one hand sporty and performance oriented, but with a focus on comfort at the same time. The suspension and steering filter out disturbances such as an uneven road surface, but communicate to the driver important information such as increases in lateral forces and tracking. This performance is based on the redeveloped five-link axles and the electromechanical power steering – they are exceptionally light. They lay the foundation for dynamic handling and first-class ride comfort while also reducing fuel consumption. Additional options are dynamic steering, which varies its ratio according to the car’s speed and the steering angle, and suspension with adjustable shock absorbers with which the driver can for the first time select between two settings: sports or comfort. Both of suspension settings are included in the Audi drive select driving-dynamics system, which is standard equipment for models with engines of 140 kW (190 hp) and above.
Widest range in its class: driver assistance and safety systems
The Audi A4 sets the benchmark in their class with numerous driver assistance systems. The predictive efficiency assistant helps drivers to save fuel, Audi active lane assist helps them to stay in lane and the Stop&Go adaptive cruise control including traffic-jam assist eases driving in slow-moving traffic. One special feature of traffic-jam assist is its control strategy. It takes into account a large number of parameters such as road markings and the traffic ahead. Some more innovations that make important contributions to safety are parking assist, rear cross-traffic assist, exit warning, collision avoidance assist, turn assist and the Audi pre-sense systems. Camera-based traffic-sign recognition is also available.
Benchmark for aerodynamics
When it comes to aerodynamics, the two new models dramatically outpace the competition. The A4 Sedan has a drag coefficient value of 0.23. These extremely low figure is the result of complex fine-tuning and new solutions. The outer lines of the air inlets integrate additional openings – they guide some of the air stream over the wheel well, where it flows past wheels which have also been aerodynamically optimized. Details such as the exterior mirrors positioned on the door sills with their small integrated narrow stripes help enhance the aeroacoustics.
In every new car, the rear design plays a key part in automotive aerodynamics. On the new Audi A4 Sedan, the lines of the luggage compartment door make sure that the air flow is smooth.
The driver assistance systems and integrated safety
With their wide range of driver assistance systems, the new Audi A4 and A4 Avant are setting benchmarks for the class. Nearly all of the equipment has been completely redesigned or greatly enhanced in comparison to previous models. Some of the systems are standard features, whereas the optional solutions can be chosen individually or are available in the packages Parking, City and Tour.
Greater safety
All of the versions of the new models include the safety system Audi pre sense city as standard equipment. At speeds of up to 85 km/h (52.8 mph), the system scans the road for other vehicles and pedestrians using a windshield-mounted front camera with a range of up to 100 meters (328.1 ft). If there is the threat of a collision, the driver receives a series of warnings, and if necessary the car starts to apply the brakes fully. At speeds up to 40 km/h (24.9 ft), it can fully prevent accidents within the system limits. At higher speeds up to 85 km/h (52.8 mph), warnings and brake intervention can reduce the impact velocity.
The optional Audi pre sense basic works with information from a variety of different vehicle systems. Once it detects unstable driving conditions, it initiates preventive measures to protect the occupants. The front seat belts are electrically tightened, and the windows and sunroof are closed. The hazard lights are also activated.
If a collision cannot be prevented and an accident is inevitable, the multicollision brake assist system supports the driver with controlled application of the brakes. This can help to prevent the car from skidding, which prevents further collisions.
Another standard system in the new Audi A4 is attention assist, a component of the driver information system. It analyses driver behavior and issues a warning when it detects that the driver is becoming inattentive. The adjustable speed limiter, a standard feature, can be set to a particular speed ranging from 30 to 250 km/h (18.6 to 155.3 mph) – a very helpful tool for maintaining speed within city limits, in construction areas, and so on.
Audi virtual cockpit
The Audi virtual cockpit is available with MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch on board. Its 12.3-inch LCD monitor with a resolution of 1,440 x 540 pixels ensures highly detailed graphics. For example, engine speed calculated 60 times a second so that the virtual needle is extremely precise and moves smoothly. Scroll-down lists follow a physical model so that factors such as inertia, elasticity and damping are considered.
With the “View” button on the multifunction steering wheel plus, the driver can switch between two different user interfaces. The infotainment mode is dominated by a central window – it offers items such as the navigation map or lists from the areas of telephone, radio and audio. The tachometer and speedometer are presented here as round instruments. In the classical view, the instruments are shown in about the same size as analog dials and the central window is correspondingly smaller.
The Audi virtual cockpit presents information comprehensively and in various ways – from the navigation arrows to dynamic animations and the infotainment features (including connect services) as well as the graphics of some assistance systems. The display changes its color design depending on the basic menu: orange in the media menu and green in the telephone menu for example. At the lower edge, there are permanent displays of exterior temperature, time of day and mileage, as well as warning symbols and other information.
As with the display of the driver information system in the analog instrument, the driver operates the Audi virtual cockpit with the optional multifunction steering wheel plus. The switches on the left spoke are used to move through the menus of the audio system, onboard computer and – if fitted – navigation system and telephone; the user interface can be changed with the “View” button. The volume control, voice-control system, telephone express control and the skip function for rapidly changing radio stations or music tracks are located on the right spoke of the steering wheel.
