New Audi A4: Track Talk

The Audi A4 has always been a driver’s delight and it comes as no surprise that this sedan has been the bread and butter model for Audi across the globe. In fact it has been Audi’s best-seller for 39 years now and has sold over 10 million units since it made its debut way back in 1972. Now in its eighth generation, the new A4 not only has a lot to live up to, but a heritage that is worthy boasting about.

Incidentally the new A4 is essentially a face-lift on its predecessor but the designers at Audi have worked hard to usher in elements found on the A8 and A6 into the new car and the end result can safely be labelled as a visual delight. The new A4 is elegant and has a hint of sportiness that shines through thanks to various external changes which include the arched engine hood, the redesigned bumpers with their angular air inlets, the revised grille and the flat front fog lights. The headlight cluster is now in sync with the family look and those quintessential Audi daytime LEDs look awesome. The interiors have also been reworked and one can immediately make out that the inspiration came directly from the A6. 

With head turning looks and comfort that can make the competition jealous, Audi has ensured that they haven’t take away the dynamic appeal that the A4 is known for. The numerous laps done out on the Buddh International Circuit clearly highlighted the A4’s agility and I must add that while the BIC is a challenging circuit the car held its own and offered a rather engaging drive experience. Body roll was under control and the ability to take corners is a testament to this car’s build.

Keeping with its dynamic nature, Audi is initially offering the new A4 with a choice of two engines that boast of both performance and efficiency. The 1.8TFSI is a gem of an engine that generates 170PS between 3800 and 6200rpm and a solid torque of 320Nm between 1400 and 3700rpm. According to Audi’s claim, the petrol unit offers a fuel efficiency of 15.64kmpl which incidentally is a 25 per cent increase as compared to its predecessor. The second engine is the tried and tested 2.0TDI unit which churns out a solid 142PS at 4200rpm and makes 320Nm of torque between 1750 and 2500rpm. It is a workhorse that allows you to enjoy a peppy drive despite being a diesel and at the same time return a healthy mileage of 16.55kmpl as claimed by the company.

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Overall, the new A4 now feels a more mature product than it has ever been, and it comes as no surprise that Audi India pre-poned its launch as Audi continues to be the fastest growing luxury car brand in India and the current A4 has outsold its immediate competition in the first quarter of this year. With the new car, Audi India is looking at retaining the growth momentum, but the competition isn’t sleeping and the new BMW 3 series launch is just around the corner. It will be interesting to watch how this segment in the Indian market pans out over the next couple months and we can’t wait to pit the new A4 against the upcoming 3 series, but that is another story for another day!