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The 'Audi A4' is a compact executive car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1994. It is the successor of the Audi 80.
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Contents

B5 (1994-2001)

B5 facelift (1998-2001)

B6 (2000-2005)

B7 (2004-present)

Current lineup

B8 (2008-)

See also

External links

B5 (1994-2001)

Audi debuted the first-generation A4 (known internally as the ''Typ 8D'') in 1994 on Volkswagen Group's B5 platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat. Like the Passat, it had a longitudinal engine and standard front-wheel drive, although many of the A4s Audi sells in North America come optioned with their quattro four-wheel drive system. The A4 was initially introduced as a four-door saloon; the Avant estate arrived a year later.
A wide range of engines were available to European customers, between 1.6 and 2.8 litres, 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 lb.ft.) 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 realize that there was now a marqueé other than BMW and Mercedes-Benz. 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 Besides the introduction of a 2.4 L 30-valve V6 (replacing the outdated 2.6 V6), the most important additions to the range were the 2.5 L V6 TDI engine with 150 PS (110 kW) and standard quattro and a six-speed gearbox, as well the new high-performance S4, now part of the A4 lineup (the previous S4 had been an 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, internally designated ''Typ 8E'', debuted in late 2000, now riding on the B6 platform. The car's new styling was inspired on the fifth-generation Audi A6. The 1.6 L base model remained unchanged, but most other gasoline engines received either displacement increases or power upgrades. The 1.8 L 20-valve Turbo was now available in two additional 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 2.0 engine with Fuel Stratified Injection was also available. A year later, Audi reintroduced the S4, now powered by a 344 PS (253 kW) 4.2 L V8, as well as an A4 Cabriolet convertible variant (''Typ 8H''), finally replacing the 80-based Audi Cabriolet that had been discontinued in 1998. It incorporated some styling changes which eventually found their way to the saloon version (such as body-colored lower bumper and sill panels).
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 "sports package" named Ultra Sport was introduced in the North American market shortly before the B6 was replaced by the B7. It included aluminium interior trim and door sills, S Line steering wheel, front and rear spoilers, side valence and 18-inch RS4 replica wheels.
The B6 design was available with the following engines:

Engine	Cyl.	Power (PS)
1.6	4	102
2.0 20V	4	130
1.8T 20V	4	150/164
1.8T S-Line	4	191
3.0 30V	V6	220
S4 4.2	V8	344
1.9 TDI	4	100/130
2.5 TDI	V6	155/180

B7 (2004-present)

Audi introduced a redesigned A4 in late 2004, now riding on the B7 platform. Nonetheless, the B7 is actually a revision of the outgoing B6, and not a ground-up redesign. This is confirmed by Audi's internal platform nomenclature, which uses PL46 (longitudinal passenger car platform, size 4, generation 6) for both B6 and B7 chassis. The ''Typ 8E'' and ''8H'' type designations are also unchanged from the B6 A4.
The engine lineup received many additions, the most notable of which was the 2005 introduction of Fuel Stratified Injection on the 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 V6 FSI, respectively capable of 200 and 255 PS (147 and 188 kW). These engines both implement a four-valve per cylinder design as the 5-valve design was incompatible with the direct injection system. The new 2.0 TDI engine now combines Pumpe-Düse (PD) technology with 16 valves for the first time, while the larger 2.5 TDI was increased to 3.0 L, offering 204 PS (150 kW). Quattro all-wheel drive was available on most A4 models, with Multitronic and Tiptronic automatic gearboxes available throughout the entire lineup. As the B6, Multitronic is available only on front-wheel drive models and Tiptronic only available on quattro models.
In addition to the higher-performance S4 (S for Sport), which remained unchanged on the technical side, Audi has reintroduced the RS4 (RS for Renn Sport) to the lineup, for the first time on the saloon 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 torque 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 a tall trapezoidal shape in the same manner as the sixth-generation 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, but to date this is not being offered with the Multitronic gearbox.
The Audi A4 is generally considered to be a safe car with many safety features, including side airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Stabilization Program, and its optional Quattro four-wheel drive.

Current lineup

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

B8 (2008-)

The first official pictures of the B8 series have been unveiled by Audi at the end of August 2007. Its styling makes it look like a four-door A5. The car will debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show.
Response to this newly-redesigned model, only sedan and station wagon models will be offered, with the convertible being replaced by the Audi A5.

See also

★ Audi S4

★ Audi RS4

External links

★ Official Audi A4 Website

★ Official Audi USA A4 Website

★ Official Audi A4 UK Microsite

★ Official Audi Canada A4 Website