2008 Audi A4 range
April 4, 2008 by George Skentzos
Audi’s A4 has arrived in Australia in spectacular fashion, unveiled at a private function to a tune by rock icon Bryan Adams.
Encompassing both petrol or diesel, front or quattro all-wheel drive and turbo or six cylinder variants – there is an Audi A4 to suit every buyer.
By October 2008, the Audi A4 range will be available with three TDI units and two petrol engines, with power ranging from 105kW to 195kW.
Fuel consumption has been reduced by an average of 13 percent and six percent on the petrol and TDI units respectively.
Leading the A4 stable is the 3.2 FSI V6 quattro model developing 195kW and maximum torque of 330Nm all the way from 3000 to 5000 rpm, hitting 100km/h in 6.2 seconds.
Compared with the previous 188kW unit, the revised 3.2 FSI engine returns impressive fuel economy, representing a 1.2L/100km improvement over the outgoing A4.
The smaller of the two petrol engines is the turbocharged 1.8 TFSI, which develops 115kW and 250Nm between 1500 and 4500rpm.
Mated to the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the 1.8 TFSI model accelerates from a standing start to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds – with a combined fuel consumption figure of just 7.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres.
Available in Australia from October 2008, the deceptively-diesel 3.0 TDI V6 engine is the performance peak for the A4 range, yet average fuel consumption is at a very polite 6.9L/100km.
With 176kW and impressive maximum torque of 500Nm at the driver’s disposal from 1500 to 3000 rpm, the 3.0 TDI quattro V6 model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in only 6.1 seconds – 0.1 seconds faster than the 3.2 FSI.
A more economical option with still plenty of torque is the 2.7 TDI V6 engine, with an output of 140kW and 400Nm – its fuel consumption is just 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres while still managing a brisk 7.7 second run to 100km/h.
However Audi can still do one better, with the ultra-efficient 2.0 TDI engine producing 105kW and maximum torque of 320Nm unlocked from 1750rpm, with range topping fuel economy standing at just 5.8L/100km.
Buyers will have the choice of three transmission variants with either front or Audi’s famous quattro all-wheel drive.
The six-speed manual gearbox is standard across the entry level models including the A4 1.8 TFSI.
The new A4 3.2 FSI which is available with the quattro driveline as standard equipment features the six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission with an additional manual-shift mode.
Finally, Audi also offers the multitronic continuously variable transmission for the A4 1.8 TFSI, A4 2.0 TDI and A4 2.7 TDI; combining the advantages of a manual gearbox with those of a conventional automatic transmission for dynamic-acceleration and efficiency.
With a low drag coefficient of 0.27 which matches the Nissan GT-R, the new A4 tips the scales at just 1410kg in its lightest form.
Several innovative technologies are present on the new A4, Audi drive select allows drivers to adjust the operating characteristics of the engine, automatic transmission, steering and adaptive damping whilst Audi dynamic steering varies the effective steering ratio according to road speed – and acting with the ESP, can stabilise the car by slight but very rapid adjustments to the steering.
The A4 also comprises a host of luxury features including Audi Side Assist, Lane Assist, adaptive Cruise Control and a Bang & Olufsen stereo system combined with a TV receiver, two navigation systems, an iPod interface, Bluetooth telephone and acoustic parking system.
An S Line package arriving in Australia from July adds the choice of an exterior package, which concentrates on small but visually effective highlights, and a sport package.
A4 launch calendar – Australia
Available from May 2008
A4 1.8 TFSI manual rrp $50,900
A4 1.8 TFSI multitronic rrp $53,500
A4 2.0 TDI multitronic rrp $54,900
A4 3.2 FSI quattro tiptronic rrp $88,500
Late May/June 2008
A4 2.7 TDI multitronic rrp $67,900
August 2008
A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI multitronic
A4 Avant 2.0 TDI multitronic
October 2008
A4 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic
Print it: 
******** F R U G L O *******
Apparently from what i’ve read they are still not a match for the 3 series but not much off it.
And the diesel does it again. 3.0 D V the 3.2 petrol. leaves it for smoke, containing all those nasty chemicals. Love it.
A4 quattro fantastic!!!!
u forgot the 25% more crude. ha ha ha.
If the instrument panel wasn’t a retrograde step from the iconic design of its predecessor, this would be almost perfect, particularly as an Avant with the 3.0 diesel.
yeah but look at that interior
and the audi is almost 5.7 metres its huge
Having said that I’ve now looked at your photo montage and at least three of the interior shots are of the old model. I know the new A4’s instrument panel is like that of the A5. The caramel-coloured interior is definately not an A4 – is it the new A6?
I hope this time around Audi decides to have a decent list of standard equipment on the A4 to make it more competitive against Volkswagen’s Passat. Also pricing the options a little more reasonably wouldn’t hurt.
No Captain don’t think its the A6.
TP of course thinks the Aurion interior makes this look substandard.
Audi without doubt do the best interiors by far of any production car BMW/Merc included.
Interesting to see the direct injection petrol cars are pretty fuel efficient.
very nice :) would have one over the kinda boring 3 series… but why are there pictures of the old model posted with the new….
Chucky, no chance that the options are going to be cheap. Mond you I would have no problem paying $1500 for a 14 speaker B&O stereo upgrade…
The text seems to indicate that a lot of the features are actually standard – they aren’t ! The PDF of prices/options can be downloaded at a certain wheelsmag site.
Yeah, those interior pics are of the old model ! I think the tan interior is actually the new model A4…
Looks a good thing but a TDI is $55k and doesn’t even come with rear parking sensors ($850 thank you…)
Ooh, yummy !!
An A4 quattro with the 3.0 V6 diesel (power figure the same as the Touareg V6, but the torque is 50nm lower ????) can’t see any problem with this, other than its ability to chew tyres to shreds !
I want one :)
Just as a note; the fancy fairy lights around the front lamps are in the UK an optional extra $1650 only available with the Xenon option
From the price list:
Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime driving lights $2100*
1 word…
“C Class” COTY!
Cheers
F-0
the new A4 looks great, but don’t the Germans know how to charge for options. Could you imagine Holden putting Xenon headlights as an option on an Omega for $2100? How much extra do they cost to manufacture over the standard lights? $10? $100? $300?
I honestly wouldn’t waste the money, I’d take the Passat, or a Mazda 6 over this. Saw it at the Motorshow and although I can’t speak in terms of driving experience, nothing in my opinion made me desire or want this car.
If I were to spend this much money it would be on the BMW 3-series, Merc C-Class or the Lexus IS.
A4 1.8TFSI $50,900
Octavia 1.8TFSI $30,990
Ignoring perceived badge value it would be interesting for CA to do a comparison.
Passat, jetta, skoda, 6 new euro, all offer better value at the bottom end, and pretty well kitted for less than 50k (passat some more depending on motor). Too expensive to option up and come resale :(
Iamthestig Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Chucky, no chance that the options are going to be cheap. Mond you I would have no problem paying $1500 for a 14 speaker B&O stereo upgrade…
The text seems to indicate that a lot of the features are actually standard – they aren’t ! The PDF of prices/options can be downloaded at a certain wheelsmag site.
—————————————————————————
Wow, look at all those options! $1,600 for metallic paint; where do they get off? A Passat only costs an extra $990 with metallic paint. Sat Nav is $5,000 versus $2,500 on the Passat. Electric front seats with memory are $4,000 versus $1,500 on the Passat. The B&O sound system on the A4 is only $1,500 versus the $2,000 Dynaudio system on the Passat, but thats probably because the Dynaudio is a better sound system.
This is just pure price gouging.
Option pricing is a strange animal.
In a Volvo (such as a XC70), the Dynaudio stereo upgrade is AU$930 but in the UK, it is 1000 pounds for the same thing.
I can’t work that out !
Really all options are overpriced…
this is a bit off topic, but Volvo especially V70 and XC70 offers much greater value for money. Audi… em…, too expensive for what it offers. My mum loves A4, only because it looks better than a Volvo but she ended up buying a Lexus.