Audi A4 1998 News

Audi has sharpened its A4 and A5 lineup for 2014, with prices dropping by up to $7300 across the sedan, wagon, coupe, hatch, and cabriolet body styles. The previous entry A4 1.8 TFSI petrol manual sedan has been dropped from the range, with the 1.8 TFSI Multitronic auto now forming the kickoff point for the lineup at $55,500.Similarly, the non-quattro 3.0 TDI diesel sedan and Avant wagon models have also been discontinued, and a new $65,800 2.0 TDI diesel quattro sedan variant joins the pre-existing $69,900 Avant model with the same drivetrain. A5 Coupe and Sportback models also gain 2.0 TDI quattro variants, priced equally at $75,700.Petrol 2.0-litre models across all body styles gain a version of the direct and port-injected turbo engine seen in the new Volkswagen Golf GTI, which produces 165kW in Audi guise and an unchanged 350Nm. The change marks a 10kW improvement over previous 2.0-litre quattro models. FEATURESThe entry A4 and A5 1.8 TFSI models gain standard three-zone climate control and a colour Driver Information System (DIS). Buyers of the A4 1.8 TFSI models can choose from two new option packages, including the $2990 Technik package that brings MMI Navigation plus satnav and Parking system plus, which is comprised of front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.Also available for A4 1.8 TFSI models is the $2,200 Comfort package, which brings electric front seat adjustment and heaters, an auto-dimming interior mirror and proximity keys. A4 sedan models can also be optioned with the $1,690 Assistance Package, comprised of adaptive cruise control and Active lane assist.All Quattro models now come with the Parking system plus system as standard, and both petrol and diesel A5 3.0-litre models now come with the sportier S-Line exterior package. "We have made some of the most popular options now standard," Audi Australia’s marketing boss Kevin Goult says.PRICINGA4 Sedan 1.8 TFSI multitronic - 125 kW - $55,500A4 Sedan 2.0 TDI multitronic (special order only) - 130kW - $57,900A4 Sedan 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic - 130kW - $65,800A4 Sedan 2.0 TFSI quattro manual - 165kW - $63,000 (up $1300)A4 Sedan 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 165kW - $65,800 (up $1300)A4 Sedan 3.0 TDI quattro S tronic - 180kW - $88,000A4 Sedan 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 200kW - $92,900 (down $500)S4 Sedan 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 245kW - $119,900A4 Avant 1.8 TFSI multitronic - 125 kW - $58,500A4 Avant 2.0 TDI multitronic (special order only) - 130kW - $60,900A4 Avant 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 165kW - $68,800 (up $1300)A4 Allroad 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic - 130kW - $69,900S4 Avant 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 245kW - $123,400RS 4 Avant 4.2 FSI quattro S tronic - 331kW - $149,400A5 Coupe and Sportback 1.8 TFSI multitronic - 125 kW - $64,200 (down $2700)A5 Coupe and Sportback 2.0 TDI multitronic (special order only) - 130kW - $65,700 (down $3000)A5 Coupe and Sportback 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic - 130kW - $75,900A5 Coupe and Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro manual - 165kW - $74,000 (down $6900)A5 Coupe and Sportback 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 165kW - $75,700 (down $7500)A5 Coupe and Sportback 3.0 TDI quattro S tronic - 180kW - $93,800 (down $2100)A5 Coupe and Sportback 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 200kW - $98,400 (down $1900)S5 Coupe and Sportback 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 245kW - $135,400A5 Cabriolet 1.8 TFSI multitronic - 125 kW - $75,800 (down $2700)A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TDI multitronic (special order only) - 130kW - $77,900 (down $3000)A5 Cabriolet 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 165kW - $89,100 (down $7300)A5 Cabriolet 3.0 TDI quattro S tronic - 180kW - $106,700 (down $2100)A5 Cabriolet 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 200kW - $110,500 (down $1900)S5 Cabriolet 3.0 TFSI quattro S tronic - 245kW - $146,000

Scrape off the usual Audi marketing froth — “emotional driving experience”, “a microcosm in a macrocosm” — what we have here are two highly-polished and desirable luxury luggage luggers. The Avant variant (that'd be wagon to us Antipodeans) of the well-received A4 sedan range arrived last week and were launched last week with a testing drive out of Albury to Bright in the Victorian high country and back. As with most Euro prestige wagons, a genre becoming ever more evident on our roads, it's not as though the Avants are a great deal more practical than the sedan, which boasts quite a big booty. Rather it's a question of which flicks your switch aesthetically. Still, the five door does have a highly useable 490 litres with the back seats up and 1430 when they’re folded flat. Up front there's a choice of the Volkswagen Group's direct injection turbo charged four cylinder engines. These are the stalwart 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel and — one of our favourite small petrol jobbies — the 1.8 TFSI. Both versions are driven through the front wheels via Audi's Multitronic continuously variable transmission with eight manual settings. Down the line, perhaps the second quarter of 2009, comes the enticing prospect of a quattro all-wheel-drive variant with a 155kW/350Nm version of the 2.0-litre turbo four, a drivetrain that will also go to the four door. Like the current four door, the Avant has a decent levels of standard equipment and the usual mile long list of costly extras. The pretty much standard 1.8 version we drove to Bright featured Milano leather upholstery, Servotronic steering, eight airbags, daytime running lights and $1600(!) metallic paint. The S-line packaged version in which we returned also copped grippy great 18-inch low profile rubber, paddle shifters, perforated leather and the optimum version of Drive Select (through which steering, gearshift and damping responses are altered to mood or circumstance). Even without the full length sun roof ($2850), this variant returned little change from $70K. Steep, even when placed next to the Audi's direct rivals, BMW's 320i Touring and the Mercedes-Benz 200K Estate. And not a little silly if you're not so hopelessly badge besotted that you can't see the merits of Skoda's Octavia (with the same engines) and the Mazda6. Both are equally good if not better drives, both are bigger and both are $25,000 to $35,000 cheaper. We could also point to Holden's new Commdore sportwagon, but badge blindness goes only so far. As opposed to the previous generation A4, the new Audi is an attractive proposition as much for its on road behaviour as its chic lines. We'll get to the diesel in coming weeks (it's anticipated take up rate is less than 20 per cent), but on the word of trusted colleagues it reflects the equivalent sedan's disposition. That's to say that the extra weight, especially over the front axle, drags it back against its more adroit petrol sibling. Audi's persistence with longitudinal engines means that the bigger the donk the more negated the advantages of its much-vaunted new platform. Nor can a decisive economy advantage be claimed for the oiler. When pushing on, it needs to be spurred. In city traffic its consumption approaches that of the petrol car. In fact, the 1.8 TFSI combines the best characteristics of petrol and diesel, with the flexibility of the former (at 8.9 seconds it's almost one tick quicker to 100km/h from standing) and the low down response of the latter. And all of its 250Nm is available from 1500rpm — almost the instant the throttle is floored. It's a light weight contender that punches above its weight to imbue the Avant with a dynamic behaviour that's about as rewarding as you're going to get in a front-wheel-drive. While never enamoured of CVT, there are few grounds to complain of the way in which it transmits power to the road. As ever with Audi, the inside story is one of tactile delight. The interior of even a basic spec variant is pervaded by an air of comfort, convenience and sheer quality that exceeds the Merc and leaves the Bimmer for dead. When you're sitting this prettily, you don't mind so much which wheels are doing the driving.   AUDI A4 AVANT Price: $56,400 (TFSI); $57,800 (TDI) Engines: 1.8L/4-cylinder turbo petrol (118kW/250Nm); 2L/4-cylinder turbo diesel (105kW/320Nm) Economy: 7.4L/100km (TFSI); 6L/100km (TDI) Transmission: continuously variable auto