Audi A4 2011 News

Hot on the heels of the Australian government's mandatory Takata airbag recall, Ford, Audi and Tesla have joined the list of carmakers to detail which of it's models are affected.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued safety recalls for the recently launched Maserati Levante SUV and several Audi models over engine faults.

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

...and well before the recent tweaking of the Mercedes C-Class and BMW's 3 Series - so it's no surprise the German brand is working on an update.The facelift under this camouflage is expected to take its lead from the latest A6, with a bolder nose as the key point.

Hybrid cars and plans are popping up everywhere, from Porsche and Ferrari at the top end in Europe to the dozens of enthusiastic new carmakers led by Geely and BYD - the name means Build Your Dreams - in China.  We are also seeing far more efficiency in everyday petrol-powered cars, with a range of new technologies to boost economy and cut emissions.A growing number of new cars are now arriving with engine-stop systems for traffic-light efficiency, as well as driver-advisor systems to help pick the right gear. There is an Audi A4 in the Carsguide garage this week which does both and, even with a turbocharged petrol engine, is running fuel economy in the 7 litres/100km range.There is much more to come on the petrol-power front and the Toyota Prius, perhaps surprisingly since it's a hybrid, shows the way. Its 1.8-litre petrol engine is the first in the world without any sort of power-sapping drive belt for the parasitic add-ons, with electrically operated power steering and airconditioning, an on-demand alternator and an electric water pump.Expect all this, and soon, on cars for you.  Diesel engine development is going ahead very rapidly with most European brands - Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz among them - touting some sort of Blue technology. So blue is the new green for diesels.The best new diesels are much quieter than in the past and, thanks to the massive advantages of turbocharging, they have huge pulling power. Torque rules in the real world, where you need punch for overtaking and stoplight drags, and that makes diesels the surprising performance choice for a growing range of vehicles.It's easy to go on and on about the engine changes, from Benz's switch from superchargers to turbochargers and BMWs impressive efficiency developments to the small-capacity winners from brands such as Nissan, but the long-term green path is into electric cars.  Australia has yet to see its first commercial electric car but the race is really on now, with Mitsubishi and Tesla expected to both have plug-in cars on the road before the end of the year.An electric Smart will arrive sometime in 2011 and Subaru is keen to have a battery car in Australia as soon as possible, with other brands also working on plans.  But the green machine will run off the rails if governments do not act - and act soon - to give them support. Electric cars need plug-in points, but that's the obvious and easy stuff being pushed today by the Better Place organisation and many others.The real key to sales of electric cars is some sort of Federal incentive, like the ones in Europe and the USA. Nobody by a full-on greenie is going to pay around $70,000 for a Mitsubishi iMiEV when a petrol-powered Colt, which is a similar size and does a similar job, starts from $15,740.Follow Paul Gover on Twitter!

Everything from an A5 cabrio, A5 Sportback, A4 Allroad wagon, A7 four-door sports coupe, A1 Sportsback, Q3 off-roader and R8 convertible is on the books.But Audi Australia is not revealing just what is likely to head to Australia.Audi Australia general manager of marketing, Immo Buschmann, is giving little away on the new arrivals, only confirmed the early 2009 launch of the Q5 off-roader.However, he hints that an A5 Sportsback and maybe an A4 Allroad were on the cards."But we have not decided," he says.He says he is unaware specifically what the Germany headquarters has in store for Australia regarding new models.Recently, Audi AG's product development chief, Michael Dick, revealed to European media that Audi's range of 22 vehicles will grow with another 18 "in our heads".It is believed the A5 convertible will be unveiled in Europe before the end of the year with an A5 Sportback arriving next year, followed by the Q3.The A5 Sportback will be designed to fill a gap between the A4 Avant and A6 Avant.Performance derivatives are believed to be among the mix, with an R5 and RS5 mooted.One thing is clear though, the huge investment local dealers have taken in new "Terminal" showrooms will pay off.The first "Terminal" dealership cost $12 million and is located in Sydney's Five Dock.It is the first of a design that will be adopted globally."Our dealers have invested heavily to be able to display and sell these new cars," he says."The Q5 is our next big launch."Audi is expected to launch the car with a tough Trans-Continental drive through Outback Australia like the successful Q7 launch.Speaking at the launch of the RS6 Avant, Buschmann, says although the focus on RS is to maintain exclusivity, he admitted that in the future, the company may have to broaden the RS thinking."If there is demand to broaden the RS portfolio then we will look at it," he says."The ethos of the RS is entirely up to our product strategists."But I imagine we would look at a top-down approach when we look at eligible RS cars, those that have the necessary DNA."