The Fate of the Next Audi A4 Has Been Decided

[AVANTI R5]

On July 1, the first working day of former BMW exec Hildegard Wortmann, the new Audi AG board member in charge of sales and marketing, the product strategy committee (PSK) finally decided on the future of the next Audi A4, which we expect in 2022 or 2023. The project, codenamed B10, had just been spat out by the corporate grinder for the final time. Almost two years ago, the consensus to derive the marque’s most critical new product from its MLB architecture was unanimous. It was clear then that Audi needed the R&D work, the motivation, and the production volume only MLB could provide.

But then the diesel scandal happened, and cost-cutting became the number-one priority across the board. The bean counters moved heaven and earth to switch the A4 model from Audi’s own longitudinal-engine MLB to VW’s transverse MQB matrix. Even though this move could have potentially saved in excess of more than $1 billion over the A4’s life cycle, a concerted effort that leaned on goodwill, advance trust, and brand identity saved the MLB version. It’s still over budget but perhaps the lesser of two evils.


The platform strategy is bound to boost the morale at the seriously overstaffed and under-efficient car manufacturer. Says a member of the PSK: “What opened everyone’s eyes were Mark Lichte’s design proposals. The MQB-based models looked okay thanks to short overhangs, a long wheelbase, and a big trunk. But their proportions were clearly those of front-wheel-drive cars with a dash-to-axle ratio similar to the A3. The MLB-derived B10 proposal—which received standing ovations—also has a short front overhang, but there is significantly more meat between the bumper and windscreen, which makes the next A4 look like a shorter and sportier A6.”


The current A4 has been refreshed for 2020.

Although the MLB decision gives Audi some breathing space, cuts to the portfolio are still a distinct possibility. On the list of endangered species are the A5 coupe, cabriolet, and Sportback, along with the A7 and A8, which fuses MLB and ASF (Audi Space Frame) elements. According to the Ingolstadt grapevine, the next A3/A5 droptops will merge on the MQB components set, which may also spawn various iterations of a compact coupe. The A5 Sportback and A7 are expected to be replaced by a single MLB-based five-door body style. If there will be a conventional follow-up to the A8, it is almost certainly going to share its genes with the Panamera. But at this point, sources say product planning is favoring a PPE-derived (that’s the electric-vehicle platform) A9 flagship partnered with a Q9 e-tron grand coupe.

There are no significant changes to Audi’s projected EV line-up except the TTE twinned with the zero-emission Cayman/Boxster EV models and the top-secret RS e-tron (presumably a take on the PB-18 concept it debuted last year), which may eventually supersede the R8. While the TTE is—if it happens at all—masterminded by Porsche in Weissach, the RS e-tron would be assembled in Audi’s own Bollinger Höfe factory near Heilbronn, home of A6/A7/A8.

Due to budget constraints, Audi Sport is contemplating farming out large chunks of the development work on the RS e-tron to Rimac in Croatia. Already an ally of Porsche, Rimac is also reportedly in talks with Bugatti, and may potentially partner with Lamborghini. (It might also work with Hyundai’s Genesis, too.) The idea is to have Rimac supply the four-motor powertrain and the fast-charge batteries for the 950-hp EV sports coupe to be priced north of $200,000 when it debuts in 2023 or 2024. Said to target zero-to-60-mph acceleration of less than 2.5 seconds, the all-wheel-drive, multimaterial lightweight two-seater would be fitted with an active aero assembly to boast the lowest drag coefficient in its class. Right now, the RS e-tron is still only a paper tiger like so many exciting proposals before it. But if Audi is serious about that Vorsprung durch Technik slogan, it is high time to put these words into action.

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[Brahmzy]

Meh..

[VaporTrail308]

Still jamming an ipad into the dash I see. Do you think they used double sided sticky tape?

[AVANTI R5]

That photo is not new A4 coming out..It hasn’t been built yet

[arghx7]

Times are not good for the German auto industry. The cost cutting is only going to get worse.

[VaporTrail308]

Originally Posted by AVANTI R5

That photo is not new A4 coming out..It hasn’t been built yet

Good to know. I hope they abandon that stupid design cue. It's probably one of my biggest pet peeves on car interior design.

[dwf137]

hmm... A4 on the MQB.

wonder what engine they'll put in the S4/RS4.

[4S-TURBO]

Hybrid

[heavyD]

Originally Posted by arghx7

Times are not good for the German auto industry. The cost cutting is only going to get worse.

It's not just the Germans. It's the entire industry as demand for automobiles is on the decline and all manufacturers are facing the pinch.

[AVANTI R5]

In terms of design, the car now sports some fine character lines at the front.

At the back, Audi has done with the sharp and edgier for a more rounded design that gives the car a wider appearance. Also in the new model are revised LED headlights, LED DRLs and new fog lamps. While the tweaks are not substantial, the new version seems to have more drama when compared to its rivals in the same segment.

On the inside, the car comes with an identical design as the outgoing model. This means that on offer is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Audi’s latest MMI user interface, connected car technology. This is a major upgrade from the smaller screen that came without a touchscreen in the previous model. Features like the all-digital Audi Virtual Cockpit and three-zone climate control among others have also been carried over to the new Audi A4 from its predecessor.

,need5

https://indianautosblog.com/2021-aud...ift-a4-p322171


2021 Audi A4 Facelift vs Pre-Facelift A4 - Here's What's New




Among the first of models set to arrive next year will be the 2021 Audi A4 facelift. For its upcoming version, Audi has included a few substantial changes. The car now looks sportier with minor tweaks in design. While the cosmetic upgrades are minimal, the car still rightfully falls in line with the rest of its stable-mates. In addition to this, the car also gets additional features and new powertrain options under the hood. Nevertheless, here are more details regarding the new update.

In terms of design, the car now sports some fine character lines at the front along with revised LED headlights, LED DRLs and new fog lamps.
Design

In terms of design, the car now sports some fine character lines at the front. At the back, Audi has done with the sharp and edgier for a more rounded design that gives the car a wider appearance. Also in the new model are revised LED headlights, LED DRLs and new fog lamps. While the tweaks are not substantial, the new version seems to have more drama when compared to its rivals in the same segment.


Cabin

On the inside, the car comes with an identical design as the outgoing model. This means that on offer is a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Audi’s latest MMI user interface, connected car technology. This is a major upgrade from the smaller screen that came without a touchscreen in the previous model. Features like the all-digital Audi Virtual Cockpit and three-zone climate control among others have also been carried over to the new Audi A4 from its predecessor.



2019 Vs 2021 Audi A4 Interior

There are not many changes on the inside expect the fact that the swivel wheel has been ditched in favor of a new touchscreen.
Engine

Under the hood, the car will get a new 2.0-litres single-cylinder petrol TFSI engine that was recently found in the Q2. Since the upcoming iteration will be a petrol-only model, Audi will most likely also couple the engine with a 12-volt mild-hybrid system, similar to the European version that offers better acceleration, fuel economy, and overall refinement. This engine is likely to be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

At the back, Audi has done with the sharp and edgier for a more rounded design that gives the car a wider appearance.

Safety

In terms of safety, the new Audi A4 facelift will be equipped with eight airbags, cruise control with speed limiter and reverse park guide among others. The safety features list was near identical in the outgoing model as well.

[Scooby-Doode]

No manual, no care.

[godfather2112]

Originally Posted by Scooby-Doode

No manual, no care.

It’s an Audi A4. Even with a manual, it’s about as exciting to drive as an Astrovan.

[n2oiroc]

Originally Posted by godfather2112

It's an Audi A4. Even with a manual, it's about as exciting to drive as an Astrovan.

compared to a 2018+ sti it's quicker, stops better, and pulls more lateral g's even with junk tires.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...i-test-review/

[lil'redwagon]

Which one is the new one? Up top, the pictures of the front ends, the one on the right looks like an old design, but at the bottom with the pictures of the rear, the one on the right looks newer. I guess I'd have to see it in person.

[n2oiroc]

Originally Posted by lil'redwagon

Which one is the new one? Up top, the pictures of the front ends, the one on the right looks like an old design, but at the bottom with the pictures of the rear, the one on the right looks newer. I guess I'd have to see it in person.

both left side pics are the 2020+ exterior. the interior pics are both wrong. the right side is a 2020+ S4 and the left looks like a 2019 or older euro model with a heated steering wheel and the "comfort" seats. it was just a mid cycle refresh, not a new car.

[heavyD]

The interior is looking dated with the pop-up looking infotainment display.

[Scooby-Doode]

Originally Posted by godfather2112

It’s an Audi A4. Even with a manual, it’s about as exciting to drive as an Astrovan.

Originally Posted by n2oiroc

compared to a 2018+ sti it's quicker, stops better, and pulls more lateral g's even with junk tires.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...i-test-review/

Fake news alert. Something better than a Subaru, a STI??

Always liked the A4, sedan and Avant. My all time favorite was the 1999.5 A4 Quattro with Quattro Celebration Edition. Then there was the S4 with the Twin Turbo 2.7T. The craze for the Audi B5 chassis was bonkers. Yep totally dating myself here.

[oichan]

Meh.. sedans.. yuck.

[godfather2112]

Originally Posted by n2oiroc

compared to a 2018+ sti it's quicker, stops better, and pulls more lateral g's even with junk tires.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...i-test-review/

Please don't use the STI as a benchmark.

[White out]

Originally Posted by godfather2112

Please don't use the STI as a benchmark.

what if we just use VIR lap times as a benchmark?

[AVANTI R5]

Next-generation Audi A4 caught testing ahead of 2023 launch | Auto Express

Our spies have photographed the new Audi A4 Avant undergoing cold-weather testing before release next year

Audi is due to reveal an all-new Audi A4 next year, equipped with hybrid power, a new design and a revamped interior. We’ve spied the forthcoming Avant estate model during cold-weather testing in Sweden, revealing cleaner, evolutionary styling over the current A4.

The front end has been largely decluttered with a sharper set of headlights and a narrower radiator grille, sitting above a neat lower grille arrangement. There’s a pair of slim vertical cutouts below the headlights, too, while a smooth bonnet replaces the more heavily styled item of the outgoing A4.

The surfacing along the side of the car is cleaner than before, too, without the razor-sharp creases of recent Audi models. This Avant estate features a steeply raked rear window and an integrated roof spoiler for a sportier look – the rudimentary tail lights of this pre-production car will be replaced by a set of LED units for the final car.

New 2023 Audi A4 to stick with petrol and diesel power

The cabin will get a thorough rethink, too. We’re expecting a new dashboard with even fewer physical controls and a redesigned centre console with new toggle gear selectors, as the next A4 will probably only be available with an automatic gearbox.

The biggest changes will happen under the skin, though. The next A4 will stay on the same MLB underpinnings as the current model, but it’ll be powered by a line-up of new combustion engines which Audi’s head of technical development, Oliver Hoffman, describes as “the best [the company] has ever launched”.

Most of the line-up will be based around an updated version of the Volkswagen Group’s omnipresent EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Improvements will include new variable-section turbochargers that claim to improve throttle response and a higher-pressure fuel injection system.

Electrification will play a key role in the A4 range, too. The petrol engine will be offered with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology at the lower end of the line-up and full-blown plug-in hybrid technology towards the upper end of the range. The latter option will probably use the same 14.4kWh battery pack and electric motor as other MLB models, such as the Q5.

Diesel power will also remain, although it’ll probably play second fiddle to Audi’s new-look line-up of electrified petrol engines. The bulk of the diesel range should be based around the same 201bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit also found in the Q5 SUV.

Audi could also launch a pure-electric version of the A4 Avant later in the car’s life cycle, which would give the brand somewhat of an edge over the competition. Currently none of the A4’s main rivals have been offered as a pure-electric estate. The focus in this class is currently on saloons, as shown by the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3.

However, if it does materialise, the pure-electric A4 will probably move to a different platform, because the MLB underpinnings aren’t set up for EV powertrains. It could use either a modified version of the PPE chassis that will sit under the upcoming Q6 e-tron or the Volkswagen Group’s new SSP architecture, which is due to arrive in 2025.

How the Audi A4 has evolved

Audi A4 generations

B5 (1994-01)

The B5 designation issued for the first-generation A4 saw the car continue the lineage started by the Audi 80, making it the fifth generation of Audi compact executive

B6 (2001-06)

Handsome B6 was penned by designers Peter Schreyer and Luc Donckerwolke. It introduced V8 power in the range-topping S4, while the faster RS4 was yet to come.

B7 (2004-07)

There was a short life span for the B7, which was essentially a heavily facelifted B6. Perhaps this is the A4 best remembered by enthusiasts thanks to the storming 414bhp RS4.

B8 (2008-2016)

Audi moved to the MLB platform for the B8-generation A4. A significant increase in wheelbase was joined by the introduction of the first A4 Allroad off-road estate.

B9 (2016-present)

Current B9 introduced significant connectivity and infotainment advances over the B8. Estate-only RS 4 Avant goes without a V8 but turbo six-cylinder has a healthy 444bhp.

[Scooby-Doode]

AVANT with manual please....

[heavyD]

Looks kind of Kia-like.