KERRY, Ireland For 2020, the Audi Q7 has received an extensive makeover, packing fresh styling, a much swankier cabin, and a new engine, along with some cool dynamic driving assistants. As before, it will be offered in five- or seven-seat versions, and in Komfort, Progressiv, and Technik trim levels.In Europe, the Q7 will be offered with a high-tech set of HD Matrix LED headlights with laser light high beams and the latest LED daytime running lights. The look and functionality is very cool; the matrix system can eliminate the blinding light that often leaves oncoming drivers looking like the proverbial deer in a headlight. But sadly, Canadas antiquated headlight regulations mean well only see the laser light to be fair, they cast light twice as far down the road but not the matrix system.These new lights and the slick grille treatment give the Q7 more substantial presence. There are also stronger character lines through the side profile and a sharper backend with yet more LED lights. Taken individually, the changes are relatively small, but added together, they make a significant difference to the Q7s visual appeal. Another of the key improvements is a new 3.0L turbocharged V6 engine and the addition of a 48-volt-based mild-hybrid system, while the base turbo-four will carry over. The new turbocharged V6 makes 335 horsepower and a rewarding 369 pound-feet of torque from 1,370 rpm up six and 44, respectively. It also arrives 1,530 rpm earlier than the outgoing supercharged V6. As peak torque now arrives 750 rpm off idle, theres no turbo lag off the line and the mid-range is very strong. The proof of the engines sweetness is found in the numbers the 2020 Q7 runs from zero to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and it completes the 80 to 120 km/h passing move in 3.7 seconds.While the belt/alternator/starter (BAS) mild-hybrid system can add some power to the gas engine, its primary function is to allow the engine to shut down and restart without the harshness encountered when a regular starter motor does the job the stop/start system is all but instantaneous. It also allows the engine to shut down when coasting between speeds of 55 and 160 km/h. Audi says the combination cuts fuel consumption by 0.7 L/100 kilometres.The reality is most buyers will enjoy bigger savings. According to Natural Resources Canada, if the drivers of light-duty vehicles cut their idling time by just three minutes a day, over the year Canadians would collectively save 630 million litres of fuel. Kudos to Audi for the move Mercedes-Benz elected not to bring its 48-volt mild-hybrid system, found in new GLC, to Canada. Pity.The new engine drives all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audis Quattro system. In this application, power is split 40 per cent to the front and 60 per cent to the rear through a self-locking centre differential. On the run around the Ring of Kerry, the wet and slippery roads could not induce wheel spin, even after hammering the gas from a standstill. This speaks to the proficiency of the system.Where things begin to get out of hand is the number of driving modes. Theres Off-road, All-road, Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual. These are then layered with the transmissions Drive, Sport and Manual modes. Frankly, the two off-road modes are redundant whos going to risk the Q7 by running a back woods trail? Cut the clutter and use Comfort with the transmission in Drive when running around town. Pick Dynamic and Sport for the transmission when out for an enthusiastic run it sharpens the handling and brings the hybridized turbo V6 to life.While there are three suspension choices a steel-spring setup and two air suspensions with adaptive damping. The test ride arrived with the optional S-line sport air suspension with adaptive damping. It lowers the ride height by 15 millimetres compared to the other two setups. On the drive, it delivered its goods across the spectrum. It was cushy in Comfort mode and sharp as a tack in Dynamic mode. The oversized P285/40R21 tires and all-wheel-drive certainly helped the handling cause. The optional active roll stabilization works to perfection on the oh-so-tight Irish backroads, there was just the merest hint of roll and this was in Comfort mode. When set in the more aggressive Dynamic mode it kept the body as flat as gravy on a plate. Helping matters is the four-wheel steering system; while it does sharpen the turn-in response at speed, it shines in parking lots, where it chops the turning circle by a full metre.Inside, the single biggest change to the interior is the addition of Audis latest dual-screen MMI navigation plus infotainment system it mirrors the system found in the Q8 and has a Wi-Fi hotspot, along with a solid voice recognition system. Its much sharper to look at, and it’s as easy to use as easy gets. The top screen looks after the infotainment and navigation duties, and shows the drive mode selected. The lower screen
Origin: First Drive: 2020 Audi Q7
Audi
Audi to unveil AI:Trail quattro electric off-roader at Frankfurt
Audi will showcase an electric off-road concept car called the AI:Trail quattro at this year’s Frankfurt motor show. The firm has released a single teaser image of the machine, and has simply described it as “an electrically driven off-roader.” The image shows a buggy-like four-seater sitting on large off-road tyres, and with large glass elements on the side doors. The use of the quattro name confirms the machine will feature four-wheel-drive. The machine completes a quartet of electric concepts that Audi has released, which showcase differing visions for future machines. They started with the Aicon concept car at the 2017 Frankfurt show, an autonomous machine designed for long-distance cruises between cities. That was followed by the PB18 e-tron, a low-slung sports car that likely previews the next-gen R8. The most recent machine was the AI:ME, an autonomous ready city car that showcases a future electric hatch based on the VW Group’s MEB electric car platform. The AI:Trail quattro appears to have compact dimensions similar to the AI:ME, and could also make use of the MEB platform. That architecture has already been used for the Volkswagen ID Buggy off-roader, showcasing the production potential for an electric version of such a
Origin: Audi to unveil AI:Trail quattro electric off-roader at Frankfurt
SUV Review: 2019 Audi Q8
2019 Audi Q8Brian Harper / Driving OVERVIEW Full-size, 5-passenger luxury crossover PROSExceedingly quiet and comfortable, excellent ride CONSPricey, mild hybrid technology not especially fuel efficient VALUE FOR MONEYFair WHAT TO CHANGE?More powertrain options needed to compete with BMW and Porsche competition HOW TO SPEC IT?As is with fewer options OK, Ive never completely bought into the idea of four-door coupes, these stylistic fastback reinterpretations detractors say aberrations of the traditional sedan profile, though I will admit that some, notably the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera, and BMWs M850i Gran Coupe, are certainly deserving of an admiring glance.The coupeification of the sport-utility vehicle is an even tougher sell, the sloped roofline skewing said vehicle more to sport at the expense of utility. Nonetheless, companies have embraced the concept: BMW, for instance, with the X2, X4 and X6, derivatives spun off from the two-box, wagon-shaped X1, X3 and X5. Mercedes isnt far behind with its coupe versions of the GLC and GLE. Even Lamborghini, when it decided to go over to the dark side last year with its first real SUV (as opposed to the militaristic LM002 of yore), chose a rather extreme sloping roofline for its Urus.Which brings it around to the test subject here, the brand-new Audi Q8. Audi, being under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, shares the Q8s platform and some mechanicals with the aforementioned Urus, plus the Bentley Bentayga and the no-longer-for-North-America VW Touareg. Unfortunately for gearheads, that does not include the Lambos 650-horsepower, twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. Not as extremely styled as some of the examples cited, the 2019 Q8 is based on the family friendly, full-sized, seven-seat Q7, keeping the latters wheelbase, although the five-seat Q8 is wider, shorter, and lower, has shorter overhangs, and gets a wider track. Theres a bold octagonal grille up front, flanked by large air inlets. In profile the roofline terminates in gently inclined D-pillars and rests against the Quattro blisters. The spoiler, wheel arch trims, door trim strips, and diffuser are in a contrasting colour. The result is an SUV that is quite the looker and this before Audi dressed up the tester even further, going nuts on the build sheet and ticking off almost $20,000 worth of options, including the S-line sport package ($1,000), 22-inch Black Optics wheel package ($1,000) and Black Optics package ($1,700).The short take of the powerplant department is thus: Priced above the former flagship Q7, the Q8 ($81,200 to start for the Progressiv trim, $88,800 for the Technik) is motivated by Audis ubiquitous 3.0L turbo V6, putting out 335 horsepower and mated with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Also, like the A6, A7 and A8 cars, the Q8 benefits from a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that incorporates a lithium-ion battery and a belt-driven alternator/starter (BAS), aimed at recouping kinetic braking energy and allowing for a seamless coasting feature that sees the V6 decouple and shut down when conditions allow.Clearly a model that will compete with the base versions of the BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne (unlike the latter two, there is no engine upgrade for the Q8, although a higher-performance SQ8 is available only in Europe for now), theres a certain formality to the Audi, a latent conservatism that suggests a focus on comfort and luxury rather than overt sportiness. This is more an observation than a criticism, for theres enough grunt under the hood to move the 2,270-kilogram Q8 to speed when required. Yet, there was an issue with the normally unflappable nature of the turbo V6, at least in the tester a momentary pause in acceleration when taking off from a stop when using light throttle, an interruption of the power flow as it were. Initially I thought it might have something to do with the engines stop/start feature, so I switched it off. It made no difference.Once beyond that minor irritant, the Q8 was smooth sailing all the way; on the highway the big rig eating up the miles in a calm, quiet manner, unflustered by any tarmac nasties. (Interestingly, one of the very few options not found on the $110,300 tester was Audis highly regarded air suspension. Getting around slower moving vehicles took just a slight prod of the pedal. And highway cruising bettered the Audis fuel economy, which was showing more than 18 litres per 100 kilometres on the readout while navigating city streets. Actual fuel economy during my week with the crossover was 15.6 L/100 kilometres, with a fairly even mix of highway and in-town commuting.According to Audi, the V6 working in with the mild hybrid system only reduces consumption by a maximum of 0.7 L/100 kilometres in customer operation. Furthermore, when decelerating, the BAS supposedly enables up to 12 kW of energy to be recovered and fed into the battery. At
Origin: SUV Review: 2019 Audi Q8
Nearly-new buying guide: Audi A4
There’s been an Audi A4 saloon since 1994. We’re now on the fifth generation, which was launched in 2015 when it was billed as the most efficient, refined and high-tech one of all. No surprise there, but it takes nothing away from the fact that each generation of A4 has played its part in establishing the model as a serious player in the family saloon class. Among the current A4’s many attractions are a level of build quality that on occasion eludes its rivals. It has a clean and unostentatious appearance that buyers find appealing. And rather than excelling in one or two areas, it’s satisfying across most. It replaced the fourth-gen model that ran from 2008-15. Their registration years aside, you may struggle to tell the two apart. Our tip is to look for the kick in the baseline of the later car’s headlights. Fortunately, under the skin, the game had moved on rather more. For example, thanks to its new, aluminium-rich platform, the later model is 120kg lighter than its predecessor, despite being larger. It’s also better to drive, more luxurious and features more technology. At launch and later in 2016 there was the usual fleet-friendly mix of punchy 2.0-litre diesels, one of them, the 148bhp Ultra, being capable of a then-claimed 74.3mpg. But there was also a 148bhp 1.4 TFSI petrol as well as a 187bhp 2.0 TFSI. All bar the 1.4 were available with optional seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic gearboxes. Today, on the used market, the numbers of manual and auto ’boxes are evenly split, but there are around 50% more diesel-powered A4s than there are petrols. Higher up the range were quattro versions of a more powerful 2.0 TFSI making 249bhp, a 3.0 TDI V6 with 215bhp and another making 268bhp, this time with a Tiptronic gearbox. Of all the versions, the humble 148bhp 1.4 TFSI represents real value for money, but don’t look for a 2019 car – last year it was dropped and replaced by a 148bhp 2.0 TSI. Meanwhile, there are lots of keenly priced 148bhp 2.0 TDI Ultras and not all of them at silly mileages. If you have a caravan or boat to tow, choose one of the powerful quattro diesels. In 2017 the 349bhp S4 surfaced. The quattro system keeps it planted but a BMW 340i is a more engaging car. The range was updated early this year with all engines, bar the new S4 3.0 TDI, now being 2.0-litre affairs. Other changes included updated infotainment and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit made standard. Throughout, SE has been the gateway trim, and given the A4’s modest abilities, pretty much the only one you need thanks to its xenon headlights, sound-deadening windscreen, parking sensors, tri-zone climate control and a well-equipped infotainment system. Sport adds a few more luxuries, but sporty, body-kitted S line serves only to remind you that you should have got that 3 Series M Sport. Need to know Regular A4s have an optional seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox, while the most powerful diesel, and the sporty S4 and RS4 models, have an eightspeed Tiptronic torque converter ’box. Both offer manual override. Audi’s double-digit power rating-based model naming was rolled out last year. It addresses the fact that modern engine capacities are no longer indicative of power output. Across Audi’s range there are at least nine numbers, with regular A4s tagged either 35 (145-159hp), 40 (165-198hp) or 45 (223-244hp). Audi’s approved used scheme says only, somewhat ambiguously, that it will endeavour to provide a service history certificate at time of vehicle handover. Make sure you know the car’s history before you purchase it. Our pick A4 2.0 TDI 190PS SE: The high-power 2.0-litre diesel engine is smooth and refined; it’s lusty, too, with 295lb ft available. It’s a Euro 6 engine, of course, so no worries there. SE trim is great value. A4 1.4 TFSI 150 Sport: Not the swiftest A4 but plenty fast enough, plus it’s refined, comfortable and economical with it. Standard equipment includes 17in alloys, extendable squab sports seats and an upgraded sound system. Ones we found 2015 2.0 TDI 150 Ultra SE, 117,000 miles, £9750 2016 1.4 TFSI Sport, 60,000 miles, £10,295 2017 2.0 TDI Ultra Sport S tronic, 56,000 miles, £13,990 2018 2.0 TFSI SE S tronic, 19,000 miles,
Origin: Nearly-new buying guide: Audi A4
First Look: 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant
Since launching the RS brand in 1994, Audi has presented 25 different models, which is fitting given the marque is celebrating 25-years of go-faster transportation. Currently, there are five RS models in the companys portfolio with another six arriving in the coming months.Each model has two key things in common monster amounts of horsepower and the driving dynamics of a racecar. Factor in the quattro systems ability to get the outrageous horsepower to the pavement without melting the tires when the engines muscle is flexed, and the RS models go where pointed in one seriously fast manner.The forbidden fruit denied Canadians for way too long is coming home!Of the models, the RS 6 Avant has to be the one by which all others are be judged. It was, and remains, a street-legal racer, but with the practicality of a station wagon. Whoever said wagons were frumpy has not enjoyed the unmitigated pleasure of running the RS 6 around a racetrack!The first RS 6 Avant arrived in 2002 with a 4.2-litre, twin-turbo V8. It pushed 444 horsepower and delivered a run to 100 kilometres an hour of 4.7 seconds. In 2008, the V8 went away in favour of a 571 hp 5.0L V10 and a run from rest to 100-km/h in 4.1 seconds. In 2013, the RS 6 went back to a 4.0L bi-turbo V8 with 552 hp and a 0-100-km/h time of 3.8 seconds. Youll note each model has been faster than its predecessor!Well, its time to celebrate the forbidden fruit denied Canadians for way too long is coming home! One look at the latest 2020 RS 6 Avant and its 40-millimetre fender bulges tells the onlooker this is one serious machine the front doors and tailgate are the only body parts shared with the mortal A6 Avant. The headlights with optional laser lighting come from the A7 and it has a functional rear spoiler to add the needed downforce when at speed.This time around the RS 6 Avant uses a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 that works with a 48-volt belt/alternator/starter (BAS) mild-hybrid system. It pushes 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission with launch control and all four wheels. In this application the quattro system sends 60 percent of the drive to the rear wheels and 40% to the front, which gives it a rear-drive feel. However, the system can send up to 85% of the power rearward, or up to 70% to the front wheels if the conditions demand.Audi says the BAS mild hybrid system has the potential to shave the fuel consumption by 0.8 L/100 km in everyday driving. The reality is most will enjoy significantly better savings if only because of the needless idling it prevents. The engine also shuts down four of its eight cylinders when the loads are low, which further helps the economy cause.There are several suspension choices. The four-corner air suspension with adaptive dampers is likely to be the popular option. The ride height is 10-mm lower than the A6 and it drops another 10-mm when at speed to improve stability with a top speed of 305 km/h it needs all the help it can get!The other suspension uses regular coil springs at each corner, but with a special set of dampers that are linked diagonally front-to-rear when the front damper is compressed it sends oil pressure to its diagonal counterpart at the back to ready it for a bump. In the end, the setup reduces unwanted pitch and body roll. Theres also a sport steering setup and an available four-wheel steering system. The latter sharpens the response at speed and chops the turning circle by a metre at parking lot speeds. Of course, there are massive 440-mm front rotors with 10 piston calipers. Tires you ask? Try P285/30R22s on for size!Everything can be tweaked to suit the tone of the drive. There are all the usual modes, including Comfort, Auto and Dynamic. Each alters the engine, transmission, steering, suspension and, when so equipped, the torque-vectoring rear Sport Differential. There is, for the brave (or foolhardy!), also a true off position for the stability control system.Two key assets are found in the RS buttons. The driver can go into the Individual mode menu and set the RS 6 Avant up to suit. Set everything so its ready for a city drive and store the choices in the RS1 button. Crank every facet up to Dynamic and save them to RS2 button. Now you have a track-ready demon at the push of a button.So, how fast is the 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant? It runs to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, making it the fastest to date, yet it still delivers 565-litres of cargo space with the seats up and 1,680L when folded flat. Does it get any
Origin: First Look: 2020 Audi RS 6 Avant
Audi RS Q3 Sportback drops disguise before Frankfurt reveal
Audi Sport is working its magic on the recently revealed Q3 Sportback – and the hot coupe-SUV will make its public debut at next month’s Frankfurt motor show. The RS version of Audi’s seventh SUV will join its less-style focused RS Q3 sibling at the event. Since the standard Sportback has already been revealed, the performance model has lost camouflage and can be clearly marked out to be an RS model. It’s identifiable by its dual oval sports exhaust tips, Audi Sport logos on the brakes, and the air intake, grille and wheel styling, the RS Q3 Sportback is expected to use an all-new 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine that produces up to 400bhp. Such an output would give it the muscle to challenge the upcoming second-generation Mercedes-AMG GLA45, which uses a smaller 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine but puts out 416bhp in top-spec S form. The Audi will likely counter with more torque, while many enthusiasts will welcome the retention of the distinctive five-cylinder layout. Expect a 0-62mph time of around four seconds and a 155mph limited top speed. As is traditionally the case with RS products, we’ll also see bespoke interior fixtures alongside mechanical upgrades such as a bespoke suspension setup and the option of a sports differential. The RS Q3 Sportback will be produced in 2019 at Audi’s plant in Győr, Hungary alongside the regular car. It is part of a growing line-up of style-led SUVs, spearheaded by the electric E-tron and range-topping Q8.
Origin: Audi RS Q3 Sportback drops disguise before Frankfurt reveal
Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
Audi Sport will significantly broaden its line-up in the next year, with a new preview image showing the number of new RS models due to launch before 2019 is out. The darkened shot shows six models set to wear the performance flagship badge. The first two from the left are Audi’s prominent Frankfurt motor show debutants: the new generation RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback. We will also see RS versions of the new Q3 and Q3 Sportback, alongside a facelifted version of the RS4 to round out the 2019 A4 range, and a range-topping RS Q8. Stirred into action by the success of performance SUV ranges from rivals BMW M and Mercedes-AMG, newly appointed managing director Oliver Hoffmann previously confirmed that Audi Sport will begin offering range-topping RS versions of nearly every SUV model in the Audi line-up, starting with the heavily anticipated RS Q8. He said: “We have to stretch our portfolio and the SUV segment is the segment with the most growth. There is high demand from our customers for high-performance SUVs. The RS Q8 we will launch this year. There is really, really high demand for this type of car.” The Q3 Sportback, a coupe-styled version of the Q3, will also join the RS6 and RS7 as an RS variant at September’s Frankfurt motor show. Expectations are that it will retain the inline five-cylinder unit of Audi’s smaller RS models, putting out around 400bhp and making the SUV capable of 0-62mph in around four seconds. Hoffmann, who was recently promoted to the position of managing director after a stint as engineering boss following the departure of CEO Michael-Julius Renz, indicates driveline electrification will play a key role in enhancing the performance of Audi Sport’s RS SUV models. “If you have the SUV segment with the higher weight, it’s easier to implement a hybrid drivetrain. It’s easier because of the packaging and the higher weight,” he said in an interview at the recent Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race. He added: “For sure, we will increase electric for our RS models in the
Origin: Audi confirms six new RS models to be revealed this year
2019 Audi A4: pricing for facelifted executive car revealed
The updated Audi A4 range is due to go on sale soon, and pricing has appeared on some company car lists. Although it hasn’t been officially announced by the brand, an industry source confirmed to Autocar that the 2019 A4 will start from £30,725 in base Technik form with the 35 TFSI petrol engine. The 188bhp diesel is automatic-only and priced from £34,480. Those figures represent an increase of around £1500 over the previous entry-level SE spec. However, technology and kit upgrades will help justify the list price increase, as will competitive leasing costs. The non-RS range flagship at launch will be the newly diesel-powered S4. That’s priced at £47,295 in standard trim, with higher-spec Black Edition and Vorsprung models also available. In an attempt to keep pace with rivals such as the new BMW 3 Series, the compact executive saloon has received an exterior and interior revamp to bring it in line with Audi’s current design themes. The firm says the changes are more substantial than is usual for a facelift, and include a range of hybridised engines. The revised A4 will be available with three 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines featuring a 12-volt mild hybrid system and ranging from 148bhp to 241bhp, along with two diesels: a 188bhp 2.0-litre and a 241bhp 3.0-litre. A 12-volt mild hybrid 2.0-litre diesel unit, with 134bhp or 161bhp, will follow after the launch. The S4, a rival to the Mercedes-AMG C43, will be offered in Europe purely as a mild-hybrid diesel, with a 3.0-litre engine mated to a 48-volt integrated starter/motor for a total output of 342bhp and 516lb ft of torque. The S4 will be offered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, with sport suspension as standard and a sport differential and suspension with damper control available as options. The entry-level 35 TFI and 40 TDI will be offered after launch with a manual gearbox as standard. All other models will be automatic as standard. Seven and eight-speed ’boxes will be used, with a six-speed manual following as an option. Entry-level A4s will be front-wheel drive, with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system available on higher-spec models. The A4 will be sold with standard and sport suspension, with two adaptive systems available. Those systems work with damper control and feature a Comfort mode that lowers the ride height by 10mm and a Sport setting with a 23mm reduction in the ride height. As for the design, the A4 will now feature a wider and flatter grille, with a revamped side profile that has sharper, more sculpted shoulders and clearly defined lines. Audi’s design team has also introduced more bespoke styling elements on the S line, S4 and Allroad quattro variants, including bespoke grille designs, in order to give each a more distinctive identity. The revised interior is built around the latest version of Audi’s MMI infotainment system, featuring a 10.1in touchscreen. That screen can be operated by using touch or voice control. Audi has scrapped the rotary controller that appears in the outgoing model. A full 12.3in digital driver information display and head-up display are available as options. The revised A4 will be offered with a number of driver assistance systems, grouped into three packs. Options will include automatic cruise control, which, Audi says, can use ‘car-to-x’ navigation data from external devices such as traffic signs to increase accuracy. The rugged Allroad quattro model, as before, features an extra 35mm of ground clearance, additional underbody production, a wider front and rear track and optional Allroad-specific suspension. QA with Amor Vaya, Audi exterior designer What did you focus on with the redesign? “The A4 is a well-proportioned car, but the old one was occasionally called a little boring. We’ve put a lot of life and energy into it. We didn’t want to change the design principles, but we wanted to make a statement.” How did you do that? “The design is now a lot richer, more expressive. We’ve focused on the detail, with the use of 3D design elements, chrome parts and other small things that can make a big difference.” What are the challenges of doing a facelift design? “The fixed points were all designated six or seven years ago, so we have to work around that. That gives some limitations, but we’ve evolved the A4’s design substantially.” Why focus on differentiating the S4 and Allroad quattro? “We wanted to give each variant its own character. We’ve been criticised before for making every model and variant look similar, so now each model has its own character, and every car inside that model family does,
Origin: 2019 Audi A4: pricing for facelifted executive car revealed
New 2019 Audi A4: UK pricing for facelifted exec revealed
Audi’s major mid-life upgrade of its A4 range is due to go on sale soon, and pricing has appeared on some company car lists. Though not official announced by the brand, an industry source confirmed to Autocar that the 2019 A4 will start from £30,725 in base Technik form with the ’35’ TFSI petrol engine. The 188bhp diesel is auto-only and priced from £34,480. Those figures represent an increase of around £1,500 over the previous entry-level SE spec. However, technology and kit upgrades will help justify the list price increase, as will competitive leasing costs. The non-RS range flagship at launch will be the newly diesel-powered S4 TDI. That’s priced at £47,295 in standard trim, with higher-spec Black Edition and Vorsprung models also available. In an attempt to keep pace with rivals such as the new BMW 3 Series, the compact executive saloon has received an exterior and interior revamp to bring it in line with Audi’s current design themes. the firm says the changes are more substantial than is usual for a facelift, and include a range of hybridised engines. The revised A4 will be available with three 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines featuring a 12V mild-hybrid system and ranging from 148bhp to 241bhp, along with two diesels, a 188bhp 2.0-litre and a 241bhp 3.0-litre. A 12V mild-hybrid 2.0 TDI diesel, with 134bhp or 161bhp, will follow after the launch. The S4 model, a rival to the Mercedes-AMG C43, will be offered in Europe purely as a mild-hybrid diesel, with a 3.0-litre TDI mated to a 48V integrated starter/motor for a total output of 342bhp and 516lb ft of torque. The S4 will be offered with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, with sport suspension as standard, and a sport differential and suspension with damper control available as options. The entry-level 35 TFI and 40 TDI will be offered after launch with a manual gearbox as standard. All other models will be automatic as standard. Seven- and eight-speed ’boxes will be used, with a six-speed manual following as an option. Entry-level cars will be front-wheel drive, with Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system available on higher-spec models. The A4 will be sold with standard and sport suspension, with two adaptive systems available. Those systems work with damper control and feature a Comfort mode that lowers the ride height by 10mm and a Sport setting with a 23mm reduction in the ride height. As for the design, the A4 will now feature a wider and flatter grille, with a revamped side profile that has sharper, more sculpted shoulders and clearly defined lines. Audi’s design team has also introduced more bespoke styling elements on the S line, S4 and Allroad quattro variants, including bespoke grille designs, in order to give each a more distinctive identity. The revised interior is built around the latest version of Audi’s MMI infotainment system, featuring a 10.1in touchscreen. That screen can be operated by using touch or voice control. Audi has scrapped the rotary controller that appears in the outgoing model. A full 12.3in digital driver information display and head-up display are available as options. The revised A4 will be offered with a number of driver assistance systems, grouped into three packs. Options will include automatic cruise control, which, Audi says, can use ‘car-to-x’ navigation data from external devices such as traffic signs to increase accuracy. The rugged Allroad quattro model, as before, features an extra 35mm of ground clearance, additional underbody production, a wider front and rear track and optional Allroad-specific suspension. QA with Amor Vaya, Audi exterior designer What did you focus on with the redesign? “The A4 is a well-proportioned car, but the old one was occasionally called a little boring. We’ve put a lot of life and energy into it. We didn’t want to change the design principles, but we wanted to make a statement.” How did you do that? “The design is now a lot richer, more expressive. We’ve focused on the detail, with the use of 3D design elements, chrome parts and other small things that can make a big difference.” What are the challenges of doing a facelift design? “The fixed points were all designated six or seven years ago, so we have to work around that. That gives some limitations, but we’ve evolved the A4’s design substantially.” Why focus on differentiating the S4 and Allroad quattro? “We wanted to give each variant its own character. We’ve been criticised before for making every model and variant look similar, so now each model has its own character, and every car inside that model family does,
Origin: New 2019 Audi A4: UK pricing for facelifted exec revealed
Used car buying guide: Audi S3 Mk1
In today’s world of 375bhp superhatches, it’s tempting to look down on cars such as the 207bhp Audi S3 of 1999 and sniff. Except that back then, the performance reference points were legends such as the 207bhp Volkswagen Golf G60 Limited 1.8 16v Syncro of 1990 and the 212bhp Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo 2 2.0 16v of 1993. Judged against those heroes, the S3 doesn’t look so bad after all (we’ll ignore the inconvenient presence of the 204bhp VW Golf 2.8 VR6 4Motion, also launched in 1999). It gets better, since while today an 80,000-mile Integrale Evo 2 costs from around £50,000 and, when they come up for sale, a G60 Limited around the same, a tidy S3 of 2002 with the uprated 222bhp engine can be on your driveway for just £2250. It will have done 188,000 miles, though, and to be fair to the G60 and especially the Integrale, it lacks charisma and heritage, not to mention their panache. But for driving enthusiasts on a budget, the S3 is worth more than a sniff. In 1999, it shook up the hot hatch world. Here was an all-wheel-drive, three-door hatch capable of 0-62mph in 6.6sec one moment and bumbling to the shops the next – duties its solid construction suggested it would perform for years to come. Like most Audis then and since, it’s a discreet thing. True, its wheel arches are slightly wider than an A3’s of the time, its bumpers are deeper and it wears a tasty set of 17in Avus six-spoke alloys, but otherwise it hides its light under a bushel. At launch, the S3’s 1.8-litre 20-valve turbocharged engine was pegged to 207bhp to avoid embarrassing the newly arrived TT. However, in 2001, with its hand forced by the launch of a new generation of powerful rivals, Audi increased the power to 222bhp, a move that saw the car’s 0-62mph sprint time fall to 6.4sec. Crucially, the engine, now codenamed BAM, gained stronger con rods. The S3 was facelifted the following year, receiving one-piece headlights, revised tail-lights, a new S3 badge and restyled tailgate trim. From launch, the S3’s standard trim included climate control, self-levelling xenon headlights, electric Recaro sports seats and a half-leather finish. Options included larger 18in alloys and a Bose sound system. The S3’s thoroughly sensible-looking and solidly fixed interior has lasted well, although we’ve seen enough worn leather bolsters to know this area of the cabin can be an issue. Today, of course, the only feature that matters is a full service history. The oil and filter should have been changed every 10,000 miles, the Haldex coupling oil every 40,000 and the timing belt, tensioner and water pump, ideally with a metal impeller in place of the plastic one, every 60,000. Don’t be put off by a high mileage or multiple owners (to be expected after 19 years): it’s that service history that matters. And if it comes to it, go for the 222bhp version with its stronger engine. How to get one in your garage An owner’s view Steve Harris: “I saw the S3 and had to have it. It’s a 2002-registered car and the mileage is high at 170,000 but, in the two years I’ve had it, it’s not put a foot wrong. It feels as solid as it must have done when it left the showroom. I reckon this generation of S3 just pre-dated the next level of electronics because I can fix most things on it and, in any case, there are lots of forums offering good technical advice. The only upgrade I’ve made is fitting a Bilstein B12 suspension kit, which I reckon has tightened the handling.” Buyer beware… ■ Engine: Check condition of the breather pipes at the inlet manifold and ideally replace them and the vacuum pipes. Watch for uneven idling or lumpy running, signs the diverter valve, mass airflow meter or ignition coils have failed. If the temp gauge is all over the place, suspect the thermostat or temperature sender. If the low coolant level is indicated on start-up but the reservoir is full, the coolant level sensor in the header tank may have failed. ■ Transmission: Check clutch operation. On high-mileage cars, consider replacing the slave cylinder and clutch, and the flywheel. ■ Suspension and steering: At this age and mileage, budget to replace all the suspension bushes. Check the front and rear anti-roll bar sheaths, which have been known to break. Corrosion can cause springs to break, so inspect them too. ■ Brakes: Check operation of the brake sensor behind the brake pedal and the brake servo pipe, both known trouble spots. ■ Body: Check behind body strips where rust can form. Affected areas include the door bottoms. Easier to spot is rust on the roof rails and gutters. It’s a performance car so check for fresh paint and filler, and that the tyres are worn evenly. ■ Interior: Check if the digital display has lost its pixels (see below), that the air-con blows cold and that the glovebox hinges aren’t broken. Also worth knowing The S3’s stereo and digital instruments can have issues. Among the companies that can help is Cluster Repairs UK
Origin: Used car buying guide: Audi S3 Mk1
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