Audi A4
Encyclopedia
The first generation Audi A4 (known internally as the Typ 8D) debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994. It was built on the Volkswagen Group B5 (PL45) platform, which it shared with the fourth generation Volkswagen Passat (B5, Typ 3B)
. It had a front-mounted
longitudinal engine
and front-wheel drive
. Many variations of the A4 were also available with Audi's quattro four-wheel drive
system. The A4 was initially introduced as a four-door saloon/sedan; the Avant (estate/wagon
) arrived a year later.
A wide range of internal combustion engine
s were available in European markets, between 1.6 and 2.8 litres for petrol engine
s; and a 1.9 litre diesel engine
available with Volkswagen Group
's VE technology, capable of achieving a 90 PS or 110 PS, although Audi's 2.8 litre V6 engine
, carried over from the old 80/90
was the only engine option in North America until 1997.
The Audi A4 was the first model in the Volkswagen Group to feature the new 1.8 litre 20v engine with five valves per cylinder
, based on the unit Audi Sport had developed for their Supertouring
race car. A turbocharged
version produced 150 PS and 210 newton metre torque. This technology was added to the V6 family of engines in 1996, starting with the 2.8 litre V6 30v, which now produced 193 PS.
Audi also debuted their new tiptronic automatic transmission on the B5 platform, based on the unit Porsche
developed for their 964
-generation 911
. The transmission is a conventional automatic
gearbox with a torque converter offering the driver fully automatic operation or manual selection of the gear ratios.
B5 A4 range appeared at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in Europe in early 1998. The 2.8 litre 30-valve V6 engine
replaced the 2.8 litre 12-valve. A 2.5 litre V6 Turbocharged Direct Injection
(TDI) diesel engine
with 150 PS was standard on the quattro. A six-speed manual gearbox was available, as well as the new high-performance Audi S4
, now part of the A4 lineup (the previous S4 had been an Audi 100
). Cosmetic updates included new rear lights, headlights, door handles, and other minor exterior/interior changes.
In mid 1998, the 1.8 20vT engine available outside Europe had its power output raised to 170 PS. The previous KKK K03 turbocharger
, although fundamentally unchanged, received revisions on the turbine side to prevent cracking due to heat. The 12-valve V6 was replaced by the 30-valve unit which had been available in Europe for two years.
In 1999, Audi debuted an even higher performance RennSport model, the RS4 Avant
, like its predecessor RS2
, available only in the Avant bodystyle.
were available:
into series production
, the third generation Audi duo, then based on the A4 Avant.
. The 1.6 litre base model powerplant remained unchanged, but most other petrol/gasoline engines
received either displacement increases, or power upgrades. The 1.8 litre 20-valve
Turbo
was now available in two additional versions, with 150 PS or 180 PS, this one with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, while the naturally aspirated 1.8 litre inline-four engine and 2.8 litre V6
were replaced by 2.0 litre, and all-aluminium alloy
3.0 litre units, still with five valves per cylinder, the most powerful of which was capable of 220 PS and 300 newton metre of torque. The 1.9 Turbocharged Direct Injection
(TDI) engine was upgraded to 130 PS, with Pumpe Düse (Unit Injector)
(PD) technology, and was now available with quattro permanent four-wheel drive
, while the 2.5 V6
TDI high-end model was introduced with 180 PS and standard quattro. This generation of quattro consists of default of 50:50 front to rear dynamic torque distribution. A Bosch
ESP 5.7 Electronic Stability Programme
(ESP) system, with Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS), brake assist
, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
(EBD) were standard across the range.
The Avant arrived in mid 2001.
For 2002, Audi upgraded power in the 1.8 Turbo engines to 163 PS and 190 PS – the 190 PS variant designated by a red 'T' on the boot lid, with both available with quattro, and in the 2.5 TDI intermediate version to 163 PS. A 2.0 engine with Fuel Stratified Injection
(FSI) was also available. A year later, Audi reintroduced the S4, now powered by a 344 PS 4.2 L V8 engine
, as well as an A4 Cabriolet convertible
variant (Typ 8H), finally replacing the 80
-based Audi Cabriolet which had been discontinued in 1998. It included an electro-hydraulic operated roof, which lowered in under 30 seconds, and incorporated some styling changes which eventually found their way to the saloon version (such as body-coloured lower bumper and sill panels).
Audi also introduced a continuously variable transmission
developed by LuK, named multitronic
, which replaced the dated conventional automatic transmission on front-wheel drive
models. The transmission won considerable praise from the automotive
press
, and is generally regarded as being the best of its type in the world, due to its light weight and promptness in response. This high strength chain driven CVT is made from highly durable metals and utilises a very high grade, purpose-designed fully synthetic lubricant.
Borrowing from the Audi A6
, the boot was redesigned to remove the extension of the top edge with a smoother fold line, and the rear light assemblies now formed part of the top line, these styling cues were eventually borrowed by other European as well as Asian manufacturers.
An "ultra sport package" named 'Ultra Sport' was introduced in the North American market shortly before the B6 was replaced by the B7. It included aluminium interior trim and door sills, "S line" steering wheel, front and rear spoilers, side skirts, and quattro GmbH
designed 18-inch RS4 alloy roadwheels.
were available:
The IIHS awarded both the B6 & B7 a "Good" rating in the frontal crash test; the B7 was not retested since the front portion is structurally the same.
settings, suspension
geometry, new internal combustion engine
ranges, navigation systems and chassis electronics (including a new advanced Bosch
ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme
(ESP) system). The front grille assembly has changed to be a tall trapezoidal shape in the same manner as the C6 (third-generation) Audi A6
.
Audi's internal platform nomenclature uses PL46 (passenger car longitudinal platform, size 4, generation 6) for both B6 and B7 chassis. The Typ 8E and Typ 8H internal designations are also carried over from the B6 A4 range, but now have an additional identifying suffix – 8EC for the saloon, 8ED for the Avant, and 8HE for the Cabriolet.
The engine lineup received many additions. The 2005 introduction of Fuel Stratified Injection
(FSI) on the 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 V6
FSI petrol/gasoline engines
, as well as other refinements, increased power output to 200 PS and 255 PS, respectively. These engines both implement a four-valve per cylinder
design. The prior 5-valve design was incompatible with the FSI direct injection system (due to the siting of the fuel injector, now discharging directly into the combustion chamber
). The 2.0 Turbocharged Direct Injection
(TDI) diesel engine
now combines Pumpe Düse (Unit Injector)
(PD) technology with 16 valves for the first time, while the larger 2.5 TDI V6 diesel was superseded by a 3.0 V6 TDI, offering a 204 PS model during the year 2005 which was upgraded to a 233 PS model in 2006. A 2.7 V6 TDI was added later.
Torsen
T-2 based quattro permanent four-wheel drive
remained available on most A4 models. Audi retired its 5-speed manual transmission
s in favour of a new Getrag
6-speed. As before, multitronic
continuously variable transmission
(CVT), now with selectable 'seven-speeds', is available on front-wheel drive models, whilst a conventional ZF
6HP 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission
is available on the quattro four-wheel drive
models.
In addition to the higher-performance Audi S4
, which carried over the powertrain
from the B6 S4 – Audi has reintroduced the ultra-high performance quattro GmbH
developed Audi RS4
(RS for RennSport) to the lineup, for the first time on the saloon/sedan and Cabriolet
body, and with a naturally aspirated, but high-revving 4.2 litre V8
FSI engine. Another notable inclusion on the RS4 is the latest generation Torsen
T-3 quattro 4wd system, which uses a 'default' asymmetric 40:60 front-rear dynamic torque distribution bias. This new asymmetric centre differential was initially only available on the RS4, but was added a year later on the S4. The remainder of the B7 A4 range still utilised the T-2 50:50 default dynamic split centre diff.
A limited edition
variant, developed by quattro GmbH
, was first introduced in May 2005, named "Audi A4 DTM Edition". It was inspired from Audi's race cars of the 2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
, and was reintroduced in 2006 as a regular option. The 2.0T FSI engine received revised software mapping to the ECU, which increased the output to 220 PS and 300 newton metre of torque. It was available with front-wheel drive, or quattro four-wheel drive.
The B7 Cabriolet model arrived later than the other two body variants, with sales beginning in February 2006. New on the Cabriolet was an entry-level 2.0 TDI version, but to date, this is not being offered with the multitronic CVT gearbox.
According to 2007 Swedish vehicle inspection data, the Audi A4 Avant with diesel engine
is the most reliable vehicle available on the market, with vehicle inspection rejection rate of 0.0% in three year old category. (Please note that although the Mitsubishi Galant
estate, Volkswagen Touareg
and Toyota HiAce
Traveller share the rejection rate of 0.0%, A4's result is achieved with average mileage of over 111000 kilometres (68,972.4 mi), while the average mileage for other cars achieving the 0.0% rejection rate is between 71000 km (44,117.5 mi) and 77000 km (47,845.7 mi).)
When its successor, the new B8 A4 range was introduced, the B7 series A4 was not destined for extinction – it was restyled and rebadged as the SEAT Exeo
in 2008, with styling changes to the front and rear, also incorporating interior trim from the A4 Cabriolet. The entire Audi B7 A4 production line from Audis Ingolstadt
plant was dismantled and sent to Volkswagen Group
's related SEAT
factory in Martorell
, Spain]
s were available:
}
|12.6 sec
|118.1 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|1.8 T
|163 PS
|
|
|
|8.6 sec
|141.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|1.8 T quattro
|163 PS
|
|
|
|8.7 sec
|140.5 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0
|130 PS
|
|
|
|9.9 sec
|131.8 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI TFSI combines turbocharger
and FSI
. The badge simply states 2.0 T though.
|200 PS
|
|
|
|7.1 sec
|149.8 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI quattro
|200 PS
|
|
|
|7.2 sec
|147.9 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI In 2005 only available as DTM Edition. From summer 2006 on available for all saloon and Avant.
|220 PS
|
|
|
|7.0 sec
|153.5 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI quattro
|220 PS
|
|
|
|6.9 sec
|151.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|3.2 V6
FSI
|256 PS
|
|
|
|6.8 sec
|155.4 mi/h (elec. limited)
|-
|align="left"|3.2 V6 FSI quattro
|256 PS
|
|
|
|6.4 sec
|155.4 mi/h (elec. limited)
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|diesel engine
s
all Turbocharged Direct Injection
(TDI)
|-
|align="left"|1.9 TDI
|115 PS
|
|
|
|11.2 sec
|124.9 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI There were two different versions - one had a 8 valve cylinder head the other had 16 valves. They had the same power and torque output and performed equally. Customers could no choose directly between those two engines. They got the 16-valve version when they ordered the DPF
otherwise they got the 8-vavle version. In many countries the DPF became standard equipment for all B7 diesel engines from model year 2006 on and the 8-valve engine was no more.
|140 PS
|
|
|
|9.7 sec
|131.8 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI quattro
|140 PS
|
|
|
|9.7 sec
|128.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI
|170 PS
|
|
|
|8.6 sec
|141.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI quattro
|170 PS
|
|
|
|8.5 sec
|139.2 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.5 V6
TDI Only available for model year 2005. No DPF
available for this engine. In 2006 replaced by the 2.7 V6 TDI engine.
|163 PS
|
|
|
|8.8 sec
|141.1 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.7 V6 TDI Not available before 2006.
|180 PS
|
|
|
|8.4 sec
|142 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|3.0 V6 TDI quattro Only available for model year 2005. In 2006 replaced by a stronger version of the same engine.
|204 PS
|
|
|
|7.2 sec
|146 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|3.0 V6 TDI quattro Not available before model year 2006.
|233 PS
|
|
|
|6.8 sec
|152.25 mi/h
|}
ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme
(ESP) with Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS), side airbag
s in the seats, 'sideguard' curtain airbags, and its optional quattro four-wheel drive system. It also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) "Top Safety Pick For 2007". EuroNCAP crash test results from the B6 apply to the B7 model.
) models are offered. The Avant was unveiled to the public at the March 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
Reception has been mixed, with praise for the Audi A4's increased size, giving it best-in-class rear legroom and trunk space in the compact executive car segment. Its inline-4 2.0 TFSI engine, while efficient providing plenty of torque, was considered lacking and less refined compared to 6-cylinder engines of lighter rivals who posted faster acceleration times. However, the Audi S4
sports sedan
has been well-received for its V6 3.0 TFSI engine's power and efficiency.
of the fastest biogas
-powered car of 364.6 km/h (226.6 mph) at the test track in Papenburg
, Lower Saxony
, driven by Jürgen Hohenester. The vehicle includes a 3.0 litre twin-turbo
V6 engine
, with electronically limited 700 PS rating.
Audi Sport re-entered the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
(DTM) series in 2004 (after having privateer teams run the Abt Sportsline
Audi TT-R
) with a V8 engine
d silhouette racing car
resembling the A4 saloon, known as the Audi A4 DTM. A4 DTM cars are identified by Audi Sport "R"-prefix designations.
Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat is a large family car marketed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars through six design generations since 1973. Between the Volkswagen Golf / Volkswagen Jetta and the Volkswagen Phaeton in the current Volkswagen line-up, the Passat and its derivatives have been badged variously as...
. It had a front-mounted
Front-engine design
A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the vehicle passenger compartment.Historically, this designation was used regardless of whether or not the entire engine was behind the front axle line...
longitudinal engine
Longitudinal engine
In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back....
and front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
. Many variations of the A4 were also available with Audi's quattro four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
system. The A4 was initially introduced as a four-door saloon/sedan; the Avant (estate/wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
) arrived a year later.
A wide range of internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s were available in European markets, between 1.6 and 2.8 litres for petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
s; and a 1.9 litre diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
available with Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
's VE technology, capable of achieving a 90 PS or 110 PS, although Audi's 2.8 litre V6 engine
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, carried over from the old 80/90
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant...
was the only engine option in North America until 1997.
The Audi A4 was the first model in the Volkswagen Group to feature the new 1.8 litre 20v engine with five valves per cylinder
Multi-valve
In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
, based on the unit Audi Sport had developed for their Supertouring
Supertouring
Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a motor racing Touring Cars category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Formula" created for the British Touring Car Championship in 1990...
race car. A turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
version produced 150 PS and 210 newton metre torque. This technology was added to the V6 family of engines in 1996, starting with the 2.8 litre V6 30v, which now produced 193 PS.
Audi also debuted their new tiptronic automatic transmission on the B5 platform, based on the unit Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
developed for their 964
Porsche 964
The Porsche 964 is the company's internal name for the version of the Porsche 911 model manufactured and sold between 1989 and 1994. It featured significant styling revisions over previous versions of the 911, most prominently the more integrated bumpers , although it was still obviously a 911...
-generation 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
. The transmission is a conventional automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
gearbox with a torque converter offering the driver fully automatic operation or manual selection of the gear ratios.
B5 facelift (1997–2001)
A refreshedFacelift (automobile)
The automotive facelift comprises changes to a car's styling during its production run — often including new sheetmetal and/or interior design) with minimal changes to its underlying mechanicals — allowing a carmaker to freshen a model without complete redesign.A facelift retains the...
B5 A4 range appeared at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales beginning in Europe in early 1998. The 2.8 litre 30-valve V6 engine
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
replaced the 2.8 litre 12-valve. A 2.5 litre V6 Turbocharged Direct Injection
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
(TDI) diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
with 150 PS was standard on the quattro. A six-speed manual gearbox was available, as well as the new high-performance Audi S4
Audi S4
The Audi S4 is the high performance variant of Audi's compact executive car A4. The original Audi S4, built from 1991 until 1994, was a performance-oriented version of Audi's 100 saloon/sedan...
, now part of the A4 lineup (the previous S4 had been an Audi 100
Audi 100
The restyled C2 Audi 100 was launched in 1976, with an in-line five-cylinder engine...
). Cosmetic updates included new rear lights, headlights, door handles, and other minor exterior/interior changes.
In mid 1998, the 1.8 20vT engine available outside Europe had its power output raised to 170 PS. The previous KKK K03 turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
, although fundamentally unchanged, received revisions on the turbine side to prevent cracking due to heat. The 12-valve V6 was replaced by the 30-valve unit which had been available in Europe for two years.
In 1999, Audi debuted an even higher performance RennSport model, the RS4 Avant
Audi RS4
The Audi RS4 quattro is the top tier and highest performing version of some specific generations of the Audi A4 range of automobiles. It is a sports-focused compact executive car , produced by Audi's high-performance private subsidiary quattro GmbH, in limited numbers, for German car manufacturer...
, like its predecessor RS2
Audi RS2 Avant
The Audi RS2 Avant was a limited edition, high-performance Audi five-door, five-seat estate car , manufactured from March 1994 to July 1995...
, available only in the Avant bodystyle.
B5 engines
The following enginesInternal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
were available:
| engine Internal combustion engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine... type Engine configuration Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft.... | max. power Power (physics) In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit... | max. torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... | top speed (saloon) | 0–100 km/h (62 mph) (saloon) (manual) | years | CO2 emissions Emission standard Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. Many emissions standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles and other powered vehicles but they can also regulate emissions from industry, power... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| petrol engine Petrol engine A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels.... s all fuel injected Fuel injection Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s.... |
||||||
| 1.6 I4 8v SOHC | 101 PS | 140 N·m (103 ft·lbf) | 191 km/h (118.7 mph) | 11.9 sec | 1994–2001 | 174 g/km |
| 1.6 I4 8v SOHC | 102 PS | 148 N·m (109 ft·lbf) | 11.9 sec | 2000–2001 | 192 g/km | |
| 1.8 I4 20v Multi-valve In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design... DOHC |
125 PS | 173 N·m (128 ft·lbf) | 205 km/h (127.4 mph) | 10.5 sec | 1994–2001 | 182 g/km |
| 1.8T I4 20v DOHC Turbo Turbocharger A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance... |
150 PS | 210 N·m (155 ft·lbf) | 222 km/h (137.9 mph) | 8.3 sec | 1994–2001 | 182 g/km |
| 1.8T I4 20v DOHC Turbo Turbocharger A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance... |
180 PS | 235 N·m (173 ft·lbf) | 233 km/h (144.8 mph) | 7.9 sec | 1997–2001 | 194 g/km |
| 2.4 V6 V6 engine A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft... 30v DOHC |
165 PS | 230 N·m (170 ft·lbf) | 225 km/h (139.8 mph) | 8.4 sec | 1997–2001 | 226 g/km |
| 2.6 V6 12v SOHC | 150 PS | 225 N·m (166 ft·lbf) | 220 km/h (136.7 mph) | 9.1 sec | 1994–1997 | |
| 2.7T V6 V6 engine A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft... 30v DOHC Turbo Turbocharger A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance... S4 only |
265 PS | 400 N·m (295 ft·lbf) | 250 km/h (155.3 mph) | 5.8 sec | 1997–2001 | |
| 2.8 V6 12v SOHC | 174 PS | 245 N·m (181 ft·lbf) | 230 km/h (142.9 mph) | 8.2 sec | 1994–1997 | |
| 2.8 V6 30v DOHC | 193 PS | 280 N·m (207 ft·lbf) | 240 km/h (149.1 mph) | 7.4 sec | 1997–2001 | |
| diesel engine Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... s all Direct Injection (DI) |
||||||
| 1.9 DI I4 8v SOHC | 75 PS | 150 N·m (111 ft·lbf) | 158 km/h (98.2 mph) | 1996–2001 | ||
| 1.9 TDI Turbocharged Direct Injection TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial... I4 8v SOHC |
90 PS | 202 N·m (149 ft·lbf) | 168 km/h (104.4 mph) | 13.3 sec | 1994–1997 | 125 g/km |
| 1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC | 90 PS | 210 N·m (155 ft·lbf) | 168 km/h (104.4 mph) | 13.3 sec | 1997–2001 | 143 g/km |
| 1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC | 110 PS | 225 N·m (166 ft·lbf) | 183 km/h (113.7 mph) | 11.3 sec | 1994–1997 | 114 g/km |
| 1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC | 110 PS | 235 N·m (173 ft·lbf) | 183 km/h (113.7 mph) | 11.3 sec | 1997–2000 | 114 g/km |
| 1.9 TDI I4 8v SOHC | 115 PS | 285 N·m (210 ft·lbf) | 185 km/h (115 mph) | 10.5 sec | 2000–2001 | 123 g/km |
| 2.5 V6 V6 engine A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft... TDI 24v Multi-valve In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design... DOHC |
150 PS | 310 N·m (229 ft·lbf) | 210 km/h (130.5 mph) | 9.0 sec | 1997–2001 | 184 g/km |
B5 safety
In the Euro NCAP safety and crash tests, the Audi B5 A4 received 3 stars for front- and side-impact protection, but the last star is flagged to indicate that the driver may be subjected to a high risk of chest injury in the side impact.- AdultAdultAn adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age....
occupant = - PedestrianPedestrianA pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
= (pre 2002 rating)
B5 A4-derived hybrid version
In 1997, Audi was the first European car manufacturer to put a hybrid vehicleHybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
into series production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
, the third generation Audi duo, then based on the A4 Avant.
B6 (Typ 8E/8H, 2000–2005)
An all-new A4, internally designated Typ 8E, debuted in late 2000, now riding on the all-new Volkswagen Group B6 (PL46) platform. The car's new styling was a great success, inspired by the C5 (second-generation) Audi A6Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
. The 1.6 litre base model powerplant remained unchanged, but most other petrol/gasoline engines
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
received either displacement increases, or power upgrades. The 1.8 litre 20-valve
Multi-valve
In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
Turbo
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
was now available in two additional versions, with 150 PS or 180 PS, this one with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, while the naturally aspirated 1.8 litre inline-four engine and 2.8 litre V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
were replaced by 2.0 litre, and all-aluminium alloy
Aluminium alloy
Aluminium alloys are alloys in which aluminium is the predominant metal. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium, manganese, silicon and zinc. There are two principal classifications, namely casting alloys and wrought alloys, both of which are further subdivided into the categories...
3.0 litre units, still with five valves per cylinder, the most powerful of which was capable of 220 PS and 300 newton metre of torque. The 1.9 Turbocharged Direct Injection
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
(TDI) engine was upgraded to 130 PS, with Pumpe Düse (Unit Injector)
Unit Injector
Unit Injector is an integrated direct fuel injection system for diesel engines, combining the injector nozzle and the injection pump in a single component...
(PD) technology, and was now available with quattro permanent four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
, while the 2.5 V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
TDI high-end model was introduced with 180 PS and standard quattro. This generation of quattro consists of default of 50:50 front to rear dynamic torque distribution. A Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
ESP 5.7 Electronic Stability Programme
Electronic stability control
Electronic stability control is a computerized technology that may potentially improve the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
(ESP) system, with Anti-lock Braking System
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
(ABS), brake assist
Brake assist
Brake Assist is a generic term for an automobile braking technology that increases braking pressure in an emergency situation. The first application was developed jointly by Daimler-Benz and TRW/LucasVarity...
, and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
(EBD) were standard across the range.
The Avant arrived in mid 2001.
For 2002, Audi upgraded power in the 1.8 Turbo engines to 163 PS and 190 PS – the 190 PS variant designated by a red 'T' on the boot lid, with both available with quattro, and in the 2.5 TDI intermediate version to 163 PS. A 2.0 engine with Fuel Stratified Injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
(FSI) was also available. A year later, Audi reintroduced the S4, now powered by a 344 PS 4.2 L V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, as well as an A4 Cabriolet convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
variant (Typ 8H), finally replacing the 80
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant...
-based Audi Cabriolet which had been discontinued in 1998. It included an electro-hydraulic operated roof, which lowered in under 30 seconds, and incorporated some styling changes which eventually found their way to the saloon version (such as body-coloured lower bumper and sill panels).
Audi also introduced a continuously variable transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
developed by LuK, named multitronic
Multitronic
multitronic is a stepless transmission launched by AUDI AG in late 1999, jointly developed and manufactured by LuK.Based on the principles of continuously variable transmission popularised by DAF, multitronic offers a stepless automatic transmission in which the ratio between the input shaft and...
, which replaced the dated conventional automatic transmission on front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
models. The transmission won considerable praise from the automotive
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
press
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, and is generally regarded as being the best of its type in the world, due to its light weight and promptness in response. This high strength chain driven CVT is made from highly durable metals and utilises a very high grade, purpose-designed fully synthetic lubricant.
Borrowing from the Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
, the boot was redesigned to remove the extension of the top edge with a smoother fold line, and the rear light assemblies now formed part of the top line, these styling cues were eventually borrowed by other European as well as Asian manufacturers.
An "ultra sport package" named 'Ultra Sport' was introduced in the North American market shortly before the B6 was replaced by the B7. It included aluminium interior trim and door sills, "S line" steering wheel, front and rear spoilers, side skirts, and quattro GmbH
Quattro GmbH
quattro GmbH is a wholly owned private subsidiary of the German automobile manufacturer AUDI AG, part of the Volkswagen Group.Founded in October 1983, it primarily specialises in producing high performance Audi cars and components, along with purchaser specified customisations...
designed 18-inch RS4 alloy roadwheels.
B6 engines
The following enginesInternal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
were available:
| engine Internal combustion engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine... type Engine configuration Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft.... |
cyl. | max. power Motive power In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. Generally, motive power is defined as a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. The term may also define something, as a locomotive or a... |
|---|---|---|
| petrol engine Petrol engine A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels.... s all fuel injected Fuel injection Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s.... |
||
| 1.6 | I4 | 102 PS |
| 2.0 20v Multi-valve In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design... |
I4 | 136 PS |
| 2.0 FSI Gasoline direct injection In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines... |
I4 | 150 PS |
| 1.8T 20v | I4 | 150 PS or 163 PS |
| 1.8T 20v 'S line' | I4 | 180 PS or 190 PS |
| 2.4 V6 30v | V6 V6 engine A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft... |
170 PS |
| 3.0 V6 30v | V6 | 220 PS |
| diesel engine Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... s all Turbocharged Direct Injection Turbocharged Direct Injection TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial... (TDI) |
||
| 1.9 TDI | I4 | 100 PS or 115 PS or 130 PS |
| 2.5 V6 TDI 24v | V6 | 155 PS or 163 PS or 180 PS |
B6 safety
The Audi A4 (B6 & B7) passed the Euro NCAP safety and crash tests, and was awarded the following car safety ratings:- AdultAdultAn adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age....
occupant = - PedestrianPedestrianA pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
= (pre 2002 rating)
The IIHS awarded both the B6 & B7 a "Good" rating in the frontal crash test; the B7 was not retested since the front portion is structurally the same.
B7 (Typ 8E/8H, 2005–2008)
Audi introduced a revised A4 in late 2004, with the internal designation of B7. However, this new range A4 still utilised the existing Volkswagen B6 (PL46) platform, a chassis derived from the outgoing B6, but enjoyed heavily revised steeringSteering
Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow a vessel or vehicle to follow the desired course...
settings, suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
geometry, new internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
ranges, navigation systems and chassis electronics (including a new advanced Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme
Electronic stability control
Electronic stability control is a computerized technology that may potentially improve the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
(ESP) system). The front grille assembly has changed to be a tall trapezoidal shape in the same manner as the C6 (third-generation) Audi A6
Audi A6
The Audi A6 is an executive car marketed by the German automaker Audi AG, now in its fourth generation. As the successor to the Audi 100, the A6 is manufactured in Neckarsulm, Germany – and is available in saloon, and wagon configurations, the latter marketed by Audi as the Avant.All generations...
.
Audi's internal platform nomenclature uses PL46 (passenger car longitudinal platform, size 4, generation 6) for both B6 and B7 chassis. The Typ 8E and Typ 8H internal designations are also carried over from the B6 A4 range, but now have an additional identifying suffix – 8EC for the saloon, 8ED for the Avant, and 8HE for the Cabriolet.
The engine lineup received many additions. The 2005 introduction of Fuel Stratified Injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
(FSI) on the 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
FSI petrol/gasoline engines
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
, as well as other refinements, increased power output to 200 PS and 255 PS, respectively. These engines both implement a four-valve per cylinder
Multi-valve
In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
design. The prior 5-valve design was incompatible with the FSI direct injection system (due to the siting of the fuel injector, now discharging directly into the combustion chamber
Combustion chamber
A combustion chamber is the part of an engine in which fuel is burned.-Internal combustion engine:The hot gases produced by the combustion occupy a far greater volume than the original fuel, thus creating an increase in pressure within the limited volume of the chamber...
). The 2.0 Turbocharged Direct Injection
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
(TDI) diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
now combines Pumpe Düse (Unit Injector)
Unit Injector
Unit Injector is an integrated direct fuel injection system for diesel engines, combining the injector nozzle and the injection pump in a single component...
(PD) technology with 16 valves for the first time, while the larger 2.5 TDI V6 diesel was superseded by a 3.0 V6 TDI, offering a 204 PS model during the year 2005 which was upgraded to a 233 PS model in 2006. A 2.7 V6 TDI was added later.
Torsen
Torsen
Torsen is a type of differential used in automobiles. It was invented by American Vernon Gleasman and manufactured by the Gleason Corporation. Torsen is a contraction of Torque-Sensing...
T-2 based quattro permanent four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
remained available on most A4 models. Audi retired its 5-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
s in favour of a new Getrag
Getrag
Getrag is a leading manufacturer of automobile manual transmissions. The company was founded on 1 May 1935, in Ludwigsburg, Germany, by Hermann Hagenmeyer; as the Getriebe und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG...
6-speed. As before, multitronic
Multitronic
multitronic is a stepless transmission launched by AUDI AG in late 1999, jointly developed and manufactured by LuK.Based on the principles of continuously variable transmission popularised by DAF, multitronic offers a stepless automatic transmission in which the ratio between the input shaft and...
continuously variable transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
(CVT), now with selectable 'seven-speeds', is available on front-wheel drive models, whilst a conventional ZF
ZF Friedrichshafen
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....
6HP 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
is available on the quattro four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
models.
In addition to the higher-performance Audi S4
Audi S4
The Audi S4 is the high performance variant of Audi's compact executive car A4. The original Audi S4, built from 1991 until 1994, was a performance-oriented version of Audi's 100 saloon/sedan...
, which carried over the powertrain
Powertrain
In a motor vehicle, the term powertrain or powerplant refers to the group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface, water, or air. This includes the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive...
from the B6 S4 – Audi has reintroduced the ultra-high performance quattro GmbH
Quattro GmbH
quattro GmbH is a wholly owned private subsidiary of the German automobile manufacturer AUDI AG, part of the Volkswagen Group.Founded in October 1983, it primarily specialises in producing high performance Audi cars and components, along with purchaser specified customisations...
developed Audi RS4
Audi RS4
The Audi RS4 quattro is the top tier and highest performing version of some specific generations of the Audi A4 range of automobiles. It is a sports-focused compact executive car , produced by Audi's high-performance private subsidiary quattro GmbH, in limited numbers, for German car manufacturer...
(RS for RennSport) to the lineup, for the first time on the saloon/sedan and Cabriolet
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
body, and with a naturally aspirated, but high-revving 4.2 litre V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
FSI engine. Another notable inclusion on the RS4 is the latest generation Torsen
Torsen
Torsen is a type of differential used in automobiles. It was invented by American Vernon Gleasman and manufactured by the Gleason Corporation. Torsen is a contraction of Torque-Sensing...
T-3 quattro 4wd system, which uses a 'default' asymmetric 40:60 front-rear dynamic torque distribution bias. This new asymmetric centre differential was initially only available on the RS4, but was added a year later on the S4. The remainder of the B7 A4 range still utilised the T-2 50:50 default dynamic split centre diff.
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
variant, developed by quattro GmbH
Quattro GmbH
quattro GmbH is a wholly owned private subsidiary of the German automobile manufacturer AUDI AG, part of the Volkswagen Group.Founded in October 1983, it primarily specialises in producing high performance Audi cars and components, along with purchaser specified customisations...
, was first introduced in May 2005, named "Audi A4 DTM Edition". It was inspired from Audi's race cars of the 2004 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
, and was reintroduced in 2006 as a regular option. The 2.0T FSI engine received revised software mapping to the ECU, which increased the output to 220 PS and 300 newton metre of torque. It was available with front-wheel drive, or quattro four-wheel drive.
The B7 Cabriolet model arrived later than the other two body variants, with sales beginning in February 2006. New on the Cabriolet was an entry-level 2.0 TDI version, but to date, this is not being offered with the multitronic CVT gearbox.
According to 2007 Swedish vehicle inspection data, the Audi A4 Avant with diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
is the most reliable vehicle available on the market, with vehicle inspection rejection rate of 0.0% in three year old category. (Please note that although the Mitsubishi Galant
Mitsubishi Galant
The first generation of the car, initially known as the Colt Galant, was released in December 1969. The design was dubbed "Dynawedge" by Mitsubishi, referring to the influence of aerodynamics on the silhouette. Three models were available, powered by the new 'Saturn' engine in 1.3 or 1.5 L ...
estate, Volkswagen Touareg
Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg is a mid-size crossover SUV produced by German automaker Volkswagen since 2002. The vehicle was named after the Tuareg people, a Berber-speaking group in North Africa...
and Toyota HiAce
Toyota Hiace
The Toyota HiAce is a motor vehicle produced by the Japanese manufacturer Toyota. First launched in 1967, the HiAce has since been available in a wide range of configurations, including minivan and minibus, van, pick-up, taxi, and ambulance....
Traveller share the rejection rate of 0.0%, A4's result is achieved with average mileage of over 111000 kilometres (68,972.4 mi), while the average mileage for other cars achieving the 0.0% rejection rate is between 71000 km (44,117.5 mi) and 77000 km (47,845.7 mi).)
When its successor, the new B8 A4 range was introduced, the B7 series A4 was not destined for extinction – it was restyled and rebadged as the SEAT Exeo
SEAT Exeo
The SEAT Exeo is a five-seat large family car, and flagship model, built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A., with factory production commencing in December 2008....
in 2008, with styling changes to the front and rear, also incorporating interior trim from the A4 Cabriolet. The entire Audi B7 A4 production line from Audis Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
plant was dismantled and sent to Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
's related SEAT
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
factory in Martorell
Martorell
Martorell is a town near Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain, primarily known for its medieval Devil's bridge.It has three railway stations - one on the RENFE line from Manresa to Sant Vicenç de Calders called "Martorell", and three on the FGC line from Barcelona to Manresa called "Martorell-Vila",...
, Spain]
B7 engines
The following internal combustion engineInternal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s were available:
| engine Internal combustion engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine... type Engine configuration Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft.... / drive | max. power Power (physics) In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit... | saloon | Avant Station wagon A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid... | Cabriolet Convertible A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle... | (saloon / manual transmission) | top speed (saloon / manual transmission) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| petrol engine Petrol engine A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels.... s all fuel injected Fuel injection Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s.... |
||||||
| 1.6 | 102 PS | |||||
|12.6 sec
|118.1 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|1.8 T
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
|163 PS
|
|
|
|8.6 sec
|141.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|1.8 T quattro
|163 PS
|
|
|
|8.7 sec
|140.5 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0
|130 PS
|
|
|
|9.9 sec
|131.8 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI TFSI combines turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
and FSI
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
. The badge simply states 2.0 T though.
|200 PS
|
|
|
|7.1 sec
|149.8 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI quattro
|200 PS
|
|
|
|7.2 sec
|147.9 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI In 2005 only available as DTM Edition. From summer 2006 on available for all saloon and Avant.
|220 PS
|
|
|
|7.0 sec
|153.5 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TFSI quattro
|220 PS
|
|
|
|6.9 sec
|151.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|3.2 V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
FSI
|256 PS
|
|
|
|6.8 sec
|155.4 mi/h (elec. limited)
|-
|align="left"|3.2 V6 FSI quattro
|256 PS
|
|
|
|6.4 sec
|155.4 mi/h (elec. limited)
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background:silver;"|diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s
all Turbocharged Direct Injection
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
(TDI)
|-
|align="left"|1.9 TDI
|115 PS
|
|
|
|11.2 sec
|124.9 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI There were two different versions - one had a 8 valve cylinder head the other had 16 valves. They had the same power and torque output and performed equally. Customers could no choose directly between those two engines. They got the 16-valve version when they ordered the DPF
Diesel Particulate Filter
A diesel particulate filter is a device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. Wall-flow diesel particulate filters usually remove 85% or more of the soot, and under certain conditions can attain soot removal efficiencies of close to 100%...
otherwise they got the 8-vavle version. In many countries the DPF became standard equipment for all B7 diesel engines from model year 2006 on and the 8-valve engine was no more.
|140 PS
|
|
|
|9.7 sec
|131.8 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI quattro
|140 PS
|
|
|
|9.7 sec
|128.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI
|170 PS
|
|
|
|8.6 sec
|141.7 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.0 TDI quattro
|170 PS
|
|
|
|8.5 sec
|139.2 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.5 V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
TDI Only available for model year 2005. No DPF
Diesel Particulate Filter
A diesel particulate filter is a device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. Wall-flow diesel particulate filters usually remove 85% or more of the soot, and under certain conditions can attain soot removal efficiencies of close to 100%...
available for this engine. In 2006 replaced by the 2.7 V6 TDI engine.
|163 PS
|
|
|
|8.8 sec
|141.1 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|2.7 V6 TDI Not available before 2006.
|180 PS
|
|
|
|8.4 sec
|142 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|3.0 V6 TDI quattro Only available for model year 2005. In 2006 replaced by a stronger version of the same engine.
|204 PS
|
|
|
|7.2 sec
|146 mi/h
|-
|align="left"|3.0 V6 TDI quattro Not available before model year 2006.
|233 PS
|
|
|
|6.8 sec
|152.25 mi/h
|}
B7 safety
The Audi A4 offers many standard safety features, including BoschRobert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
ESP 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme
Electronic stability control
Electronic stability control is a computerized technology that may potentially improve the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
(ESP) with Anti-lock Braking System
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
(ABS), side airbag
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
s in the seats, 'sideguard' curtain airbags, and its optional quattro four-wheel drive system. It also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) "Top Safety Pick For 2007". EuroNCAP crash test results from the B6 apply to the B7 model.
B8 (Typ 8K, 2008–present)
Audi released the first official pictures of the B8 series A4 in August 2007, and unveiled the car to the public at the September 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Saloon/sedan and Avant (estate/wagonStation wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
) models are offered. The Avant was unveiled to the public at the March 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
Reception has been mixed, with praise for the Audi A4's increased size, giving it best-in-class rear legroom and trunk space in the compact executive car segment. Its inline-4 2.0 TFSI engine, while efficient providing plenty of torque, was considered lacking and less refined compared to 6-cylinder engines of lighter rivals who posted faster acceleration times. However, the Audi S4
Audi S4
The Audi S4 is the high performance variant of Audi's compact executive car A4. The original Audi S4, built from 1991 until 1994, was a performance-oriented version of Audi's 100 saloon/sedan...
sports sedan
Sports sedan
A sports sedan or a sports saloon is a descriptive term applied to a sedan automobile that is designed to look and feel "sporty", offering the motorist more connection with the driving experience, while providing the comfort and amenities expected of a luxury sedan. A wider definition that includes...
has been well-received for its V6 3.0 TFSI engine's power and efficiency.
Land speed record
In 2009, Hohenester Sport announced its modified HS 650 Audi B7 A4 quattro had set a new world speed recordLand speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
of the fastest biogas
Biogas
Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas...
-powered car of 364.6 km/h (226.6 mph) at the test track in Papenburg
Papenburg
Papenburg is a city in the district of Emsland in Lower Saxony, Germany, situated at the river Ems. It is known for its large shipyard, the Meyer-Werft, which specializes in building cruise liners.-Districts:...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, driven by Jürgen Hohenester. The vehicle includes a 3.0 litre twin-turbo
Twin-turbo
Twin-turbo refers to a turbocharged engine, in which two turbochargers compress the intake charge. There are two commonly used twin turbo configurations: parallel twin-turbo and sequential twin-turbo...
V6 engine
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, with electronically limited 700 PS rating.
A4 DTM
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
(DTM) series in 2004 (after having privateer teams run the Abt Sportsline
Abt Sportsline
Abt Sportsline is a motor racing and auto tuning company based in Kempten im Allgäu, Germany. Abt mainly deals with Audi, and the related primary Volkswagen Group brands - Volkswagen, Škoda, and SEAT.-History:...
Audi TT-R
Audi TT
The Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...
) with a V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
d silhouette racing car
Silhouette racing car
A silhouette racing car is a race car which, although bearing a superficial resemblance to a production model, differs mechanically in fundamental ways. The purpose of silhouette cars is to provide a manufacturer with a tangible link to their consumer product offering so as to derive maximum...
resembling the A4 saloon, known as the Audi A4 DTM. A4 DTM cars are identified by Audi Sport "R"-prefix designations.
External links
- Audi A4 at Audi International website