The new Audi A4 hits the market in November 2015. After getting to know it firsthand in Germany, it was time for a dynamic contact in Venice to check out all the news, now behind the wheel.
A few months after we saw the new Audi A4 live in Germany, in Ingolstadt, Audi took us to Italy so that we could test what is the brand's most important model.
The philosophy applied to the new Audi A4 was very simple: take the entire technological well developed for the Audi Q7 and place it in the Audi A4. In the end, it is a car that presents strong arguments to become a reference in the segment, after a few years “off” compared to its direct competitors.
Design and aerodynamics hand in hand
On the outside we find an Audi A4 with more than 90% of the panels being a real first, as well as a great influence of the small details on efficiency. Everything was designed in such a way that efficiency was not compromised, with the Audi A4 being the model of the Ingolstadt brand (and the saloon) with the best aerodynamic index ever: 0.23cx.
In a conversation with Dr. Moni Islam, responsible for the aerodynamics of the new Audi A4, we discovered that a simple part on the lower part of the front bumper, patented by Audi, reduces the aerodynamic index by 0.4cx. The entire new Audi A4 underside is flat and as closed as possible, already at the front, the Audi Space Frame grille with built-in active deflectors, opens and closes electronically to manage airflows.
Rigorously equipped interior
The interior embodies the brand's new values for the cockpit of a car: simplicity and functionality. Completely new, it features a “floating” style dashboard, and the overall quality of the materials is quite high. The on-board environment is refined and the Virtual Cockpit, the 12.3-inch high resolution (1440 x 540) screen that replaces the traditional “quadrant”, helps make the driver's seat more special.
On the dashboard we find the new MMI radio plus screen with 7 inches as standard and 800×480 pixels (8.3 inches, 1024 x 480 pixels, 16:9 format and 10 gb of flash storage in the optional Navigation Plus).
The available finishes for the interior of the new Audi A4 allow for very luxurious configurations, from wood to the doors upholstered in Alcantara, as well as ventilated seats and tri-zone air conditioning with touch-sensitive buttons. We also tried the new sound system from Bang & Olufsen with 3D technology, 19 speakers and 755 watts, a proposal for fans of high fidelity.
Technology at the service of security
It takes some time to get used to the news and gadgets on board, with so much to discover there are some that are impossible to ignore. The new electromechanical steering is 3.5 kg lighter than the previous one, this gives an excellent road feel. Matrix LED technology now arrives in the Audi A4, giving a new dynamic to night driving, a technology that Audi debuted in the Audi A8.
In driving aids, the new Audi A4 claims the top spot in the segment. The Audi pre sense city, available as standard, warns the driver of collision dangers and can even immobilize the vehicle completely. The information is captured by a radar with a range of 100 meters and up to 85 km/h. Attention Assist is also standard and warns the driver if he is inattentive, information that it collects through a behavioral analysis behind the wheel.
Adaptive cruise control also has an assistant for traffic queues, available in versions with automatic transmission. With this system, the daily “stop-start” becomes a problem for the car, which up to 65 km/h is able to circulate autonomously. This system is deactivated whenever the road does not have visible limits, if there is a sharp curve or if there is no car to go ahead.
